I am finally able to take the black arm band off that indicates the mourning period over the Patriots Super Bowl loss to the Giants has ended. I am a bit surprised that I have recovered so quickly. It was at least ten years after events like the Bucky Dent home run and the Bill Buckner error before I could even mention their names. The Sugar Bear Hamilton roughing the passer call was finally mitigated by the tuck rule call against the Raiders.
Perhaps it is the wisdom of age that has enabled me to act in an adult manner over this sports trauma. More likely however, is that recent successes have blunted the disappointment of defeat. After all, we have been some what spoiled here in recent years with the Patriots previous three Super Bowl wins as well as two World Series titles for the Red Sox.
In addition is the residual affection for the New York football Giants. Growing up in this region in the fifties and sixties without a home town team forced us to adopt the Giants because that was the usual Sunday network feed. Watching the Giants meant that on Saturday when we played football in the neighborhood we took turns being Y.A. Tittle or Homer Jones or Frank Gifford.
So now that the veil of tears has been lifted and I can take an objective look at the game and make a few comments. The basic conclusion is that Bill Belechik was out coached in this one. A team noted for half time adjustments did not adjust. It could have a lot to do with the Giants of course but it also might be that Belechik simply did not believe that Eli Manning could beat him over the course of a 60 minute game and there fore would stick to what he thought would work.
He was almost right. As the game worn on and got into crunch time the team did what was expected. Brady drove them down the field in the waning minutes and scored to take the lead. The script soon departed from what we expected as the much maligned Eli then drove the Giants down the field for the winning score. It was a drive that wasn't without serendipity as Manning escaped from a pass rush and some guy named Tyree makes a catch on top of his helmet with Rodney Harrison draped on him like a cape on an opera singer. Lady luck continued on the Giants side when Asante Samuel allowed an easy interception to go through his hands in Buckneresque fashion.
No sense in rehashing painful moments. Better to be graceful in defeat and acknowledge Eli Manning for his achievement. Can you imagine that the best franchise in football has been thwarted in back to back seasons by the Manning brothers? What are the odds that two brothers would win back to back Super Bowls both playing quarterback? It is a heck of an achievement and should be acknowledged even by the losers.
