THE GREATEST FEELING IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS By Blue-Blooded
I don’t know if it’s worth ever going to another professional football game again. Ever. I know it just happened, and it usually takes a while before anyone can start legitimately placing it in historical context, but that very well may have been the greatest football game ever played.
I’ve been trying over and over to convince myself otherwise. I’m the person who hates it when analysts make broad, sweeping statements about events that just happened (the Patriots are 18-0…it doesn’t matter what happens, they’re the greatest team in football history…). But the more I think about it, it’s impossible to deny the greatness. Sure, the Jets brought the AFL into the public eye with a huge predicted upset. But the Giants did something even greater.
Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback in Super Bowl history (the guy has two MVP awards), spent nearly the entire game with an odd combination of disbelief and the FEAR OF GOD instilled in his eyes. We really need to come up with a very cool nickname for this defense, probably the greatest ever in the forty-two year history of this championship game (The Big Blue Sack Attack? Just a suggestion…).
One potential name for Tyree’s catch: The Helmet Hug. It was like his mother, Wellington Mara, and Bob Tisch were clinging the ball with him against his helmet with al their combined strength while the likes of Rodney Harrison tried to swat it away. No way was that ball going to hit the ground.
And there was no way we weren’t winning that game after that play happened. I was in the stands with my father and some fellow fans, and we just looked at each other with both astonishment and bewildering confidence. It was like there was divine intervention making sure that Eli Manning wasn’t going to be stopped, not even by three different potential sacks on the same play. When Plaxico got that separation, that ball went into the air towards the corner of the end zone, and he came down with it, my knees completely went out and I fell into my seat. The waterworks still haven’t dried out.
After this victory, I absolutely believe that Tom Coughlin will go down with as much, if not more, respect, adoration, and reverence in Giants lore as Bill Parcells. In Super Bowl 25, the Giants had to rely on Scott Norwood’s miss to cling onto the victory. Sunday night, it was our G-Men that simply went out and took it. The Patriots didn’t lose this game. We won it. On February 3, 2008, the New York Giants outplayed the New England Patriots in every facet of the game. Period.
Which brings me to another point. If the 2007 Patriots are being regarded as one of the greatest teams to ever play professional football, and the Giants are the only team that beat them (and they did it in impressive fashion), does that make this Giants team (by association) one of the greatest football teams ever?? Think about it. There’s definitely at least an argument there.
I’m only 22 years old. I don’t know what it feels like to marry your soul-mate, nor do I know the feeling of holding your child in your arms for the first time. But I do know that this Super Bowl championship is the greatest thing to ever happen to me in my entire life, so far. OUR FAVORITE TEAM JUST WON THE SUPER BOWL!! This is big. This is really, really, really, really big. I can now go into a crowded place in the middle of New York City and scream G-MEN at the top of my lungs, and it’s okay. Because I’m a fan of the best football team in the world right now. And no one can ever take that away from us. Eli has a free pass for the rest of his life. No questions asked. Enjoy every moment of this, fans. We’re 2008 world champions, and will be for the rest of history. I don’t know what else to say. I have to go find a Giants fan and hug him or her. This is beyond amazing. I love this city, I love this team, and I love being able to share my thoughts each week with the greatest football fans in the world. We did it, baby! Remember February 3, 2008. The day the good guys won. It will never be forgotten. Hopefully, you’ll hear from me again not before too long. Until then, sit back and bask in BIG BLUE GLORY. GO GIANTS!
