What constitutes "Deserve"?

I was playing COD4 Sunday afternoon up to the opening kick-off of the Super-Bowl. While in the game one of our team-mates asked, "Whose watching the Super-Bowl"? That's kind of like asking a room full of guys, "Alright, who pees standing up"?

Nobody (If their male or even a female with class) is going to answer no to that. You might not watch the game and you may sit down to pee but you certainly aren't going to cop to it. A few people made comments on how boring the game would be. Apparently most believed the Patriot's victory to be a foregone conclusion.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not leading to how me and my crystal ball knew all along that the Giants were going to play the way they did. I had NO clue. I was HOPING that they would win. I was glad that they did win. Not because I don't like the Patriots. They obviously earned the right to be there. You don't go 18-0 by any other means besides winning football games.

Cheating comments: Yes, the Patriots organizations were caught video-taping coaching tactics and playbook strategies earlier in the year. However, I didn't see the other organizations lighting their torches. That tells me that there are more people doing this than the Patriots. Also, the fact that the situation went by-by so quickly also speaks volumes. Besides, having a slight heads up doesn't compensate for crappy game-play. The Patriots have been a dominant team this season. They have played well and played hard. Like them or not (I'm a Steelers fan btw) they play their ass off for a full 4 quarters and they are consistantly good. Brady's a pretty-boy but, he's a damn good quarterback. Randy Moss is an asshole but, he's a damn good receiver. Plus, the rest of the team aren't slouches either.

Where were the Giants during the regular season? Were you even aware they were playing this year? I wasn't. I was only paying attention to the Steelers until they bombed out of the play-offs.

Back to the COD4 game. I made the comment, "I'd kind of like to see the Giants win". Somebody says abruptly, "Why?!" I wanted the Giants to win primarily because I like betting on the underdog. Besides, I wondered how many brothers had won back to back Superbowls in NFL history? So, I also said, "I'd also like to see Eli win his first visit to the Superbowl".

That's when the obnoxious chimed in with, "He doesn't desrve to win a Superbowl". What? "He hasn't earned it yet". What the Fuck is that supposed to mean. So of course I said, "You're a Patriots fan aren't you". Response: "Damn right".

But of course you are.

I love the Steelers. Have ever since I was 6 years old. The year was 1976 and Bradshaw's band of merry marauders were doing that voodoo that they did so well. Besides, I was from Houston, Texas. My choices were the home-town choke-artists Houston Oilers or the Dallas Cowboys

That wasn't happening.

Besides, the Steelers had class. So, I was hooked and through thick and thin, winning and losing seasons, I've loved them and cheered them on. So I can understand being a hardcore fan. But, what I can't stand is an obnoxious asshole that thinks that all other teams suck just because they haven't chosen them to be their team. I can understand being confident in your choice but for God's own sake, lighten up.

Besides, it's easy being a team's fan when they've been succesful. I don't know how many "Closet" Bear fans popped out of the wood-work during the 80's. What happened to them when the Bears slipped back into mediocrity? They probably were wearing another teams colors.

Try being a Vikings fan. Those poor bastards are dedicated but at least you know they're honest.

So, I watched and smiled while seeing what I think to be one of the best games in recent Superbowl memory. It wasn't a high scoring game. If you are an Offense kind of guy you were probably disappointed. Not me. This was a great game and balanced. On this day, the Giants and the Patriots were equals. Forget what happened in the regular season. The Post-season is what counts. No second chances. If you make it to the Superbowl that means you went undefeated in the Post Season against teams with better than even records. A wild card can blow out an undefeated team and THAT my friends is what's great about the NFL.

"On any given Sunday".

That's a universal saying in the NFL that means anything can happen. A complete unknown can come out of nowhere and win. Teams that have no chance can suddenly make their own opportunities. Great teams can suddenly find themselves staring down the maw of an ugly beast hungry for something that they desperately want and THAT is beautiful.

On this given Sunday the New York Giants proved two things. Firstly, they proved that they had done their homework. I know what the Giants have been doing since their season finale loss to the Patriots. It wasn't exactly a blow-out (38-35 aint bad). They've been studying and probably are now suffering from a stigmatism from staring at monitors looking at game film.

Their defense had the Patriots number and they punched it every chance they got. The same thing that made the Patriots offense so unstoppable made the Giants defense so damn effective. They weren't just good at one thing, they spread the responsibility around and everybody pulled their weight and covered their positions. If they had just blitzed Brady, they would have failed. If they had only covered the receivers they would have failed. But, they were able to cover frickin EVERYTHING. A lot of teams had done it temporarily, the Patriots adapted and work through it. The Giants did it for every damn offensive play for the entire game. They reduced the highest scoring team in NFL history into a group killing themselves for every point scored. Every yard gained was a fight and every other play it seemed Brady was picking the turf out of his ass and helmet.

Randy Moss must have forgotten what team he was on because he couldn't even see his own damn jersey.

When the Giants dropped their guard, the Patriots made em' pay. Fortunately, they only let there guard down for 14 points. 2 touchdowns.

Even a die-hard Pats fan has got to admit that Bellichik screwed up by not having them attempt a field goal in that last drive. Trying for the touchdown was a gamble that cost them. Their kicker is more than capable of making a 50+ yarder. One three point kick would have made it only possible for the Giants to tie the game with a touchdown and extra point. It would have given the Pats an opportunity, one they were hard pressed to find during the game.

But, in the end it was clear that the second thing the Giants proved was that they desperately wanted this victory. They came into it with most people caling a 20+ point spread in favor of the Pats. That shows a bitter lack of confidence in them by the odds-makers. Somebody won some cash last night.

Not taking anything away from Eli Manning and his offense but I think that MVP should have gone to their defense collectively. While the Giants were able to ouscore the Pats when it was all over, it was their defense that prevented the Pats from scoring their customary points. If they had just averaged, the Giants wouldn't even have come close.

Plaxico Burress also showed that he had a lot of class. Right after the victory he was asked about scoring the game-winning touchdown. He didn't concentrate on himself, instead he asked to give praise and credit to where credit was due, the Giants defense. He also thanked his maker for allowing him the health to be able to compete. That's class.

That first down pass and reception in the Giants final drive will go down as a double billed "What the Fuck". There's no way in hell that Eli should have gotten out of that sack. There were no less than three Patriots with a hand full of his Jersey. There's also no way in hell that Tyree should have been able to hold onto that reception. He was literally pressing it against the top of his shiney helmet while he bent over backwards and his head hit the ground.

That shit was crazy talk.

Speaking of which, the sack layed onto Brady in the Pats final drive by the rookie Alford. What the hell was that? He should have had a license plate instead of a jersey number. Holy shit that looked nasty. I couldn't stop laughing at that for five minutes.

When Burress caught that touchdown pass my wife got really happy. She thought they'd won. I had to point out to her that there was still over 30 seconds left on the play clock. It took her a bit to realize that this is the NFL, 30 seconds is plenty of time.

Even the final second of the game where they had to clear the field and resume play to run that last play of the Giants possession. Sure, it was just a hyked ball and a kneel. However, THIS is the NFL. A fumbled ball as it is given to the QB is a live ball whether he takes full possession or not. That final second, as long as the balls live the play continues. A goof could have led to some really heartbreaking game footage that we'd still be watching on ESPN.

Thankfully, the Giants' cindarella story wasn't interrupted by any late shenanigans and their victory was safe.

That only leaves one question shifting through my demeanted little brain...

... I wonder how many suicides there were in New England last night?