Superbowl XXLII - Free Falling to 1988

These days I am not as enamoured with the US of A as I once was, mainly due to the current heirachy that is in place. After the past 8 years, I am looking for a change. But I shall save that for a later entry.

But when it comes to sporting events, I do enjoy the NBA, Baseball's World Series and the Superbowl.

This years Superbowl was special because the favourties were the New England Patriots who had traversed through the season undefeated to get to the big game. Playing the villainous role of Darth Vader to their Luke Skywalker were the New York Giants - a team that was given no chance of winning at all. I am telling you, NO ONE gave the Giants a chance - Osama Bin Laden being America's Next Top Model Winner would have gotten better odds than the Giants winning the game.

So it came as a surprise when the Giants pulled out probably one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game. I am glad they did becasue at the start of the final quarter I thought the event was more SuperBORE than Bowl!

So how did this happen? Well NOT being a seasoned watcher of American Football (by the way, why is it called football when most of the time they use their hands???) here are my thoughts:

1. The Patriots offence: During the season, the Patriots were celebrated for their attacking flair, but surprisingly during the game they seemed lacklustre, like they had lost their mojo and took some time to find it. It seems that the pressure of going undefeated during a season was taking its toll and their grasp at history left them empty handed.

2. The Giants defence: NY played a heck of a game and made their opponents very uncomfortable. Whenever Brady got the ball he seemed to have guys running at him all the time putting him under pressure and making him think too much about screwing up the pass if he got tackled. But credit to them, their defence won them the title.

3. The PLAY: The most memorable sporting contests always comes down to an event that everyone remembers. They call it THE PLAY. For example, Michael Jordan's winning shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, Leo Barry's mark to win the Sydney Swans the 2005 AFL Premiership, Dudek's saves in the final minutes of the 2005 Champions league Final. All events that have stayed in my mind when those games are discussed.

Usually they are memorable because they happened at the end. But in this match, it was the play when Eli Manning had the ball and was being set upon by the Patriots defence and one of the defenders actually got a hand on his jersey and held him. He actually ducked out free, got his jersey free and then threw a pass, that was not the amazing part. That the person who caught it, did so with someone on his back, but after juggling it, he held it to his helmet and kept it there, wile landing on the body of his opponents.

Ever landed awkwardly on some protruding element on your side or back? Then you may know how much that hurts. Imagine landing on someone's knee or elbow while trying to catch and hold a ball.

Amazing play. I am sure someone, somewherein America is thinking of a name to link that moment to.

4. The half time entertainment: 99.99999999999999999999% of superbowls have an awesome half time show. This years did not.

First of all this is 2008 not 1988. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers!! Sure Britney is in Rehab, Michael Jackson is..is....., Madonna is past it and U2 did it a few year ago and it is probably too early. But what about The Killers, Muse, Kanye West, Missy Higgins even!

There are so many world class acts out there who would have given a good half time show. Plus being relevant. Heck even the Police would have been better.

But Tom Petty!!!!

I know there was the Wardrobe Malfunction back in Superbowl Nipplegate, but the NFL did a poor choice.

Maybe given that no one in the Patriots was really listening to music when Tom Petty last had a hit single was the reason they played so poorly. How can you get amped for that when you got to listen to a band at half time whose last hit was nearly 20 years ago.

Oh well.....let me just hum...."Now I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, freee faaaalling"