The New England Patriots crossed the finish line to their historic season on February 3, but the storybook ending eluded them as the New York Giants claimed a 17-14 victory at Super Bowl XLII.
When it comes to major sporting events, the game itself usually takes a backseat to the subplots ... and this is no exception. The Giants redeemed themselves from a 38-35 loss to the Patriots in Week 17 to become the first NFC wild-card team to reach the Super Bowl since 1975. They also relished their underdog status in pursuit of the Vince Lombardi trophy -- despite a 10-game road win streak. Their philosophy of viewing obstacles as opportunities made it easy for me to buck conventional wisdom and support my hometown team.
At the other end of the spectrum are the Patriots, who became the first team to close out the regular season undefeated since the Miami Dolphins did it in 1972. Not only that, but Tom Brady and Randy Moss set NFL records for touchdown passes and receptions, respectively. Such accomplishments fostered huge expectations for them to end the season on a high note, but the endless fawning by sportswriters grew tiresome. As much as I respect the Patriots' achievements, they're not invincible. (I’m not referring to "Spygate", but the close calls against teams like the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the season.)
Subplots aren't the only element that provides entertainment value to the Super Bowl. Commercials from Bud Light (wine and cheese party) and T-Mobile (Charles Barkley torments Dwyane Wade) were among dozens of 30-second ads aimed at couch potatoes across the United States. But while advertisers relied on comedy to sell their products to millions of viewers, the Giants combined smothering defense with a sharp offense to produce one of the most dramatic upsets in the history of sports.
Yogi Berra once said "it ain't over 'til it's over." Thanks to the Giants, the Patriots' pursuit of perfection has been denied.
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