One of the best Super Bowls ever.

delicious!

Bradshaw is definitely better than Ronald Reagan.

I am still unclear how Bradshaw ripped the ball from the Patriots linebacker on a fumble in the second quarter. That could have been the deciding play in the game.

Also, for the first time in 10 years I watched the game by myself, and I rarely watch more than snippets of NFL games during the season. I begged off watching with the buddies because I wanted to see a good game without all of our amateur color commentary. I haven’t enjoyed a televised sporting event like that since … well I can’t remember.

(Side note: if Emmitt Smith were not the all-time NFL rushing leader he would be laughed off the set at ESPN. He’s as vacuous and cliche-ridden as any wannabe Jim Rome type. I cringe to hear him speak because his empty analysis is exactly what you hear from the guy who nobody knows at the party but thinks he sounds smart after watching marathon sessions of PTI.)

The Pats spent the season running the run-and-shoot, and yesterday they ran the run-and-duck.

Asante Samuel dropped the game-winning INT one play before Eli did his best Houdini.

Belichick’s call to go for it on fourth-and-13 is still a dumb decision.

Mercury Morris needs to shut the hell up. That Dolphins team went undefeated, great job. Other than that, they don’t make my top 15 Super Bowl champion teams of all-time and would probably need lube to slip into the top 20.

Screen play anyone? Draw play? Counter trap? Those are great ways for an offense to slow down a fierce pass rush. Instead the Pats gave up on the running game, tried to protect Brady and then had to watch as Eli-I-can’t-close-my-mouth-when-thinking-Manning drove his squad 83 yards in two minutes.

I admit I cheered heartily when Plaxico pulled in that ball, I even threw in a “fuck yeah!” or two.

Who was that exceedingly beautiful woman dancing with the lizards?

I though Shack was funny, and the baby too, because clowns are fucking creepy.

Manning threw two of the best balls you’ll ever see — the TD to Tyree which was so tight the laces on the ball ended up knotted and that strike to Boss (a familiar face to Humboldt State fans who watched him run roughshod of the Lumberjacks while playing at Western Oregon) which led to the Tyree touchdown to open the fourth quarter.

Watching Peyton react to his brother’s success was touching. Classy group that Manning clan.

Jets vs Colts

Steelers vs Cowboys

Broncos vs Packers

Giants vs Patriots

This game was won the way every team beats the Patriots — beat the shit out of Brady with the pass rush. Pound him into the turf, and those perfect passes turn into flutter balls.

Couple thoughts:
1. When Brady was sacked the first time, the camera panned in tight on him lying there on his stomach. He flipped the ball away and continued to just lie there for a second. I was struck by the expression on his face. He looked shocked. I think this is where the game began to go in the Giants favor. Brady went down not only on his face but in his confidence. He was proved vulnerable and it rattled him. Usually, that is Eli Manning, so nice twist, Fate!

2. When Brady was on the field trying to get momentum and do SOMETHING with the ball, Bellicheck was huddled over on the sideline with the defense. When the camera showed that, I thought someone was sick; all huddled up with his head down but the announcers identified the person as Bellicheck conferring with his defensive people. I thought that was telling. He was either a) assuming that Brady would get the job done and was taking time to strategize, or b) was big time worried and was doing what he could to staunch the flow of blood.

When NE surged ahead, I took the opportunity to do something else and came back when I heard my spouse say, “Holy shit!” I got back in the room in time to see the replay and watch the score go to its final result. Then, I got to watch Bellicheck run out onto the field with one second left and scurry off before the game had even ended. I hope parents everywhere turned to their sports playing children and told them NEVER to do that.

Yes!!!!!!!