charlie griefer

just the perfect amount of cowbell

i watch one sport.  football (american football to be specific).  16 weeks a year, my wife graciously allows me my sundays (and the occasional monday or thursday or... well, saturday) to watch my giants play.

it's been a while since i've been really happy about that.  i mean, they're my team (i was born and raised in new jersey), so i stick with 'em through good and bad... but past few years there's just not been much more than infrequent flashes of 'good' surrounded by pretty consistent ....well... not so good.

we last made it to the superbowl in 2000, and were embarrassed 34-7 by the ravens.  since then, we got a new coach (who was on the verge of being run out of town last season), traded the farm for eli manning, and in spite of making it to the playoffs the last 3 years, never advanced past the first (wildcard) game.

this season was supposed to be more of the same (if not worse). tiki barber, who most fans considered to be the heart and soul of the team, retired. he didn't just retire tho, he retired and called out the coach and the quarterback (coach being a large part of the reason he retired, and he questioned the quarterback's leadership abilities).

in spite of this (or, if you believe what you read on the internets, maybe because of it), the team somehow managed to shock everybody. we lost our first 2 games (giving up a combined 80 points). but then somewhere in game 3 (against washington), something happened. we went on to win 6 in a row, and made it to the playoffs (again, as a wild card).

along the way, something else happened. we played new england (the undefeated juggernaut new england) in the last game. for all intents and purposes, it was a meaningless game for both teams.  new england had already clinched the division and a bye week. we had clinched a wildcard spot. a win by either team wasn't going to change that (nor was a loss). new england, of course, wanted to play for posterity and pursue the perfect season. in the end, the patriots did pull it out (38-35). but if you believe in "moral victories", that would have to go to the giants. they played well and almost pulled it out. they lost because, as good as they played, new england played better. but when you're talking about the 2007 new england patriots, that's a pretty high bar.

into the wildcard game. on the road. knocked off tampa bay. first time in 3 years we're advancing past the wildcard game. on to dallas. on the road. everyone picks us to lose. we win. on to green bay. on the road. everyone picks us to lose. we win. we're going to the superbowl to face the patriots again.

what was notable about the 3 playoff wins (aside from the fact that they were all on the road) was the fact that the giants played damn good football. no interceptions. very few penalties. smart, heads-up, smash-mouth football. i'll be the first to admit that some of the wins during the season came about not because we played good, but because we played better than the other team (who played badly).

so on to glendale, arizona and the patriots.  we were the one remaining obstacle to their perfect season and a place in the history books.  and again, we played some damn good football. this may have been one of the best superbowls that i've ever had the pleasure of watching (altho there were some moments that weren't exactly pleasurable). not because "my" team was playing. but because it came down to the wire. yes, down by 3 with 4th and 20 deep in their own territory and 10 seconds left, i wasn't convinced that tom brady and the patriots weren't going to pull this out. they really are that good of a team (my hat's off to them for an amazing season). but in the end, the giants perpetrated one of the biggest upsets in superbowl history.  it was a beautiful thing to witness.

again, hats off to the patriots players, staff, and fans.  18 wins in a season is an amazing feat.  simply amazing.  but like they say, on any given sunday... and on this particular sunday, the giants wanted it more.

tom coughlin... eli manning... i apologize.  i've been pretty hard on both of you over the past 3 years.  over the past few weeks, i've been cautiously optimistic.  but after today, i fully admit that i am back on the bandwagon.  you've both made a believer out of me once again, and made me proud to bleed blue.  for that, i thank you (and plax and amani and osi and... ) :)