This time around, the Giants play the giant-killers. And the part of Goliath, aka Kurt Warner, aka Earl Morrall, will be played by Tom Brady.
Eli Manning is in much the same situation Tom Brady faced after the 2001 season, three super bowl rings and two supermodels ago. Back then the Brady was the unproven phenom on the rise, facing huge odds against the offensive juggernaut Rams. Now Page Six Tom is the establishment.
Thus the upside for Manning this year is that much higher, as the juggernaut Pats he is facing are Pursuing Perfection. Unprecedented all-time glory is there for the taking – or at the very least the biggest glory since lamb chops Namath in SB III.
Plus, every decent American not afflicted with Patriotitis is rooting for the Jints. “Unless you’re a cheater-loving chowderhead” is how the loveable NY Post drew the battle lines in this morning’s paper, including their political style USA mockup with the continental US all in blue save the New England states, including the classic halving of Connecticut down the CT river. Clearly the Post editors has some lingering Yankee bitterness to expunge, and lest they get too caught up in their us vs. them mentality, I’d like to remind them not to exclude Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and Western Samoa who I understand all are blue as well.
There were so many bright spots in an absolute classic NFC Championship Game at Lambeau. Plaxico times three great catches in the first half, laying out tipping balls to himself, domination over the Packers corner Al Harris. The ageless Amani Toomer’s tiptoe act, touching a single blade of grass with each toe before going out of bounds. And you had to applaud Coughlin’s handling of the two pronged running attack. After the Packers got punched in the mouth by the bruising Brandon Jacobs, Ahamad Bradshaw would come in with a whole other gear and knife through the secondary for 10+ yards.
Sure there was plenty of bad play and bad luck. None worse than McQuarters Fumble #1, which lodged itself in the stomach of wayward Packers lineman Mark Tauscher to preserve the possession within the red zone on the way to a TD. But listen, Domenick Hixon seemed to have radar tracking on the ball amongst a sea of green jerseys while recovering McQuarters Fumble #2, and then you had Corey Webster in the right place and not dropping Brett Favre’s interception in OT. And of course one good kick out of three.
And that shows me enough game plan, enough game-ready performances and enough luck to believe the Giants won’t embarrass me when I prepare to make The Greatest Prediction in the History of Sports in one sentence from now. The Giants will win Super Bowl XLII.
Editors Note: That would come exactly one year to the day from the current Greatest Prediction Ever, which was my call of a return TD by Devin Hester on the last Super Bowl's opening play. More on that this week when I return with this years edition of my Super Bowl Magic Moments.
Showing posts with label Giants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giants. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday, January 8, 2007
Seahawks are Wildest of Cards
Big Blue Folds. Did a desperate last charge by the Giants keep the game in doubt until the end? Or was Big Blue just doing enough to stall the inevitable, showing tantalizing flashes of talent before crumbling? The valiant Giants D rose up to stop the Eagles time and again, allowing New York to squeak into a 20-20 fourth quarter tie, but no further. This late tie, which represented the apex of the Giants 2006 season, occurred almost as all hope was lost, after numerous squandered opportunities. The Giants showed the skills which could have won the game, and also showed the mental chaos that mostly made winning impossible for them this year.
The images are ugly. Jeremy Shockey lifting the earpiece of Coach Coughlin’s headset to shout at him. Plaxico Burress whining and moping with his visor askew. Tiki Barber sitting by himself with that goofy grin. Worst of all, Eli Manning with his completely blank stare, looking like he had just been lobotomized. I understand he’s not a rah-rah guy but I was starting to get worried about the drool factor the way he was just staring into space. Announcer Troy Aikman, who himself can be quite a stiff, pointed out how Eli was off in another place, but really all the Giants seemed to be islands unto themselves Sunday.
Tiki certainly did not seem to be a man soaking up his last day of battle with his beloved teammates. I’m not sure what was giving him such a sarcastic grin, but he looked like a dude who had to go to a wedding with his ex-girlfriend two days after dumping her. Just sitting by himself with a smile that said “Hi, I’m smiling, but don’t talk to me, I was dragged here and I’m leaving right after the toast.”
Tiki certainly gave a winning effort in his finale, rushing for 137 and consistently picking up key first downs. But where was the pep talk to get his teammates riled up? Look at Jerome Bettis last year, so beloved that his retirement spurred the Steelers on to Super Bowl. You know the Bus had some inspiring words for his boys on the sideline. But alas, just another example of the perplexing aloofness of Tiki, who, unlike the Bus, I fear will never be seated among the Men of the Square Table.
For Giants fans, the end of the season brings more relief than sadness.
Seahawks Discover Clutch. Just as the Cowboys were about to kick a late go-ahead field goal, QB Tony Romo, who has been the holder for every Dallas field goal this season, was victimized by a slippery “K-ball”, which squirted out of his hands. NFL officials say a K-ball is a slicker version of the regular ball which is preferred by placekickers; Romo seemed to believe himself quite slick when he was implicated in a date with Jessica Simpson and seen engaging in pregame sideline flirtation with American Idol Kerry Underwood. Yet on Saturday the concept of extra slickness seemed to work against Romo as his strange inability to grip what would have been an easy field goal erased a probable victory for the Cowboys.
The shoestring tackle of an improvising Romo on the same play moments later at the Seattle 2 by a quick reacting and sure handed Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux prevented what apppeared to be a sure touchdown. This was one of many nice hustle plays that gave Seattle a chance to steal one, and suddenly give the Coffeetown Ospreys a long absent sense of close-game clutchness. Other key plays included the incredible 30 yard bomb from QB Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram, perfectly placed to the outside shoulder where the defender couldn’t get near it. They included two stellar TD grabs by tight end Jerramy Stevens, best known as the last Super Bowl’s inciter-of-Joey-Porter, who dropped key balls in the pigskin classic. Stevens may have learned from his foolishness as he maintained full concentration on the two difficult TD balls, and Hasselbeck had the true laser rocket arm on Saturday (and not Peyton).
The Seattle D contributed their share of big plays as well. Babineaux’s tackle of Romo was accompanied by the purse snatching executed by Seattle rookie Kelly Jennings, who committed a distract-and-grab theft at the Cowboy 10 on Terry Glenn (previously called a woman by his coach Bill Parcells) for a safety that missed being a TD by a shoelace. No less important was the gang tackle of Dallas TE Jason Witten half an inch from the first down to set up the Romo-botched field goal attempt in the first place. After their dismal Super Bowl, this collection of clutch plays in a game with “crazy” playoff type unpredictability showed a new, tougher Seahawk at the top of the totem pole. (Their fans hope).
My pick of 20-19 Cowboys certainly painted an accurate picture of how this game almost went down. So did my call that the game would be “characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness.” Actually one big drop, but it musta been painful for the Big D faithful to watch TO’s right hand not know what the left hand was doing once again, on what would have been a key, drive-extending third down catch in the fourth quarter. It seems fitting as well that Romo, exalted as “lightning in a bottle”, would fall to rookie goat and now will have his clumsiness repeated in slow motion forever in the annals of NFL Films dishonor. He not only had to get consoled by TO, he even felt compelled to issue the “I hate myself now” speech to the media. Ouch, how precipitous is the rise and fall of Romo.
Colts Toughen Up. My prediction of a 14 point Colts victory was dead on. The predicted 41-27 score, admittedly reflecting the conventional wisdom that the offenses would rule the day, was short three touchdowns on each side. Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was absent from the action with only 32 yards on the day – the man who set an NFL record this year for carries in a season had only 15 this game, won by the Colts 23-8. No one predicted that the much maligned Colts D would discover an ability to control the game with smashmouth play in the trenches. Time after time the Chiefs insisted on going back to Johnson, who would get stopped in the teeth of the defensive interior, until KC eventually trailed big and had to go the passing route. A comparison of the number of team first downs early in the third quarter were an unheard of 20-0 in favor of Indy. Statistically, it was the best defensive performance in Colts playoff history, eclipsing some heroic days in their glorious Baltimore past.
After the game a beaming Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney explained that no one outside their locker room believed the Colts could stop anyone. Freeney was a disappointing former sack machine for the Colts this season; after getting between 11 and 16 sacks a season over his first four in the league, in this his fifth season, he managed only a measly 5.5. On Saturday Freeney stuffed Johnson and the run all day and got to Trent Green for two big sacks. The Colts D was a laughtingstock this year and got runnup on plenty of times capped off by an embarrassing 375 running yards allowed in Jacksonville on December 10th. But on Saturday they were the dominant unit on the field, reminding us of one of the eternal mysteries of sports, that the ratio between skill and performance is impossible to predict on a given gameday, and that players are capable of unexpected acts of courage when backed to a corner.
Overshadowed by the heroic defensive performance, but no less important, was Peyton Manning’s willingness to give up throwing the long ball and (after three INT’s) be content with a game plan of easy dumpoffs inside to the running backs and tight ends. Like many fans, Peyton didn’t even know his nemesis Ty Law was on the Chiefs until he intercepted two passes.
We’ve all seen Peyton get hubristic and try to do too much in the playoffs; perhaps this ability to manage the game in changing circumstances provides a different dimension. IF the Colts D dominates like that every game throughout the rest of the playoffs, then they will surely win the Super Bowl. IF, I’m saying, which is a big if. Was their performance an aberration or the sign of things to come? Look to GIOS for a prediction on the upcoming Battle of Baltimore this week, as the Colts return to the city they fled under cover of night, to face the Ravens.
Pats Dismiss Jets. My prediction called for a 20 point Pats victory and a dooming Pennington arm injury. Instead, a 21 point Pats victory was decided by critical arm mistakes by Pennington, the worst of which was a tipped backwards pass turned into 31-yard fumble return by the slow rumbling Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The 325 pound Wilfork missed three games with a bum ankle and was a surprise return for the game. He alertly scooped up an ignored live ball after Roosevelt Colvin tipped a pass Pennington threw backwards to the receiver standing slightly behind the line.
When Wilfork paused, puzzled as to the liveness of the ball he was holding, a jumping flailing Bill Belichick, who seemed to be auditioning for a role with Cirque de Soleil, told Wilfork, yes, you should indeed run, as the gyrating coach willed the big man down to the Jets 15 before the sleepy Jets D reacted. Call me crazy, but I’ve always been a fan of the forward pass. Not only does it close the door on the Pandora’s box of live-ball, backward pass troubles, but since forward is the direction you are trying to go, maybe you should throw that way, no?
The ensuing field goal following this Jets gaffe provided a decisive 23-13 Pats edge. Victory was sealed by Pennington’s Pick-6 opportunity handed to Pats DB Assante Samuel in the fourth which provided the final 37-16 advantage and crushed Gang Green’s weak comeback hopes.
Tom Brady was sneaky deadly, making no mistakes and throwing strikes to lead his team throughout. Yet one wonders, are the Pats good enough to go to San Diego and not get burned by the LaDanian Lightning? Predictions await.
The images are ugly. Jeremy Shockey lifting the earpiece of Coach Coughlin’s headset to shout at him. Plaxico Burress whining and moping with his visor askew. Tiki Barber sitting by himself with that goofy grin. Worst of all, Eli Manning with his completely blank stare, looking like he had just been lobotomized. I understand he’s not a rah-rah guy but I was starting to get worried about the drool factor the way he was just staring into space. Announcer Troy Aikman, who himself can be quite a stiff, pointed out how Eli was off in another place, but really all the Giants seemed to be islands unto themselves Sunday.
Tiki certainly did not seem to be a man soaking up his last day of battle with his beloved teammates. I’m not sure what was giving him such a sarcastic grin, but he looked like a dude who had to go to a wedding with his ex-girlfriend two days after dumping her. Just sitting by himself with a smile that said “Hi, I’m smiling, but don’t talk to me, I was dragged here and I’m leaving right after the toast.”
Tiki certainly gave a winning effort in his finale, rushing for 137 and consistently picking up key first downs. But where was the pep talk to get his teammates riled up? Look at Jerome Bettis last year, so beloved that his retirement spurred the Steelers on to Super Bowl. You know the Bus had some inspiring words for his boys on the sideline. But alas, just another example of the perplexing aloofness of Tiki, who, unlike the Bus, I fear will never be seated among the Men of the Square Table.
For Giants fans, the end of the season brings more relief than sadness.
Seahawks Discover Clutch. Just as the Cowboys were about to kick a late go-ahead field goal, QB Tony Romo, who has been the holder for every Dallas field goal this season, was victimized by a slippery “K-ball”, which squirted out of his hands. NFL officials say a K-ball is a slicker version of the regular ball which is preferred by placekickers; Romo seemed to believe himself quite slick when he was implicated in a date with Jessica Simpson and seen engaging in pregame sideline flirtation with American Idol Kerry Underwood. Yet on Saturday the concept of extra slickness seemed to work against Romo as his strange inability to grip what would have been an easy field goal erased a probable victory for the Cowboys.
The shoestring tackle of an improvising Romo on the same play moments later at the Seattle 2 by a quick reacting and sure handed Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux prevented what apppeared to be a sure touchdown. This was one of many nice hustle plays that gave Seattle a chance to steal one, and suddenly give the Coffeetown Ospreys a long absent sense of close-game clutchness. Other key plays included the incredible 30 yard bomb from QB Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram, perfectly placed to the outside shoulder where the defender couldn’t get near it. They included two stellar TD grabs by tight end Jerramy Stevens, best known as the last Super Bowl’s inciter-of-Joey-Porter, who dropped key balls in the pigskin classic. Stevens may have learned from his foolishness as he maintained full concentration on the two difficult TD balls, and Hasselbeck had the true laser rocket arm on Saturday (and not Peyton).
The Seattle D contributed their share of big plays as well. Babineaux’s tackle of Romo was accompanied by the purse snatching executed by Seattle rookie Kelly Jennings, who committed a distract-and-grab theft at the Cowboy 10 on Terry Glenn (previously called a woman by his coach Bill Parcells) for a safety that missed being a TD by a shoelace. No less important was the gang tackle of Dallas TE Jason Witten half an inch from the first down to set up the Romo-botched field goal attempt in the first place. After their dismal Super Bowl, this collection of clutch plays in a game with “crazy” playoff type unpredictability showed a new, tougher Seahawk at the top of the totem pole. (Their fans hope).
My pick of 20-19 Cowboys certainly painted an accurate picture of how this game almost went down. So did my call that the game would be “characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness.” Actually one big drop, but it musta been painful for the Big D faithful to watch TO’s right hand not know what the left hand was doing once again, on what would have been a key, drive-extending third down catch in the fourth quarter. It seems fitting as well that Romo, exalted as “lightning in a bottle”, would fall to rookie goat and now will have his clumsiness repeated in slow motion forever in the annals of NFL Films dishonor. He not only had to get consoled by TO, he even felt compelled to issue the “I hate myself now” speech to the media. Ouch, how precipitous is the rise and fall of Romo.
Colts Toughen Up. My prediction of a 14 point Colts victory was dead on. The predicted 41-27 score, admittedly reflecting the conventional wisdom that the offenses would rule the day, was short three touchdowns on each side. Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was absent from the action with only 32 yards on the day – the man who set an NFL record this year for carries in a season had only 15 this game, won by the Colts 23-8. No one predicted that the much maligned Colts D would discover an ability to control the game with smashmouth play in the trenches. Time after time the Chiefs insisted on going back to Johnson, who would get stopped in the teeth of the defensive interior, until KC eventually trailed big and had to go the passing route. A comparison of the number of team first downs early in the third quarter were an unheard of 20-0 in favor of Indy. Statistically, it was the best defensive performance in Colts playoff history, eclipsing some heroic days in their glorious Baltimore past.
After the game a beaming Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney explained that no one outside their locker room believed the Colts could stop anyone. Freeney was a disappointing former sack machine for the Colts this season; after getting between 11 and 16 sacks a season over his first four in the league, in this his fifth season, he managed only a measly 5.5. On Saturday Freeney stuffed Johnson and the run all day and got to Trent Green for two big sacks. The Colts D was a laughtingstock this year and got runnup on plenty of times capped off by an embarrassing 375 running yards allowed in Jacksonville on December 10th. But on Saturday they were the dominant unit on the field, reminding us of one of the eternal mysteries of sports, that the ratio between skill and performance is impossible to predict on a given gameday, and that players are capable of unexpected acts of courage when backed to a corner.
Overshadowed by the heroic defensive performance, but no less important, was Peyton Manning’s willingness to give up throwing the long ball and (after three INT’s) be content with a game plan of easy dumpoffs inside to the running backs and tight ends. Like many fans, Peyton didn’t even know his nemesis Ty Law was on the Chiefs until he intercepted two passes.
We’ve all seen Peyton get hubristic and try to do too much in the playoffs; perhaps this ability to manage the game in changing circumstances provides a different dimension. IF the Colts D dominates like that every game throughout the rest of the playoffs, then they will surely win the Super Bowl. IF, I’m saying, which is a big if. Was their performance an aberration or the sign of things to come? Look to GIOS for a prediction on the upcoming Battle of Baltimore this week, as the Colts return to the city they fled under cover of night, to face the Ravens.
Pats Dismiss Jets. My prediction called for a 20 point Pats victory and a dooming Pennington arm injury. Instead, a 21 point Pats victory was decided by critical arm mistakes by Pennington, the worst of which was a tipped backwards pass turned into 31-yard fumble return by the slow rumbling Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The 325 pound Wilfork missed three games with a bum ankle and was a surprise return for the game. He alertly scooped up an ignored live ball after Roosevelt Colvin tipped a pass Pennington threw backwards to the receiver standing slightly behind the line.
When Wilfork paused, puzzled as to the liveness of the ball he was holding, a jumping flailing Bill Belichick, who seemed to be auditioning for a role with Cirque de Soleil, told Wilfork, yes, you should indeed run, as the gyrating coach willed the big man down to the Jets 15 before the sleepy Jets D reacted. Call me crazy, but I’ve always been a fan of the forward pass. Not only does it close the door on the Pandora’s box of live-ball, backward pass troubles, but since forward is the direction you are trying to go, maybe you should throw that way, no?
The ensuing field goal following this Jets gaffe provided a decisive 23-13 Pats edge. Victory was sealed by Pennington’s Pick-6 opportunity handed to Pats DB Assante Samuel in the fourth which provided the final 37-16 advantage and crushed Gang Green’s weak comeback hopes.
Tom Brady was sneaky deadly, making no mistakes and throwing strikes to lead his team throughout. Yet one wonders, are the Pats good enough to go to San Diego and not get burned by the LaDanian Lightning? Predictions await.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
"Tired" Tiki Wakes Up Giants
So, you know, up until now I had stayed out of the prediction business, and obviously the result of Sunday’s Giants game demonstrates why I am writing this blog and not sipping champagne in a hot tub in Vegas right now. A scaled down game plan took the ball out of Eli’s hands, and called for repeated 50-yard Tiki Barber runs to make up the entire offense. This obviously was a brilliant game plan from newly minted coordinator Kevin Gilbride, since Tiki was gliding through the Skins defense like a furious little waterbug. By extension, its also evident that Tom Coughlin made a brilliant decision to sack previous coordinator John Hufnagel, for whom the blame obviously lies for the Giants ineptitude against New Orleans.
Could this circular logic somehow extend to a playoff victory over Philly? To answer this question I once again turn to the abstract areas of karma and psyche coming into the big game. The Eagles were not supposed to be there without the leader and face of their franchise, Donovan McNabb. Now that their hopes are lashed to the resurrected arm of Jeff Garcia, you’d think they would need some type of positive emotional contribution from the flightless head Eagle McNabb. Yet the loudest talking McNabb at the moment is his Mama, who suddenly isn’t just telling him to eat his Campbell’s soup and annoying his teammates. In Mama McNabb’s blog contribution to her dear son’s website entitled “Bittersweet” she lets the Iggles fans know her true feelings:
"We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl (sic)…but oh oh if they win the Superbowl (sic) without my son what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last season’s fiasco….Well, lets wait and see, bittersweet."
Oh oh indeed! How you gonna let your Mom talk smack to the rest of the team and to the fans like that! How could Mama McNabb, who diligently spoons out big bowls of canned soup to her extended Eagle family, not have a big bowl of love for Garcia, who should be her number two son right now, and the rest of the gang? Perhaps this heaping portion of Chunky Beef is all she can offer despite a fan base which paid for her house one can at a time.
Without a spiritual compass the Eagles will drift off course. Grind It Out Sports predicts a similar high scoring affair with more of "Tired" Tiki’s magical Disney swan song somewhere over the rainbow sunset. Also look for former GIOS goat Mathias Kiwanucka to get his giant paw in Garcia’s grill at some point, and maybe pounce on a loose ball or two. Expect to see Plaxico Burress complain a lot and yell a lot more when he scores a touchdown. 38-29 Giants.
Rest of the Wild Card Weekend Predictions
This week’s “we’re not lucky, we won” speech from KC Chiefs coach Herm Edwards rivals his “you play to win the game” speech while with the Jets for its simplicity and ability to say nothing while really saying nothing. Nonetheless, KC has to be feeling that there are red horseshoes and red rabbits’ feets dancing in the air right now. Meanwhile the Indianapolis Clots have seen their team mojo coagulate at the end of the season. Two teams headed in opposite emotional directions, and one quarterback that will appear in more than half of the commercials. However on the field, Peyton’s ability to tear his way out of a giant stretchy football while getting pelted with showers of Gatorade Rain will depend largely on his defense’s ability to corral Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Look for Johnson to get three touchdowns, and Peyton to get four. Add to that a few field goals, a Joseph Addai breakaway run, and a high pitched teenage barista getting his face burned by the espresso maker like 25 times before this shooting match is over. 41-27 Colts.
Mangenius and the Jets against his mentor Bill “the sweatshirt” Belichick…will the pupil teach the teacher again? More importantly will there be another snub at the handshake? Anyone who has been to a crowded bar in Boston can at least partially understand how impossible it must be to think clearly surrounded by screaming inebriated Pats fans. Look for these Jets to get re-routed with four turnovers and a Chad Pennington arm injury when he tries to throw an impossible pass while being sacked. Tom Brady will have an impeccable quarterback rating and his biggest play will be something modest, a 12 yard scamper, a shovel pass, a great screen. Rookie Laurence Maroney will run free and score twice and Chris Berman is guaranteed to sing “Bony Marony” while giving the highlights. 23-3 Patriots.
In a battle between the crestfallen and the downtrodden, untested Tony Romo faces the formerly effective, decisively non-winning Super Bowl participant, Matt Hasselbeck. Dallas-Seattle will be characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness, as well as enough interceptions to have the cardiologists of both overweight coaches nervous. But in the end the Seattle fans will end up as misty as the weather yet again. With Parcells, Cowboys are likely to have a few bullets left in their wild west holsters when this nail biter winds down. 20-19 Cowboys.
Could this circular logic somehow extend to a playoff victory over Philly? To answer this question I once again turn to the abstract areas of karma and psyche coming into the big game. The Eagles were not supposed to be there without the leader and face of their franchise, Donovan McNabb. Now that their hopes are lashed to the resurrected arm of Jeff Garcia, you’d think they would need some type of positive emotional contribution from the flightless head Eagle McNabb. Yet the loudest talking McNabb at the moment is his Mama, who suddenly isn’t just telling him to eat his Campbell’s soup and annoying his teammates. In Mama McNabb’s blog contribution to her dear son’s website entitled “Bittersweet” she lets the Iggles fans know her true feelings:
"We want our team to win and even go to the Superbowl (sic)…but oh oh if they win the Superbowl (sic) without my son what would be the real outcome with the fans? Will they crucify him? Maybe then the trade talks would begin. Off season madness, worse than last season’s fiasco….Well, lets wait and see, bittersweet."
Oh oh indeed! How you gonna let your Mom talk smack to the rest of the team and to the fans like that! How could Mama McNabb, who diligently spoons out big bowls of canned soup to her extended Eagle family, not have a big bowl of love for Garcia, who should be her number two son right now, and the rest of the gang? Perhaps this heaping portion of Chunky Beef is all she can offer despite a fan base which paid for her house one can at a time.
Without a spiritual compass the Eagles will drift off course. Grind It Out Sports predicts a similar high scoring affair with more of "Tired" Tiki’s magical Disney swan song somewhere over the rainbow sunset. Also look for former GIOS goat Mathias Kiwanucka to get his giant paw in Garcia’s grill at some point, and maybe pounce on a loose ball or two. Expect to see Plaxico Burress complain a lot and yell a lot more when he scores a touchdown. 38-29 Giants.
Rest of the Wild Card Weekend Predictions
This week’s “we’re not lucky, we won” speech from KC Chiefs coach Herm Edwards rivals his “you play to win the game” speech while with the Jets for its simplicity and ability to say nothing while really saying nothing. Nonetheless, KC has to be feeling that there are red horseshoes and red rabbits’ feets dancing in the air right now. Meanwhile the Indianapolis Clots have seen their team mojo coagulate at the end of the season. Two teams headed in opposite emotional directions, and one quarterback that will appear in more than half of the commercials. However on the field, Peyton’s ability to tear his way out of a giant stretchy football while getting pelted with showers of Gatorade Rain will depend largely on his defense’s ability to corral Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Look for Johnson to get three touchdowns, and Peyton to get four. Add to that a few field goals, a Joseph Addai breakaway run, and a high pitched teenage barista getting his face burned by the espresso maker like 25 times before this shooting match is over. 41-27 Colts.
Mangenius and the Jets against his mentor Bill “the sweatshirt” Belichick…will the pupil teach the teacher again? More importantly will there be another snub at the handshake? Anyone who has been to a crowded bar in Boston can at least partially understand how impossible it must be to think clearly surrounded by screaming inebriated Pats fans. Look for these Jets to get re-routed with four turnovers and a Chad Pennington arm injury when he tries to throw an impossible pass while being sacked. Tom Brady will have an impeccable quarterback rating and his biggest play will be something modest, a 12 yard scamper, a shovel pass, a great screen. Rookie Laurence Maroney will run free and score twice and Chris Berman is guaranteed to sing “Bony Marony” while giving the highlights. 23-3 Patriots.
In a battle between the crestfallen and the downtrodden, untested Tony Romo faces the formerly effective, decisively non-winning Super Bowl participant, Matt Hasselbeck. Dallas-Seattle will be characterized by another big couple of dropped TO passes and accompanying media frothiness, as well as enough interceptions to have the cardiologists of both overweight coaches nervous. But in the end the Seattle fans will end up as misty as the weather yet again. With Parcells, Cowboys are likely to have a few bullets left in their wild west holsters when this nail biter winds down. 20-19 Cowboys.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Giants De-Claw Cats, Reclaim Hope
First, the Giants had the big game against Da Bears for Conference Supremacy. That didn’t go so well. Then they had the big game against Dallas for Divisional Supremacy. That didn’t go so well either. Sunday, they had another big game, this one to stay pace with the wild card front runners in the dredges of the mediocre NFC. Eureka! Giants found a matchup much more to their liking and defeated the Carolina Panthers, thus ending their four game losing streak. Their effort in fact pretty much put the game away in the first half. Could the sky still be the limit for these Big Blue warriors?
The game was furiously contested, back and forth (in the first half). It wasn’t decided until the final whistle (of the first half). Tiki Barber was the most dominant player (of the first half). The Giants were able to gain the momentum with their 17-10 advantage right before the break, and in the second half they provided an opportunity for Giants fans to wrap holiday gifts and happily check in with the score once in a while as Big Blue coasted to victory, led by Eli Manning’s second straight strong, mistake-free performance.
Carolina was without their starting QB Jake Delhomme, and had to clear the cobwebs off the arm of untested former Heisman winner Chris Weinke, and this Cat coughed up intercept-able passes for the Giants D like they were furballs. Furthermore, both starting Carolina cornerbacks were out with injuries, so when five minutes into the game backup CB Christian Morton goes down with a hamstring himself, it was obvious there would be every opportunity for Eli and Plaxico Burress to shine against third team pass protection.
The histrionics of Burress commanded center stage as the petulant pass-catcher pouted then preened in front of cameras and mocking Carolina fans throughout the first half. Fox commentator Joe Buck referred to the “familiar shot” of Plax moping on the sideline with his Giants visor askew, and indeed this pose was often struck in reaction to balls not being thrown to him or perceived penalties. The complaining of Plax was so annoying after a perceived “catch” in the dirt that Coach Coughlin somehow caved in and tossed his red challenge flag, later causing him to hesitate to throw his final challenge flag of the game on a more advantageous opportunity, when Carolina seemed to fumble on the Giants 10. Could have been significant if the game didn’t get away from the overmanned Cats.
Plax did break through beautifully after his clamoring and yammering. There was the 45-yard rainbow from Manning as Eli was getting pinballed around in the pocket by mighty bumpers of the Carolina defensive front, Peppers and Jenkins. This game changer was rapidly followed by Plax’s 28-yard TD grab while backpedaling in traffic at the open of the second quarter.
Plax’s turn from sulky to bulky set the tone for Jeremy Shockey, who was able to flash his garishly patriotic tattoos in victory as he delicately tiptoed the endline for the last TD of the first half, putting the G-men ahead for good, 17-10. Then in the third quarter the final blow was struck on D, as Gibril Wilson ‘s quick reaction to a floating tip turned into an interception and 25 yard return to the Panther 14, and shortly thereafter an insurmountable 27-10 advantage. Gibril, whose name sometimes sounds like “gerbil”, and who sometimes plays like one, was more like a hamster this time.
After losing four in a row, joy over the Giants victory injects hope into the Big Blue Nation. Just how realistic is the thought that the Carolina victory signals any kind of positive trend? Coming in as fellow 6-6ers, Giants got the advantage on Carolina, and stayed pace with the now 7-6 Falcons and Eagles. Eagles are without starting QB McNabb, and unless you have faith that The Redemption of Jeff Garcia will one day be a major motion picture starring Mark Wahlberg then you have counted them out of any major contention, and have chalked up today’s Eagles victory to the lameness of the Skins. Meanwhile, Grind It Out Sports reporters have learned that the Falcons, while victorious, had their entire running game carted off the field, as Warrick Dunn and his backup Jerious Norwood were both unable to return from injuries. Clearly, Giants seem to have the edge over the NFC wildcard slop bucket.
After losing four in a row, all the discussions of playoff possibilities had to create the constant grumbling caveat: “assuming we ever win again” in the minds of the Giants. Now that they’ve won one, would Big Blue really be a serious contender? After the Giants weren’t dressed up enough to get in with the Cowboys and Bears at the swanky Club NFC, they’ve found a nice barstool right next to the jukebox at the Wild Card Bar & Grill, where they are much more comfortable. Only problem is, someone put in a song by the Eagles, whom they hate more than Lebowski. However, Giants can Take It Easy and rely on their home bar advantage in the upcoming Wild Card Darts Match with Philly -- plus, finally, a little winning momentum.
The game was furiously contested, back and forth (in the first half). It wasn’t decided until the final whistle (of the first half). Tiki Barber was the most dominant player (of the first half). The Giants were able to gain the momentum with their 17-10 advantage right before the break, and in the second half they provided an opportunity for Giants fans to wrap holiday gifts and happily check in with the score once in a while as Big Blue coasted to victory, led by Eli Manning’s second straight strong, mistake-free performance.
Carolina was without their starting QB Jake Delhomme, and had to clear the cobwebs off the arm of untested former Heisman winner Chris Weinke, and this Cat coughed up intercept-able passes for the Giants D like they were furballs. Furthermore, both starting Carolina cornerbacks were out with injuries, so when five minutes into the game backup CB Christian Morton goes down with a hamstring himself, it was obvious there would be every opportunity for Eli and Plaxico Burress to shine against third team pass protection.
The histrionics of Burress commanded center stage as the petulant pass-catcher pouted then preened in front of cameras and mocking Carolina fans throughout the first half. Fox commentator Joe Buck referred to the “familiar shot” of Plax moping on the sideline with his Giants visor askew, and indeed this pose was often struck in reaction to balls not being thrown to him or perceived penalties. The complaining of Plax was so annoying after a perceived “catch” in the dirt that Coach Coughlin somehow caved in and tossed his red challenge flag, later causing him to hesitate to throw his final challenge flag of the game on a more advantageous opportunity, when Carolina seemed to fumble on the Giants 10. Could have been significant if the game didn’t get away from the overmanned Cats.
Plax did break through beautifully after his clamoring and yammering. There was the 45-yard rainbow from Manning as Eli was getting pinballed around in the pocket by mighty bumpers of the Carolina defensive front, Peppers and Jenkins. This game changer was rapidly followed by Plax’s 28-yard TD grab while backpedaling in traffic at the open of the second quarter.
Plax’s turn from sulky to bulky set the tone for Jeremy Shockey, who was able to flash his garishly patriotic tattoos in victory as he delicately tiptoed the endline for the last TD of the first half, putting the G-men ahead for good, 17-10. Then in the third quarter the final blow was struck on D, as Gibril Wilson ‘s quick reaction to a floating tip turned into an interception and 25 yard return to the Panther 14, and shortly thereafter an insurmountable 27-10 advantage. Gibril, whose name sometimes sounds like “gerbil”, and who sometimes plays like one, was more like a hamster this time.
After losing four in a row, joy over the Giants victory injects hope into the Big Blue Nation. Just how realistic is the thought that the Carolina victory signals any kind of positive trend? Coming in as fellow 6-6ers, Giants got the advantage on Carolina, and stayed pace with the now 7-6 Falcons and Eagles. Eagles are without starting QB McNabb, and unless you have faith that The Redemption of Jeff Garcia will one day be a major motion picture starring Mark Wahlberg then you have counted them out of any major contention, and have chalked up today’s Eagles victory to the lameness of the Skins. Meanwhile, Grind It Out Sports reporters have learned that the Falcons, while victorious, had their entire running game carted off the field, as Warrick Dunn and his backup Jerious Norwood were both unable to return from injuries. Clearly, Giants seem to have the edge over the NFC wildcard slop bucket.
After losing four in a row, all the discussions of playoff possibilities had to create the constant grumbling caveat: “assuming we ever win again” in the minds of the Giants. Now that they’ve won one, would Big Blue really be a serious contender? After the Giants weren’t dressed up enough to get in with the Cowboys and Bears at the swanky Club NFC, they’ve found a nice barstool right next to the jukebox at the Wild Card Bar & Grill, where they are much more comfortable. Only problem is, someone put in a song by the Eagles, whom they hate more than Lebowski. However, Giants can Take It Easy and rely on their home bar advantage in the upcoming Wild Card Darts Match with Philly -- plus, finally, a little winning momentum.
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Tuna Tartare
Big Tuna Parcells was in rare form against the Giants Sunday, as his Cowpokes turned in a sushi-grade performance, lightly searing New York and seizing control of the NFC East. It was another bitter loss for Big Blue, who fittingly took the field in the wrong (red) colored uniforms. It also turned into a chance to get misty-eyed about the Giants glory days of yore under the Tuna Administration of the 80s, as one chess move after another by Parcells reminded Giants fans of bygone Sundays when the “Chunk White” master of strategy and attitude used to patrol OUR side of the Meadowlands.
It’s amazing how much football has happened since Parcells returned to coaching after his first retirement “for health reasons,” right after winning his second Super Bowl for the Giants in 1990. We’ve seen Drew Bledsoe get the Pats to the Super Bowl in their US Postal Service soccer uniforms, Keyshawn Johnson get drafted and dissed, Terry Glenn get called a woman. Amazingly, years have passed and these three guys are old school NFL vets, and now we’ve seen Bledsoe get dissed (benched in favor of Romo), Johnson get dissed again (ditched in favor of T.O.) and Glenn trading in his panties for a Dallas blue star design protective cup. Parcells isn’t just a bridge to football’s past, but the fact that he has been a consistently dominant coaching force in the NFL, as it has evolved through multiple eras, really reminds one how his unique personality was at the heart of the Giants’ two championships.
The emergence of Romo bears the stamp of Parcells, more impressively the gradual muting of the T.O. circus showed a Tuna that was not afraid to wade into the shark infested media waters. Only referring to Terrell as “The Player” was humorous and the media chuckles set the reporters a couple of steps back, reminding everyone that the Tuna really is serious, yes, it’s the team first, even above this obsequious popinjay. Cutting Vanderjagt – wow, that one was really out there. Dump the cash, forget we ever made a big deal about this guy and move on! That’s the beauty of Parcells, he’ll admit something isn’t working rather than proudly going down with the sinking ship.
So after the shocking dismissal of the “most accurate kicker in NFL history” he yanks this quirky Gramatica guy off the golf course who hasn’t kicked a field goal in two years, and THAT’S the guy who boots the totally clutch 46-yard game winner. Of course. Supposedly Parcells, who notoriously hates kickers, said he chose Gramatica because he “liked” him in the interview. Tuna just has a feel for football that you can’t explain, and ultimately the “most accurate” kicking weapon proved to be Parcells’ mind.
The Tuna had his team hustling and working hard. The goal line D was huge, keeping the Giants hand out of the red zone cookie jar like a mean, hand-slapping Mom. Romo’s scramble and 42-yard dagger to tight end Jason Witten was a gorgeous yet potentially risky play, and reflected the confidence by the coach who has seen it all in the young QB whom he knows has the ability to step into an unknown realm. After the teams fought just about to a draw, Tuna was left holding the last card, and it was an ace. (In a game in which an ace would result in a win, of course, or just a metaphorical ace).
New York at least had a bounce back performance from Eli Manning and remained competitive to the final whistle. Yet in a close game such as this, seemingly small mistakes are magnified. I was agog at the sloppy turnover by the Giants’ Mathias Kiwanucka while attempting to unnecessarily change hands on an interception return. Don’t these guys read my blog? Apparently not. That was a key turnover, just the first quarter, but a very rare golden opportunity that was given back. Here’s a word of advice – fall down, dude. You fall with the ball after catching it Sunday and you fall with Vince Young in your grasp last week and we could be discussing two wins.
Did I also see the dreadlocked braids of RW McQuarters suddenly stop flapping as he inexplicably held up while closing in on a chance to sack Romo? Did Gebril Wilson envision a sweet pick-6 and miss defending the play? Did the petulant Plaxico Burress spaz out and give back 15 yards so he could have another tantrum? Yes, these things happened, the Giants, desperate for a win, did not show the mental toughness to take this heavyweight bout that was fated to go the distance.
Coach Coughlin was certainly fuming throughout, but his sideline fits are becoming increasingly tiresome. Both Coughlin and Tuna are the “Angry Guy” style of coach, but Tuna is listened to, laughed at, respected and loved by his players in a way that Coughlin is not. Both coaches will tell you that no one ever does anything right. But somehow Parcells will tell it to you in a way that makes you want to fight for him, and want to tell him you love him by spontaneously dumping a bucket of cold Gatorade on his head. Sunday’s latest heartwarming display of Tuna Loyalty underscored the weakness of Coughlin, whose endless anger doesn’t inspire his team at all.
It’s amazing how much football has happened since Parcells returned to coaching after his first retirement “for health reasons,” right after winning his second Super Bowl for the Giants in 1990. We’ve seen Drew Bledsoe get the Pats to the Super Bowl in their US Postal Service soccer uniforms, Keyshawn Johnson get drafted and dissed, Terry Glenn get called a woman. Amazingly, years have passed and these three guys are old school NFL vets, and now we’ve seen Bledsoe get dissed (benched in favor of Romo), Johnson get dissed again (ditched in favor of T.O.) and Glenn trading in his panties for a Dallas blue star design protective cup. Parcells isn’t just a bridge to football’s past, but the fact that he has been a consistently dominant coaching force in the NFL, as it has evolved through multiple eras, really reminds one how his unique personality was at the heart of the Giants’ two championships.
The emergence of Romo bears the stamp of Parcells, more impressively the gradual muting of the T.O. circus showed a Tuna that was not afraid to wade into the shark infested media waters. Only referring to Terrell as “The Player” was humorous and the media chuckles set the reporters a couple of steps back, reminding everyone that the Tuna really is serious, yes, it’s the team first, even above this obsequious popinjay. Cutting Vanderjagt – wow, that one was really out there. Dump the cash, forget we ever made a big deal about this guy and move on! That’s the beauty of Parcells, he’ll admit something isn’t working rather than proudly going down with the sinking ship.
So after the shocking dismissal of the “most accurate kicker in NFL history” he yanks this quirky Gramatica guy off the golf course who hasn’t kicked a field goal in two years, and THAT’S the guy who boots the totally clutch 46-yard game winner. Of course. Supposedly Parcells, who notoriously hates kickers, said he chose Gramatica because he “liked” him in the interview. Tuna just has a feel for football that you can’t explain, and ultimately the “most accurate” kicking weapon proved to be Parcells’ mind.
The Tuna had his team hustling and working hard. The goal line D was huge, keeping the Giants hand out of the red zone cookie jar like a mean, hand-slapping Mom. Romo’s scramble and 42-yard dagger to tight end Jason Witten was a gorgeous yet potentially risky play, and reflected the confidence by the coach who has seen it all in the young QB whom he knows has the ability to step into an unknown realm. After the teams fought just about to a draw, Tuna was left holding the last card, and it was an ace. (In a game in which an ace would result in a win, of course, or just a metaphorical ace).
New York at least had a bounce back performance from Eli Manning and remained competitive to the final whistle. Yet in a close game such as this, seemingly small mistakes are magnified. I was agog at the sloppy turnover by the Giants’ Mathias Kiwanucka while attempting to unnecessarily change hands on an interception return. Don’t these guys read my blog? Apparently not. That was a key turnover, just the first quarter, but a very rare golden opportunity that was given back. Here’s a word of advice – fall down, dude. You fall with the ball after catching it Sunday and you fall with Vince Young in your grasp last week and we could be discussing two wins.
Did I also see the dreadlocked braids of RW McQuarters suddenly stop flapping as he inexplicably held up while closing in on a chance to sack Romo? Did Gebril Wilson envision a sweet pick-6 and miss defending the play? Did the petulant Plaxico Burress spaz out and give back 15 yards so he could have another tantrum? Yes, these things happened, the Giants, desperate for a win, did not show the mental toughness to take this heavyweight bout that was fated to go the distance.
Coach Coughlin was certainly fuming throughout, but his sideline fits are becoming increasingly tiresome. Both Coughlin and Tuna are the “Angry Guy” style of coach, but Tuna is listened to, laughed at, respected and loved by his players in a way that Coughlin is not. Both coaches will tell you that no one ever does anything right. But somehow Parcells will tell it to you in a way that makes you want to fight for him, and want to tell him you love him by spontaneously dumping a bucket of cold Gatorade on his head. Sunday’s latest heartwarming display of Tuna Loyalty underscored the weakness of Coughlin, whose endless anger doesn’t inspire his team at all.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Giants' Titanic Disaster
“We’re going to be sick about this one for…for….forever.” – Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.
It’s the year 3006 and the New York Giants mark the 1,000 year anniversary of the horrific Titanic disaster. Although it’s several hundred years after the NFL permanently phased out the playing of football games in 2412, the Giants, like many teams in the United Way NFL, still use old football lessons about hustle, concentration, and finishing off your opponent to inspire their players in their new pursuit of competitive charitable acts, such as home building and trash pickup. The NFL permanently adopted this format after modern research surrounding concussions and brain injuries spelled the end of football, which joined coffee and SUV’s on society’s scrap heap. Nonetheless, children are reminded every year about Mathias Kiwanucka’s bizarre aborted tackle attempt like it is the tale of Passover, and the Wicked Son is told that you should “never, ever tackle life’s obstacles in this matter.”
Clearly, no matter how much the world changes, the horribly painful lesson of the Giants loss to Tennessee will reverberate for all eternity. OK, perhaps Coughlin was in fact liberally pumping up the importance of the loss to attempt a self-abusive end run around his critics. And yet there really were some basic, timeless and game-transcending truths which both the Giants and the Titans put on display to the world Sunday, when the Giants cruise ship ran into a titanic iceberg within their own minds.
The Giants’ three-headed fourth quarter goat, Plaxico Burress, Kiwanucka and Eli Manning, proved that you really do need to concentrate on executing your job and hustling until the whistle blows in order to be a winner. First, Burress changed the tone of the game with his lazy, yawning play with a big lead, allowing an errant pass to sail by without defending against the DB, Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, who intercepted it. Plax was reduced to a vulnerable blinking ghost as Pac-Man ate him up for 100 points, streaking down the sideline under the protection of his power pill.
Soon after, Kiwanucka had both of his huge arms wrapped around Titans QB Vince Young in a 4th and 10 death embrace that should have ended the game right there. Seems like the Giants' rookie defensive end either anticipated an “in the grasp” whistle that wasn’t there, or thought the ball had been thrown away. All he had to do was keep hugging and fall to the ground, which right there would be nothing the more than the basic definition of a tackle. Kiwanucka’s two-hand-touch level of effort breathed life back into the Titans as Young escaped his too-gentle clutches and rambled 20 yards for a first down.
Young Eli gave the self-inserted dagger its final twist. Inexplicably, the Giants QB put the ball in Young’s hands again at the exact moment where he could do anything but that and still go to overtime. His poor execution exceeded only by his poor decision making, Eli’s mind seems to be moving one way and his arm another these days. As if oblivious of the confounding failures of goats 1 and 2, Manning seemed to want to be the game’s hero, and lacked the judgment to realize what he was risking in that ill-advised pursuit.
As much as the Giants proved that a lack of mental toughness can be a team’s undoing, Vince Young demonstrated the type of miracle that heart and skill can produce. Young was deadly with his feet and hands and seemed nothing like a rookie, hitting his receivers, and then, with his brilliant sense of timing, knowing exactly when he could scramble ahead of the scattered Giants’ defenders. Most importantly, he never gave up, and always kept his head in the game. With the lead 21-0 in the fourth quarter, and Giants fans all counting the victory and going out to pick up their Chinese food, Young seemed to be the only person in the world taking seriously the Titans chance to steal the game.
Young’s day brought back memories of his epic performance for Texas, when they defeated USC in last year’s college title bout. 30 of 40 passing for 267 yards PLUS 200 running, and “that touchdown”, that perfectly timed scramble to the corner of the endzone on fourth down. So clutch. Also brings back memories of those human interest segments about Young’s near fatal bike accident when he was six, about the disturbingly large scar on his little torso, and how he had to spend almost a year in the hospital. Young says the accident made him who he is today. You can feel that the kid has courage, he knows he his not Superman but he also believes that if he fights and does not quit he can accomplish anything.
How could Vince Young be the most confident man on the field, with all the Giants talent and their 21-0 lead? Like Tom Coughlin, I believe mankind will be attempting to answer this question until the very end of recorded time.
It’s the year 3006 and the New York Giants mark the 1,000 year anniversary of the horrific Titanic disaster. Although it’s several hundred years after the NFL permanently phased out the playing of football games in 2412, the Giants, like many teams in the United Way NFL, still use old football lessons about hustle, concentration, and finishing off your opponent to inspire their players in their new pursuit of competitive charitable acts, such as home building and trash pickup. The NFL permanently adopted this format after modern research surrounding concussions and brain injuries spelled the end of football, which joined coffee and SUV’s on society’s scrap heap. Nonetheless, children are reminded every year about Mathias Kiwanucka’s bizarre aborted tackle attempt like it is the tale of Passover, and the Wicked Son is told that you should “never, ever tackle life’s obstacles in this matter.”
Clearly, no matter how much the world changes, the horribly painful lesson of the Giants loss to Tennessee will reverberate for all eternity. OK, perhaps Coughlin was in fact liberally pumping up the importance of the loss to attempt a self-abusive end run around his critics. And yet there really were some basic, timeless and game-transcending truths which both the Giants and the Titans put on display to the world Sunday, when the Giants cruise ship ran into a titanic iceberg within their own minds.
The Giants’ three-headed fourth quarter goat, Plaxico Burress, Kiwanucka and Eli Manning, proved that you really do need to concentrate on executing your job and hustling until the whistle blows in order to be a winner. First, Burress changed the tone of the game with his lazy, yawning play with a big lead, allowing an errant pass to sail by without defending against the DB, Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, who intercepted it. Plax was reduced to a vulnerable blinking ghost as Pac-Man ate him up for 100 points, streaking down the sideline under the protection of his power pill.
Soon after, Kiwanucka had both of his huge arms wrapped around Titans QB Vince Young in a 4th and 10 death embrace that should have ended the game right there. Seems like the Giants' rookie defensive end either anticipated an “in the grasp” whistle that wasn’t there, or thought the ball had been thrown away. All he had to do was keep hugging and fall to the ground, which right there would be nothing the more than the basic definition of a tackle. Kiwanucka’s two-hand-touch level of effort breathed life back into the Titans as Young escaped his too-gentle clutches and rambled 20 yards for a first down.
Young Eli gave the self-inserted dagger its final twist. Inexplicably, the Giants QB put the ball in Young’s hands again at the exact moment where he could do anything but that and still go to overtime. His poor execution exceeded only by his poor decision making, Eli’s mind seems to be moving one way and his arm another these days. As if oblivious of the confounding failures of goats 1 and 2, Manning seemed to want to be the game’s hero, and lacked the judgment to realize what he was risking in that ill-advised pursuit.
As much as the Giants proved that a lack of mental toughness can be a team’s undoing, Vince Young demonstrated the type of miracle that heart and skill can produce. Young was deadly with his feet and hands and seemed nothing like a rookie, hitting his receivers, and then, with his brilliant sense of timing, knowing exactly when he could scramble ahead of the scattered Giants’ defenders. Most importantly, he never gave up, and always kept his head in the game. With the lead 21-0 in the fourth quarter, and Giants fans all counting the victory and going out to pick up their Chinese food, Young seemed to be the only person in the world taking seriously the Titans chance to steal the game.
Young’s day brought back memories of his epic performance for Texas, when they defeated USC in last year’s college title bout. 30 of 40 passing for 267 yards PLUS 200 running, and “that touchdown”, that perfectly timed scramble to the corner of the endzone on fourth down. So clutch. Also brings back memories of those human interest segments about Young’s near fatal bike accident when he was six, about the disturbingly large scar on his little torso, and how he had to spend almost a year in the hospital. Young says the accident made him who he is today. You can feel that the kid has courage, he knows he his not Superman but he also believes that if he fights and does not quit he can accomplish anything.
How could Vince Young be the most confident man on the field, with all the Giants talent and their 21-0 lead? Like Tom Coughlin, I believe mankind will be attempting to answer this question until the very end of recorded time.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Tiki Talks to the World
“They don’t hit you like that on ‘Fox and Friends’”.
I credit Stan Verrett of the Sports Center posse with the most humorously succinct take on the “Tiki Situation”. We understand from Tiki that his Giants teammates have known for a while of his retirement plans, but now us mere fans have had a few games to process the announcement. I was pulling for my team in the first Monday night game vs. the Cowboys following Tiki’s announcement, yet there was something else I wanted to take a closer look at. I was also high fiving my friend and fellow Giants fan Adam when Tiki got blown up on a vicious hit by 257 pound De Marcus Ware, and lost the ball quicker than I lose my keys. Why did I want Tiki to get slammed?
Its not the fact that Tiki is leaving football, but where he is going that is unsettling. The world of morning network reporting just seems so politely objective and so cheerfully perky that it should be light years away from the mentality we expect from a Sunday Football Warrior. A football player should be partisan, dyed in the colors of his team, not objectively covering all sides with the required vanilla tone of network media. As a football player one is encouraged to yell and curse and slam your fist into the lockers when pumping up your teammates before a game, wouldn’t that make it almost comical to have a football player delivering the peppy pleasantries of morning news?
But Tiki’s definitely a different type of football player, you can hear it right away in the articulate gentleness of his words and you can see it in the unrelenting charisma of his million dollar smile. As Tiki informs the world in his unapologetic Cadillac Escalade commercial, “opportunities are seldom perfect,” but when the guy ahead of you is injured, you gotta run for daylight and make the most of it. Obviously, Tiki has moved way up the ladder of morning reporter candidates because he is already a media figure and a recognizable name. But why would he want to? There are a million other ways to make money and be a public person that also don’t destroy your knees. Some of which help people and most of which have more character.
Tiki’s early retirement has been compared to that of the great Jim Brown, who left football to kick ass on screen in lowbrow but popular movies. At least he still WAS Jim Brown, a swashbuckling larger than life hero. That Tiki could still be Tiki on the morning news, that he could be the REAL Tiki while quipping with the co-anchor and straightening his papers as they go to break just doesn’t feel right. As a fan you want your team to be led by larger than life warriors, who spit out the blood when they get hit and growl back to the line for the next play. It’s safe to say Mark Bavaro never wanted to read the morning news.
I credit Stan Verrett of the Sports Center posse with the most humorously succinct take on the “Tiki Situation”. We understand from Tiki that his Giants teammates have known for a while of his retirement plans, but now us mere fans have had a few games to process the announcement. I was pulling for my team in the first Monday night game vs. the Cowboys following Tiki’s announcement, yet there was something else I wanted to take a closer look at. I was also high fiving my friend and fellow Giants fan Adam when Tiki got blown up on a vicious hit by 257 pound De Marcus Ware, and lost the ball quicker than I lose my keys. Why did I want Tiki to get slammed?
Its not the fact that Tiki is leaving football, but where he is going that is unsettling. The world of morning network reporting just seems so politely objective and so cheerfully perky that it should be light years away from the mentality we expect from a Sunday Football Warrior. A football player should be partisan, dyed in the colors of his team, not objectively covering all sides with the required vanilla tone of network media. As a football player one is encouraged to yell and curse and slam your fist into the lockers when pumping up your teammates before a game, wouldn’t that make it almost comical to have a football player delivering the peppy pleasantries of morning news?
But Tiki’s definitely a different type of football player, you can hear it right away in the articulate gentleness of his words and you can see it in the unrelenting charisma of his million dollar smile. As Tiki informs the world in his unapologetic Cadillac Escalade commercial, “opportunities are seldom perfect,” but when the guy ahead of you is injured, you gotta run for daylight and make the most of it. Obviously, Tiki has moved way up the ladder of morning reporter candidates because he is already a media figure and a recognizable name. But why would he want to? There are a million other ways to make money and be a public person that also don’t destroy your knees. Some of which help people and most of which have more character.
Tiki’s early retirement has been compared to that of the great Jim Brown, who left football to kick ass on screen in lowbrow but popular movies. At least he still WAS Jim Brown, a swashbuckling larger than life hero. That Tiki could still be Tiki on the morning news, that he could be the REAL Tiki while quipping with the co-anchor and straightening his papers as they go to break just doesn’t feel right. As a fan you want your team to be led by larger than life warriors, who spit out the blood when they get hit and growl back to the line for the next play. It’s safe to say Mark Bavaro never wanted to read the morning news.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)