FanNation - The Republic of Sport

All over New England this morning, fans are going into their local Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and mom and pop shops and ordering their morning coffee, hoping the burst of caffeine helps overcome the massive hangover, alcohol induced or not, that engulfs them. 

I am one of those people.  But in reality, should I be shocked?  Should any Pats fan?  Because it wasn't that long ago that it was the Patriots and their fans who were in this situation and the hangover was due to euphoria, not shock, as they overcame the odds and the experts prognostications for Ram greatness and stunned the Greatest Show on Turf, winning their first ever Super Bowl; a victory that vaulted a quarterback, a coach and an organization into greatness.

Back in 2002, the only people who were giving the Patriots any chance at all lived inside the confines of New England.  It was the same with the Giants last night, except it was only New Yorkers who were giving the Giants any shot.  How quickly we forget.   It was Roger Daltry and the Who said "Won't Get Fooled Again".    But I did get fooled and as much as I don't want to admit it, I probably will get fooled again.  Because when it comes to sports and your love for a sports team, many times your heart overrules your head, or at least tricks your head into believing something else. 

In the days (and weeks) before last night's game, people would ask me if the Giants had a chance.  Actually, they'd be more apt to TELL me that the Giants had no chance.  In the deep recesses of my mind, I'd think back to that night in 2002, when the Patriots stunned the world and say "anything can happen".  But I didn't want to believe it could happen to my Patriots so I'd say, "nah, the Patriots are too good, too strong, the greatest offense ever".  How quickly we forget. 

My alarm is set to 5:40 each morning.  This morning I didn't need the alarm.  I awoke shortly after 5:00, and although not rising, I wasn't sleeping.  I was replaying key plays of the 4th quarter over again and again.  I saw Randy Moss score the game winning touchdown (at least I thought it was going to be the game winner) with 2:42 left.  I saw Eli throw up the game ending turnover that bounced just past Asante Samuel's outstretched hands.  I saw Eli in the grasp, ready to be sacked on 3rd and 5, only to make a great escape and throw a pass to David Tyree, who made one of the greatest grabs in Super Bowl history.  I waited for the Pats to stuff the Giants on 3rd and 11, only to see Eli hit Steve Smith for 12 yards and a first down and watch Smith have the intelligence to not only know where the first down mark was, but to get out of bounds and save what little precious time the Giants had. 

And I saw over and over again as Plaxico Burress pulled in the actual game winning score , the catch that annointed the Giants champions and the current holders of the title of "the team that pulled off the greatest upset in sports history".  Even though the clock said there were only 35 seconds remaining, I still thought that gave Tom Brady (the king of the comebacks) enough time to drive the Patriots the 50 yards or so that they needed to get within field goal range.  And in the deep recesses of my mind, I thought about Adam Vinitieri, and wondered if Stephen Gostkowski would be able to convert like Vinitieri did so many times before, in that oh-so-clutch situation. 

Today I'm hearing how the Pats played so poorly, how they were off their game.  You're right, they weren't on their game, but don't blame it on poor execution by the Pats.  Lets give credit where credit is due.  The Patriots lost because the Giants played a better game last night.  The Giants came in with a game plan and they executed it to perfection.  I didn't think that the Giants would win.  I didn't think the Giants were the second best team in the NFC.  But they went on the road and defeated the Buccaneers.  Nobody gave them a chance, but they went on the road and won at Big-D.  Nobody gave them a chance, but they went on the road and defeated Brett Favre and the Pack in one of the coldest games in NFL history.  And nobody gave them a chance last night.  But they won.

Congratulations to the Giants.  In the end (and by in the end I mean the end of the season) they were playing better than anyone, including the Patriots, and they proved it last night.