Tuesday, February 05, 2008

The Best Super Bowl Play Ever

Not only was yesterday’s game one of the most dramatic ever, and one of the biggest SB upsets ever, but it also included the greatest play ever, as well as the most asinine analyst comment ever. The comment and play were both in the last 2 minutes of the game.

First came the genius comment. With about 1:40 on the clock and the Giants trailing by 4 points, they faced a 4th and 1 on their own 37 yard line. Troy Aikman, the analyst for the game, proclaims that it’s an interesting decision coming up, and that the correct decision is to go for it. DUH!!!! Obviously they’ll go for it – what else are they going to do? Punt the ball! There’s only 100 seconds left in the game; they either do it on this drive or they lose the game. I couldn’t believe he actually thought there was a decision for Coughlin to make.

Four plays later was the amazing David Tyree reception, which has to go down as the greatest play in Super Bowl history. First of all, there was Manning’s Harry Houdini escape from a sack, an amazing effort in itself (and thank you refs for swallowing your whistles and not calling ‘in the grasp’). Then there was the catch where Tyree pinned the ball against his helmet while still in the air, the defender yanking at his arm while he fell to the ground. A supreme display of timing, athleticism, and strength by Tyree, combined with the miraculous escape and then heave from Manning, on a 3rd & 5 with just 1:15 left in the game while trailing by 4 point – I challenge anyone to come up with a more spectacular play in the history of the Super Bowl.

Finally, I’d like to thank my unborn child for hanging out in mom’s belly for a little longer, ignoring his February 3rd, Super Bowl Sunday due date. He knows the fast track to dad’s heart.