Patriots win again (yawn)
It used to be that Super Bowls were always blowouts. From the early seventies to the early eighties the AFC dominated, and with the exception of the two Steeler-Cowboy showdowns, the AFC representatives (Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders) won one stomping after another. Then the NFC gained the upper hand, and franchises ranging from the 49ers to the Bears to the Giants to the Redskins to the Cowboys administered beating after beating. Only Super Bowl XXIII (49ers 20, Bengals 16) interrupted the carnage.
The competitive level of these title games has improved since then. In fact, counting today's game, four of the past six have been very entertaining and closely waged contests.
But now that doesn't even seem to matter anymore, as the common thread still existant today is that there's just no suspense about the ultimate outcome.
ESPN2 always runs through the NFL Films highlight shows of all previous Super Bowls over SB weekend. I used to watch them all, until I regained my sanity. I watched the last few hours worth before kickoff today, just to get a refresher, and as the last few ticked by it reminded me of why I wasn't very hyped for SB XXXIX: there was no chance on Earth that the Patriots weren't going to win.
It's ironic in a sense, because after the Pats edged Philadelphia today 24-21, winning their third crown in four seasons, it was also the third in which they had only won by a field goal. In XXXVI they blew a fourth quarter lead and nearly choked; last year they blew a third quarter lead and a fourth quarter lead and nearly choked again. Today they managed to hold on at the end, but just barely. And yet in none of their three triumphs has there been any feeling, at least to me, that the other team actually had the momentum and was going to pull out the game.
I don't know why the Patriots' Super Bowls are so competitive when the playoff games that get them there are usually massacres. Maybe they just like to make it harder for themselves. But one thing you'll always know about this incarnation of the Patriots is that, as long as Bill Belichick is the coach and Bob Kraft is the owner, that team will never make mistakes and never fail to make every single clutch play.
And they will never fail to win the Super Bowl.
That's the problem with dynasties - unless it's your team, it sucks all the fun out of fandom for everybody else.
I suppose I could always start agitating for an explanation as to why the NFL continues to Roman numeralize these things. As a marketing ploy it got stale decades ago. No other team sport does it. And next year...well, I asked my son today what the Roman numeral would be for the 2006 edition. He thought about it for a few minutes, then managed to guess right - which fairly impressed me, since I thought he hated math.
The answer, BTW, is XL. Which means the Super Bowl halftime show will probably be sponsored by either Rochester Big & Tall or Weight Watchers.
Either way, the Patriots will have a big lead at halftime.
And maybe they'll stop hiring senior citizen rockers and bring back the wardrobe malfunction - sponsored by Pringles Porno Potato Chips.
Betcha can't pop just one....
The competitive level of these title games has improved since then. In fact, counting today's game, four of the past six have been very entertaining and closely waged contests.
But now that doesn't even seem to matter anymore, as the common thread still existant today is that there's just no suspense about the ultimate outcome.
ESPN2 always runs through the NFL Films highlight shows of all previous Super Bowls over SB weekend. I used to watch them all, until I regained my sanity. I watched the last few hours worth before kickoff today, just to get a refresher, and as the last few ticked by it reminded me of why I wasn't very hyped for SB XXXIX: there was no chance on Earth that the Patriots weren't going to win.
It's ironic in a sense, because after the Pats edged Philadelphia today 24-21, winning their third crown in four seasons, it was also the third in which they had only won by a field goal. In XXXVI they blew a fourth quarter lead and nearly choked; last year they blew a third quarter lead and a fourth quarter lead and nearly choked again. Today they managed to hold on at the end, but just barely. And yet in none of their three triumphs has there been any feeling, at least to me, that the other team actually had the momentum and was going to pull out the game.
I don't know why the Patriots' Super Bowls are so competitive when the playoff games that get them there are usually massacres. Maybe they just like to make it harder for themselves. But one thing you'll always know about this incarnation of the Patriots is that, as long as Bill Belichick is the coach and Bob Kraft is the owner, that team will never make mistakes and never fail to make every single clutch play.
And they will never fail to win the Super Bowl.
That's the problem with dynasties - unless it's your team, it sucks all the fun out of fandom for everybody else.
I suppose I could always start agitating for an explanation as to why the NFL continues to Roman numeralize these things. As a marketing ploy it got stale decades ago. No other team sport does it. And next year...well, I asked my son today what the Roman numeral would be for the 2006 edition. He thought about it for a few minutes, then managed to guess right - which fairly impressed me, since I thought he hated math.
The answer, BTW, is XL. Which means the Super Bowl halftime show will probably be sponsored by either Rochester Big & Tall or Weight Watchers.
Either way, the Patriots will have a big lead at halftime.
And maybe they'll stop hiring senior citizen rockers and bring back the wardrobe malfunction - sponsored by Pringles Porno Potato Chips.
Betcha can't pop just one....
posted by JASmius at 10:53 PM
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