Two weeks ago, my "fanhood" was tested. As a Packer fan, I put everything I had into rooting for the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Win this game, I thought, and my beloved Packers are in the Super Bowl. I watched the game with my family and some of my closest friends, all of them just as dedicated to the Packers as I am, and I'm sure many of you are.
When they lost that game, it was a tough pill to swallow. I tried to put in perspective that this is just a game, this is just football, something I have no bearing on, and can't affect the outcome of. The Giants came into Lambeau on a frigid Sunday night and stole that game from us. When the game ended, I took a few moments to gather my thoughts, and the only silver lining I could come up with was this: "At least they won't win the Super Bowl."
And then it happened.
Super Bowl XLII finally came over two weeks of hype. Two weeks of hearing about 19-0 and Brady's ankle. Two weeks of hearing about the Boston/New York rivarly and the Road Warrior Giants. Two weeks of many members of the national media giving themselves time to think, "You know, maybe this Giants team can beat the Patriots." I was certain it wouldn't happen. There was no way.
But as the teams took the field, the Patriots played as if they were the ones that were scared. Brady underthrew every other pass. The offensive line that once had nicknames like "Fraud Monitoring" crumbled to the Giants pass rush. Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo got more air time on FOX than Ryan Secreast could have ever dreamed for.
Then the Giants won, 17-14.
Yes, the Giants won.
17-14.
I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers me so much. But I haven't rooted this hard for a non Wisconsin team since the Falcons over the Vikings in 1998. Every Patriots Touchdown or big play I would jump out of my chair in ecstacy. Every Giants third down conversion brought back painful memories of two weeks ago.
Because two weeks ago, the Packers lost, and I knew I'd always think the Packers could have won Super Bowl XLII if they would have just won that game. Now I know.
We should be Super Bowl Champions.
And that's going to take a long time to get used to.
When they lost that game, it was a tough pill to swallow. I tried to put in perspective that this is just a game, this is just football, something I have no bearing on, and can't affect the outcome of. The Giants came into Lambeau on a frigid Sunday night and stole that game from us. When the game ended, I took a few moments to gather my thoughts, and the only silver lining I could come up with was this: "At least they won't win the Super Bowl."
And then it happened.
Super Bowl XLII finally came over two weeks of hype. Two weeks of hearing about 19-0 and Brady's ankle. Two weeks of hearing about the Boston/New York rivarly and the Road Warrior Giants. Two weeks of many members of the national media giving themselves time to think, "You know, maybe this Giants team can beat the Patriots." I was certain it wouldn't happen. There was no way.
But as the teams took the field, the Patriots played as if they were the ones that were scared. Brady underthrew every other pass. The offensive line that once had nicknames like "Fraud Monitoring" crumbled to the Giants pass rush. Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo got more air time on FOX than Ryan Secreast could have ever dreamed for.
Then the Giants won, 17-14.
Yes, the Giants won.
17-14.
I'm still trying to figure out why this bothers me so much. But I haven't rooted this hard for a non Wisconsin team since the Falcons over the Vikings in 1998. Every Patriots Touchdown or big play I would jump out of my chair in ecstacy. Every Giants third down conversion brought back painful memories of two weeks ago.
Because two weeks ago, the Packers lost, and I knew I'd always think the Packers could have won Super Bowl XLII if they would have just won that game. Now I know.
We should be Super Bowl Champions.
And that's going to take a long time to get used to.
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