by Tom Weppel
IT’S FINALLY HERE! This Sunday the Giants and Patriots will play Super Bowl 42 in Phoenix, Arizona. Obviously, the game is sold out, with tickets being scalped for tens of thousands of dollars, most of it being done online. The game will start at 6 pm EST and be seen around the world by millions, as the NFL likes to remind us.
Of course, most of those around the world might not even care. I believe a lot of people now watch the game simply because it’s the ‘thing to do,’ and so they can watch the stupid commercials that air during the game. Corporations have paid $2.7 million per 30 second spot to have their advertisement played during this game. A lot of the spots are awful.
We have already been overrun for most of the week by tremendous hype. It comes from all the idiots who are doing whatever they can to involve themselves in this event. That said, to me, this game to me has gotten to be too much in so many ways. It receives WAY too much media coverage, with every network and camera you could think of there to follow the happenings. There is WAY too much analysis, as so many sports media pundits will give you their inside scoop, their breakdown of both teams and all the participants, and finally their ridiculous predictions.
Nonetheless, the game will be played and the importance of winning cannot be argued whatsoever. After this entire season, in which 32 teams all wanted to get here, we are down to the last two.
We all know the scene. New England has been the frontrunner all season long, dominating all opponents, especially at the beginning of the season. They are very talented. Their Head Coach, Bill Belichick, is a guy who seems to have zero personality and is very boring to listen to. But he must be doing something right for his boys to have the success achieved.
The New York Giants, meanwhile, have been a team that, for all intents, came out of nowhere. They were good but not REAL good. The NFC was dominated this season by the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. Both of those teams beat the Giants handily at the beginning of the season.
But New York kept fighting and pushing and shoving, to the point where they were able to snag a Wild Card spot. Tom Coughlin got his group together and they went on to win three playoff games on the road, when they were in fact the underdogs every time. QB Eli Manning has been criticized and questioned all season long for his abilities and performances. Yet the boy has been effective in the postseason, taking care of business and making things happen.
Both rosters are loaded with names. The Pats feature QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss and LBs Teddy Bruschi and Junior Seau. The Giants have Manning, RB Brandon Jacobs, WR Plaxico Burress and DE Michael Strahan. There are plenty more to throw out, all who have great talents.
You also know these two teams played in the last regular season game. The Giants gave the Pats a decent run before New England pulled out the win, 38-35. So, it’s safe to say they both know each other. What makes this game so monumental is that the Patriots are undefeated. One more win and they will truly make history, possibly being considered the best team EVER to play in the NFL. THAT my friends, is HUGE!
You have to realize, though, that if New England were to lose this game, it would be a stunner. A loss would throw their season into a totally different perspective and they would be looked at in a much more negative vein. Make no mistake, the upstart Giants are good, having won ten consecutive road wins, including the three playoff games. Not many people thought they would be playing this weekend, yet here they are, trying to upend New England. If they were to do so, it would give them IMMENSE notoriety and fame, considering their past history. They will leave a legacy like no other if they were to beat the Patriots. New England started off as about a two TD favorite with the bookies out of Vegas. That line has lessened, especially since the Pats haven’t covered lines in the last three or four games, including the Giants game. Therefore, more betters will put their money on New York, figuring it will again be a close game. No matter who wins, it should be entertaining, interesting, and exciting. Hope you all enjoy watching.
Tom Weppel talks trash with Greg Larson, Lonnie Marts, Eugene Chung, Artis Gilmore, and Ron Duguay on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.
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