"TRULY" SUPER

This is being written before I allowed the audio/video/print media to tell me what they're sure I saw yesterday.

I accomplished this by turning off the TV last night in my third viewing location.

I did so immediately after Eli's acceptance of the MVP trophy with his appropriate follow-up comments following the usual inane questions and answers from both the announcers and the so -called "dignitaries".

Did Tisch really refer to the Giants coach as "Kauffman" or was I just tuckered out and/or a victim of over zealous Pinot Grigio consumption as I now recovered at home in my comfortable recliner?

Despite having access to two wide screen tv's in our home upon which we might have decided to comfortably watch the big game - we decided to go out.

By doing so we also managed to avoid participation or attendance at any of the many Super Bowl parties held in various residences. We were free to arrive and depart at our convenience. Plus, nobody took our seats when we went to the bathroom.

Our first destination was the pet friendly Firkins & Fox Restaurant
which is on Manatee Avenue a beach access road in Bradenton.

Here we could watch the game - hear the cheers and boos - but remain relatively disconnected.

We like and admire both teams but favored Eli Manning's Giants and ignored most of the comments from the New England resident seated beside us.

My wife's lack of interest in Tom Brady's Patriots appeared to be more closely related to his unwillingness to marry the first woman to whom he fathered a child - plus Tom's relatively stoic appearance coupled with the choice of clothing that adorned his coach.

Despite that - and having been a very successful athlete in her youth - while often playing sports in the shadow of an athletic older sister - Phyl knows more about football than just about any woman it's been my pleasure to meet.

Her disdain for the "B's duo" (Brady & Belichick) remained at game time despite the efforts of the PR people who had worked overtime to make both men appear to be more user friendly.

Quite frankly, I found much more believable the "relaxed intensity" of the "new" Tom Coughlin who admirably responded to the criticism of his former military bearing and treatment of his players.

Before going any further, let me address the old and often repeated question, "If you had one player to choose to start a professional football team - who would that be?"

My answer is simply: "Tom Brady."

I want to get this out of the way before the New York media - with whisps of white smoke pouring out of ESPN's chimney - proclaims Eli Manning is the next Pope.

We, "the titantic trio" -left during the second half as my wife was both tired and hungry for Casa Di Pizza's heavenly subs.

We were warmly greeted by Kevin - one of the owners from Buffalo who favor any team or substance "New Yorkish".

I lied to Kevin- to whom I explained that our arrival was based solely on our desire to discuss with him the Giant's "vaunted defense". This was shortly after Brady had completed 14 passes in a row.

While we enjoyed the brief wait for our subs and their four TV's, we admitted we were also rooting for "the Gints". Kevin's only response was "Anybody but the Patriots!".

If a college championship was decided in an elimination manner similar to that which led up to this final professional game, it is doubtful that anyone could dispute the right of both teams to be in this spectacular season finish.

Hopefully, the NCAA and greedy university presidents were paying attention.(or actually really cared)

Contrary to the predictions that this was going to be a high scoring game, it soon became obvious it was a battle of two great quarterbacks and their coaches.

The latter had previously worked together and really knew and understood both the game and their opponent.

Apparently their ony ignorance lies with their mysterious inability to distinguish between the numbers "11" and "12" when deciding how many players to send out onto the field.

This gaffe did not lessen our interest.

Now, a caveat.

Not sure I have the right guy here and don't want to look it up for reasons given above.

The numbers gaffe was certainly more palatable than Dan Patrick's(sic?) question of the now two-time Super Bowl and MVP quarterback winner: "What does it feel like to win in a stadium that your brother built?"

This would be after Eli had officially achieved one more Super Bowl victory than his commercially over exposed but likeable and more vivacious older brother.

Apparently Patrick (sic) has never had a competetive older sibling. Therefore, one assumes he also has no clue what a thrill it is for the younger sibling to surpass the other - particularly in a game for which they both excell.

Typical to his calm demeanor in taking apart the Patriots with his 30 of 40 completions for just shy of 300 yards, Eli, who directed the come from behind victory, simply responded, "It feels good anywhere you play."

Had the incredibly coordinated Ahmad Bradshaw not lost his balance and fallen into an almost empty end zone, the wild finish might have been only a dream.

Belichik's decision to allow Bradshaw to score almost uncontested in order to regain the ball most assuredly confirmed his coaching brillance.

Now, if he only could have suited up to attempt to catch the dropped desperation passes from his ace quarterback earlier and in the closing seconds.

Question: Did receiver Manningham obtain his surname before or after being created out of one of Eli's ribs? That was another great Super Bowl catch for which these contests have more than their share.

It was a game for which both QB's could be proud despite Brady's uninspired decision to throw the pass to Gronkowski that ended up in a interception by the Giant's Blackburn.

The 2 point "safety" for NY was also big.

It conceivably might have been avoided if, by given more time (which he wasn't), Brady was able to spot what I thought was a Patriots receiver down field to his right and closer to the sideline.

Brady did not choose to go in that direction - but elected the unoccupied middle of the field while still in the pocket - thus the safety.

Admittedly, I might have seen something that simply did not exist and now also now qualify as a "media expert."

But, to the victor goes the spoils.

So, while the media no doubt will be going nuts attempting to drive home what is sure to be their new found comparisons in the big game between Brady and Buffalo's ex-quarterback Kelly - let's bring this blog to a close.

Regardless of which team you were backing - or which team you supported during the regular season - if you're a professional football fan - you saw one helluva game yesterday.

Now, let's turn it over to "the experts" to tell you what you missed while mistakedly double-dipping the Doritos into the garbanzo bean salad bowl.

Congratulations Harry.