Pulling a Belichick
Forget the ?Immaculate Reception? or ?Montana-to-Clark.?
Sunday's ?Manning-to-Tyree? was the greatest single catch in NFL history. The much-maligned Manning took the snap with the Giants third-and-5 on their own 44 yard-line. He should have been sacked not once but three times on the play, but never went down, the only victim being his jersey. Recovering his footing, he threw the ball deep to a receiver who was third in his position's depth chart, David Tyree.
Tyree, who had already caught the first touchdown pass of his entire season in the first half, battled safety and living-legend, Rodney Harrison for the ball. Somehow, the unknown Tyree got both hands on it, then almost lost it until literally using his head, he managed to hold on. Down at the Patriot's 24 yard-line, there was 59 seconds left on the clock. Thirty-five seconds later star receiver Plaxico Burris, the man seen by many at midweek as irresponsibly cocky for predicting victory, and who until then been all but eliminated from the game by New England's swarming defense, scored what would turn out to be the game winning touchdown.
However, there was still time on the clock and Tom Brady had the ball. It turned out that perfection that was to be defined by going 19-0 simply wasn't meant to be and the Patriots turned the ball over on downs. The huge underdog took out the previously anointed team of the ages.
As the clock ticked down the score stood at Giants 17 - Patriots 14.
The greatest Super Bowl ever was near its end. The celebration was already on after what was thought to be one team's stirring game ending drive was inexplicably surpassed by an even more spectacular game winner.
Too bad not everyone was there to see it.
Of all those involved either on the field, in the stands or even those 90-million plus watching on TV, probably the only one who didn't see the end of the game was the Patriot's coach, Bill Belichick.
With one second left he had left the building.
It is the ultimate compliment in sports. Having ones name immortalized in the game's vernacular:
?A Montana-like drive.?
?That was almost Tiger-esque.?
?He could be the next Jordan.?
Conversely, names can also be used to lay the ultimate insult:
?Something even Tyson wouldn't do.?
?A cheap shot worthy of Todd Bertuzzi.?
Or 2007's addition to the list:
?Dumber than Michael Vick.?
Now early on in 2008 we can add another. From now on whenever someone in sports acts like a child and metaphorically takes his ball and goes home, it can be described as ?Pulling a Belichick.?
With one second to go on the clock the Patriot's coach ran off through the tunnel into infamy demonstrating so clearly what had only been previously suspected.
Belichick is a suck. A sore loser. No class.
A man's character is best demonstrated when he is forced to handle adversity.
The first time anything went really wrong for him all season was right at its end.
So - where was he?
Hiding.
After the game, when confronted as to why he left, all he could say was, ?There wasn't much left at that point.?
As a man, there is not much left of his reputation either. Anyone who has ever played any game has been taught there is no shame in losing. Losing is as much a part of the game as there is in winning. The Patriots won 18 games this season and lost in the greatest Super Bowl of all time.
There is no shame in that.
The only shame there is with their coach.
Cheers ? Gavin McDougald ? AKA Couch
Click here for 2009 Super Bowl XLIII Futures Now!
Forget the ?Immaculate Reception? or ?Montana-to-Clark.?
Sunday's ?Manning-to-Tyree? was the greatest single catch in NFL history. The much-maligned Manning took the snap with the Giants third-and-5 on their own 44 yard-line. He should have been sacked not once but three times on the play, but never went down, the only victim being his jersey. Recovering his footing, he threw the ball deep to a receiver who was third in his position's depth chart, David Tyree.
Tyree, who had already caught the first touchdown pass of his entire season in the first half, battled safety and living-legend, Rodney Harrison for the ball. Somehow, the unknown Tyree got both hands on it, then almost lost it until literally using his head, he managed to hold on. Down at the Patriot's 24 yard-line, there was 59 seconds left on the clock. Thirty-five seconds later star receiver Plaxico Burris, the man seen by many at midweek as irresponsibly cocky for predicting victory, and who until then been all but eliminated from the game by New England's swarming defense, scored what would turn out to be the game winning touchdown.
However, there was still time on the clock and Tom Brady had the ball. It turned out that perfection that was to be defined by going 19-0 simply wasn't meant to be and the Patriots turned the ball over on downs. The huge underdog took out the previously anointed team of the ages.
As the clock ticked down the score stood at Giants 17 - Patriots 14.
The greatest Super Bowl ever was near its end. The celebration was already on after what was thought to be one team's stirring game ending drive was inexplicably surpassed by an even more spectacular game winner.
Too bad not everyone was there to see it.
Of all those involved either on the field, in the stands or even those 90-million plus watching on TV, probably the only one who didn't see the end of the game was the Patriot's coach, Bill Belichick.
With one second left he had left the building.
It is the ultimate compliment in sports. Having ones name immortalized in the game's vernacular:
?A Montana-like drive.?
?That was almost Tiger-esque.?
?He could be the next Jordan.?
Conversely, names can also be used to lay the ultimate insult:
?Something even Tyson wouldn't do.?
?A cheap shot worthy of Todd Bertuzzi.?
Or 2007's addition to the list:
?Dumber than Michael Vick.?
Now early on in 2008 we can add another. From now on whenever someone in sports acts like a child and metaphorically takes his ball and goes home, it can be described as ?Pulling a Belichick.?
With one second to go on the clock the Patriot's coach ran off through the tunnel into infamy demonstrating so clearly what had only been previously suspected.
Belichick is a suck. A sore loser. No class.
A man's character is best demonstrated when he is forced to handle adversity.
The first time anything went really wrong for him all season was right at its end.
So - where was he?
Hiding.
After the game, when confronted as to why he left, all he could say was, ?There wasn't much left at that point.?
As a man, there is not much left of his reputation either. Anyone who has ever played any game has been taught there is no shame in losing. Losing is as much a part of the game as there is in winning. The Patriots won 18 games this season and lost in the greatest Super Bowl of all time.
There is no shame in that.
The only shame there is with their coach.
Cheers ? Gavin McDougald ? AKA Couch
Click here for 2009 Super Bowl XLIII Futures Now!
