Super Thoughts (this one is long but well worth the read)

Well now that America's unofficial holiday has passed I thought I'd take a moment to express my thoughts on the game/night. I'm not a huge fan of the Superbowl since the game has become second tier to commercialism and the such but also on that same tangent the games it rarely the best game of the playoffs, let alone the season. This year it turned out a little differently since the post season games leading up to the Superbowl were unusually lacking this time around. All in all the game was entertaining and close enough to keep my attention thought for the most part it lacked exciting downfield plays. Oh man 6+ months until football again

- Root, Root, Root: Because I had no rooting interest in either team I had to find something to root for and that came in the way of "gambling". I put up $1 for two "squares" in Jeffs pool and in turn received Pats 9 Eagles 8, which I wasn't too keen on, and Pats 7 Eagles 7 which with any football game isnt a bad number to have. After the dreadfully sloppy first quarter with no points and knowing the methodical drives both teams use in scoring, I was excited at the prospect that the half could end knotted in 7, which it did. And such my fifty cent 7/7 square payed a cool 20-1 and I made $10. Yay!

- Just Enough: That is exactly what both quarterbacks did. In the case of Tom Brady it was just enough good things and in McNabb's case it was just enough bad things. This has been Brady's style for his 3+ year career and in the end its the wins that matter. Is Tom Brady great? No! Is Tom Brady good? Yes, good enough! And when it came down to it, McNabb failed under pressure. The Eagles were not a running team during the season, and that showed in the Superbowl and finally McNabb couldn't carry the team this time around. He is still a great quarterback? Better then Brady? Debateable. Brady is a product of the system and its the greatest system I have witnessed in any sport and nobody has had the ability to mimic it. The Patriots won because of Brady and his system while the Eagles lost because of McNabb.

- Superstars: Both the defenses gave up lost of yards with out giving up a lot of points, which led to both Deion Branch and Terrell Owens having field days catching the balls. Branch tied a Superbowl record with 11 receptions and over 130 yds. And was deservedly the MVP. He was my choice. While the Patriots still lack a true Superstar, ala Terrell Owens, but finally one of the Patriots receivers has emerged from the pack as a consisent guy to look to. Props for the UL guy. On the other side the media bought right into the Terrell Owens injury hype (recall I did not saying Owens would do whats best for him) and Owens actually did what I expected, minus a touchdown, but those were hard to come by for the Eagles. Owens proved why he is a top echelon wide receiver and even in the loss proved his greatness.

- Where's Corolla?: Terry McAuley and his crew were the best officiating crew over the course of the season and for that were rewarded with the SuperBowl. Congratulations on that accomplishment and it was a well officiated game. Despite having 3 challenges, Terry correctly reversed all three of the decisions from the field. That is what replay challenge is there for and it proved its use last night when the championship was on the line. I was hoping for Bill Carollo but I recall a few weeks into the season he and his crew struggled with a few calls in the Browns game and that probably cost him the Superbowl assignment. Theres always next year Bill!

- Talking Animals: While I had considered boycotting the commercialism of the Superbowl by switching away during commercials I decided that for the longest time (my lifetime at least) it has been just as integral part of the Superbowl. It would be like not having fireworks on the 4th of July. You just can't do it. For me I enjoyed only a handful of the commericals with my favorite being the SBC/Yahoo commercial with the woman "wonderin' what clothes to wear" as her husband repeats that line from "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. Other good commercials included the Fed Ex mocking of Superbowl commercials and the Ameriquest "don't judge too soon."

- Baby You Can Do My Halftime: After last years halftime debacle, and years and years of lacking Superbowl halftimes, it was refreshing to see Sir Paul McCartney (a Brit nonetheless) perform his hits and in doing so doing it with candor. McCartney obviously knew he was on the grand stage and performed as such. Being the classic rock "buff" that I am I really loved the halftime show that actually kept me from using the restroom (which I ALWAYS do at Superbowl halftime) to watch the entire gig. Thank you, Paul!

- American Dad, yet another half hour animated comedy by Seth McFarlane (creator of Family Guy) was very funny. I recall laughing hysterically at the premier of Family Guy after the Superbowl years ago and last night the same held true. I love the concept of the show and what beats a gold fish with the brain of a German guy? Exactly. Like Family Guy, American Dad is very topical and yet I enjoyed the blatant topical humor that is often "hidden" in Family Guy. I mean God calling G.W. to tell him to quit using his name so often in his addresses. Hilarious. I can't wait until May when I can enjoy an hour of Seth McFarlane animated comedies.

- And finally to end this ENORMOUSLY long blog (sorry!) I'm going to analyze the "dynasty" term. Taking the 2 legimate dyansties of the NFL, the Dallal Cowboys from 1992-93 to 1995-96 (3 Superbowls in 4 years) and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974-75 until 1979-80 (4 Superbowls in 6 years) I have taken a few numbers and would like to compare the newest dyansty, the 2001-02 to 2004-05 (and longer?) New England Patriots. Editors Note: While the San Fransisco 49ers won 4 Superbowls in 9 years (1981-82 to 1989-90) and dominated the 80s they are not necessarily considered a "dynasty" in the minds of most NFL guru. Also the Green Bay Packers who won the first 2 Superbowls and the 1965-66 NFL Championship are not being considered because their winning does not fall entirely into the modern era. And now the analysis and I let you decide on teh dynasty title. Though there is no doubt the Steel Curtain will never be matched.

- New England Patriots
SUPERBOWLS
- Superbowl XXXIX: Patriots 24 Eagles 21
- Superbowl XXXVIII: Patriots 32 Panthers 29
- Superbowl XXXVI: Patriots 20 Rams 17
- Average Margin of Victory: 3 pts.
- Average Points per Game: 25.3

REGULAR SEASON RECORDS DURING DYNASTY SPAN
- 2004-05: 14-2
- 2003-04: 14-2
- 2002-03: 9-7(missed playoffs)
- 2001-02: 11-5
- Overall: 48-16(.750)

- Dallas Cowboys
SUPERBOWLS
- Superbowl XXX: Cowboys 27 Steelers 17
- Superbowl XVIII: Cowboys 30 Bills 13
- Superbowl XVII: Cowboys 52 Bills 17
- Average Margin of Victory: 20.6
- Average Points per Game: 36.3

REGULAR SEASON RECORDS DURING DYNASTY SPAN
- 1995-96: 12-4
- 1994-95: 12-4(lost NFC Championship game 38-28 to 49ers)
- 1993-94: 12-4
- 1992-93: 13-3
- Overall: 49-15(.765)

- Pittsburgh Steelers
SUPERBOWLS
- Superbowl XIV: Steelers 31 LA Rams 19
- Superbowl XIII: Steelers 35 Cowboys 31
- Superbowl X: Steelers 21 Cowboys 17
- Superbowl IX: Steelers 16 Vikings 6
- Average Margin of Victory: 7.5
- Average Points per Game: 25.75

REGULAR SEASON RECORDS DURING DYNASTY SPAN
- 1979-80: 12-4
- 1978-79: 14-2
- 1977-78: 9-5* (14 game schedule/lost in Divisional Playoff game 34-21 to Broncos)
- 1976-77: 10-4 (lost in AFC Championship game 24-7 to Raiders)
- 1975-76: 12-2
- 1974-75: 10-3-1
- Overall: 67-20-1(.761)

- Notice that the Cowboys and Steelers made the playoff in their "down" year(s)

- And finally my Fantabulous Five
1) Illinois Fighting Illini
2) North Carolina Tarheels
3) Kansas Jayhawks
4) Boston College Eagles
5) Wake Forest Deamon Deacons