Holy crap!

Why weren't the Packers in the Super Bowl? That's been the dominant thought in my head for 2 weeks with regards to anything about American professional football (not to be confused with the real football). But, being the sports maniac that I am, I went to a party and watched the game, expecting a massive boredom fest while the Patriots ran a coronation lap (I'm comment #1, and thanks to Joe for his excellent blog). Instead, I watched what might just be Patriots equivalent of the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series. Let me draw the comparisons:

1. Both championships looked like there was a chance it could be competitive, but you never thought beforehand that the underdog would actually pull it off. Granted, the 2001 Yanks weren't the 1998 team, but in the wake of terror, there was a sentiment that they were destined to win and lift a city's broken spirit. The Patriots were merely staring down a perfect season.
   
2. The contest for the championship is surprisingly closer than expected after it is more than half completed. Did you expect the Super Bowl to be 7-3 at half? After the third quarter? Didn't think so. Did you expect the D-Backs to be able to win Game 6 down 3-2 after 2 blown saves by Byung Hyun Kim? Didn't think so.
   
3. At a point late in the contest, there was a sense of it's over, and the dynasty will remain on top, even though there was ample time for it to change. See #2 for 2001 WS. Tom Brady throws a go ahead TD to Randy Moss? Game over, because you know the Pats D will hold. It's just gotta happen, right?
   
4. Some amazing sequence of events right at the end enables the upset. 9th Inning, Game 7, Yanks up 2-1. Mo Rivera on the mound. Game over, right? WRONG! Tell me you've seen a wilder finish to a Series and I'll ask if you were alive for any of these games (Tip of the Hat to Hardball Times). Back to tonight: Wasn't Eli down on that one scrum? And yet somehow he gets away and completes a 45 yard pass to put the Giants within a desperate fade route of a miracle if needed. Then Plaxico Burress finally gets open like he did against the Pa.... on second thought, we won't relive that, lest I damage my monitor with the mouse hurled through it.

Now that is over and the Giants have allowed the '72 Dolphins to enjoy their champagne, I can't help but think one thing.

It should have been the Packers. But they blew it.