The Not So Super Bowl
Photo Credit: Adapated by the Beachcomber
Plenty of Reasons to Watch this Super Rematch
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February 3, 2012 • Gyasi Redding, Staff Reporter
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
Rematch: noun. A second match between teams, challengers, etc. Funny how a word so simply defined can come to mean so much. The rematch: the second chance for one combatant, the opportunity to exert dominance for the other. Many fans are disgruntled about the fact that this year’s Super Bowl, featuring the New England Patriots and New [Jersey] Giants, is a rematch of the one that was played four years ago. Rematches have existed in since sports themselves began, and can range anywhere from “Utterly Uninteresting” to “Completely Consuming” on the intrigue scale. In the golden age of sports, rematches between powerful opponents were highly anticipated events, in any sport from Boxing to Football. Curiously, however, the public opinion of these rematches has negatively changed in the modern era. So what’s changed? Why do fans no longer approve of the best contenders slugging it out as many times as it takes to decide a victor? The answer to that question is unclear, but believe me you; there are plenty of reasons to tune into the big game this Sunday.
Super Bowl XLVI will be just the sixth rematch in the history of the game, and all signs indicate it will be an exciting one. Predictably, the fans of the teams playing in these rematches usually feel that there is much more at stake than just winning a game. To gain a little more perspective on this view, I interviewed Shaki Harvey, a sophomore and Patriots fan who is hoping his team will walk away with another Super Bowl victory.
Q: How do you feel about this year’s Super Bowl being a rematch of the one that was played 4 years ago, which the Patriots lost to the Giants?
A: I feel like it’s another opportunity to get that victory back from 2007, to redeem ourselves
Q: Do you think it’s fair for the same teams to go to Super Bowl several times while other teams have never made it?
A: Yes it’s fair, because certain teams don’t have the talent and some teams do. If you don’t have the talent, you won’t make it. For example, the Chargers. They’ve been once and it was like 1960-something, and they lost on top of that.
Q: Do you ever feel like sports events are staged or pre-planned?
A: No. The NFL is like any other football game in America; no one would fake it and lose because everyone wants to win.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say about the Super Bowl?
A: Aw man, okay. When the Patriots win….enough said. No further comment.
Shaki mentioned redemption, which is one of the main factors in the appeal of a rematch. In the NFL, teams in the same division play against each other twice during the regular season. Teams that are able to complete a “sweep” of their divisional opponents, winning both matchups, are seen as dominant that season. Some teams dominate their divisional opponents for longer periods of time, for example, earlier this season the Buffalo Bills ended their 8 year losing streak against the New England Patriots.
However, the Giants and Patriots are not in the same division. In fact, they have only met each other twice in the past four years. So why should you be interested in this game? Well, I’m glad you asked. Four years ago, these teams were opponents in Super Bowl XLII, a game that the Patriots entered with a perfect record of 18-0. New England was expected to easily beat the Giants and leapfrog the 1972 Dolphins as the greatest team of all time. However, New York pulled off what is now considered the most improbable upset ever, beating the Patriots 17-14. Not interested yet? Hold on, there’s more.
That same season, a sniveling, traitorous assistant coach of the Patriots defected to the New York Jets and blew the whistle on a videotaping scandal in New England. The Patriots organization was dealt heavy fines and ridiculed for several weeks. However, New England silenced their critics by dominating team after team on the way to a 16-0 record in the regular season and a record 50 touchdown passes by legendary quarterback Tom Brady. Their success continued in the playoffs, as they reached the Super Bowl. It seemed as though they would complete their perfect season, but some extremely lucky plays in the fourth quarter lifted the Giants to a last-minute victory. New England, players and fans, was devastated. The loss led fans to question the earlier successes of the Patriots, when they were able to win three super bowl titles within four years.
Since that game, Tom Brady the Patriots failed to win in the playoffs, until this season that is. For years, fans have questioned if Tom Brady’s magic had disappeared after the 2007 season, if somehow the Super Bowl loss had sapped him of his seemingly magical abilities. Have no doubt, Tom Brady, the Patriots, the whole region of New England, and every single fan is seeking revenge this Sunday. To top all of that off, a win would place Tom Brady in the company of his boyhood idol Joe Montana, marking his fourth Super Bowl win. Emerging victorious in Super Bowl XLVI would also tie Patriots head coach Bill Belicheck with Chuck Knoll, coach of the Steelers 70s dynasty, for most Super Bowl wins by a coach.
Guess what? The storylines don’t stop there. The quarterback of the Giants is a man named Eli Manning. You may have heard of his brother, Peyton. He’s been moderately successful as the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback over the past decade. Eli’s career has been constantly overshadowed by the accomplishments of his older brother, a four-time league MVP and the MVP of Super Bowl XLI. Tom Brady’s career has also been entwined with Peyton’s, as the duo battled in the playoffs regularly when the Patriots won their three Lombardi trophies. As fate would have it, the Super Bowl is being hosted in the Colt’s stadium this season. Consequently, Peyton Manning will see either his younger brother or arch-rival win another championship on his home turf.
And did I mention this game will be one of many in the legendary rivalry between New York and Boston sports teams? I’m not saying these two cities hate each other, but it’s safe to assume there are some serious bragging rights hanging on the outcome of this game. When you add all that to the epic collection of Super Bowl commercials we’ll be treated to on Sunday afternoon, and you’ll hard pressed to find a reason not to watch this game. By the way, Madonna is performing the halftime show. Yeah, you read that right. Madonna. Halftime show. So tune into Super Bowl XLVI this Sunday at 6:30 pm eastern. It’s sure to be a classic.
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