It was cold yesterday. It was cold in Massachusetts. It was even colder in Green Bay, like negative 17 degrees ... negative 31 with the wind. Third-coldest postseason game in NFL history.
The New England game ended the way I like. The Green Bay game did not. Overtime, Green Bay wins the toss, an interception, and then Lawrence Tynes gets the third field goal attempt after botching the first two. Did anyone catch Giants coach Tom Coughlin's temper tantrum after Tynes messed up the first? I hadn't seen anything like it since basic training. Sadly, though, it seems to have worked as a motivational device.
Anyway, I know Giants fans, and they simply don't deserve the victory. Everyone disenchanted with money-drenched professional sports has to love the plucky little municipally-owned team. And anyone annoyed by fair-weather fans (as a former Bleacher Creature, this often afflicts me at baseball stadiums not located in Boston or the Bronx) has got to love the dedication of those who love the Packers.
“It makes me feel like a sissy,” said Troy Aikman on national television when Fox cut to that shot. I have to agree. Over to you, Carlos.
It wasn't a bad win for the Giants. I'd say they consistently outplayed the Packers. Coughlin found a nice mismatch between Al Harris and Plaxico Burress and exploited it, and I do think familiarity with former Giants Ryan Grant's rushing style helped them stop the run.
I am disappointed in McCarthy's inability to improvise a new game plan, but then I remember that it's his second year as head coach. Ever.
I would like to point out to all professional football referees who might be reading this blog that making bad calls in favor of one team is _not_ negated by making further bad calls in favor of the other team.
And while Giants fans might not deserve the win, it's not like they have any stake in the team either. Some plutocrat does, or some bookie, and the team might as well be on Mars. Instead of grassroots interaction, you have a media circus (look at the rise and fall of Tiki Barber). It's no wonder that Giants fans are volatile.
As for the bikini'ed fans, all I can say is: ah, my people.
Posted by: Carlos | January 22, 2008 at 01:19 AM
The best part about that photo is all the guys who aren't paying the slightest bit of attention to the women, because they're focused on the game.
Posted by: Carrie | January 22, 2008 at 06:41 AM
That was a rough one, but the Pack redeemed themselves with Mr. Rodgers in 2010.
Posted by: Packer Backers | May 07, 2011 at 12:25 AM
I see all sorts of Green Bay Packers stuff for sale now. I even saw motorcycle helmets with the Green Bay Packer Logos! They were at http://www.helmetshop.com/nfl.html
Whats next? Baby Diapers shaped like Cheese Heads?
Posted by: Linda Harbison | December 13, 2011 at 05:03 AM