Imperfect

There’s something about second-guessing that is too easy. Sure, an entire industry – sports media – is founded on looking back and questioning the unsuccessful plays of the last game, but there are times where it’s just… just far too easy.

It’ll be known as The Call and if the New England Patriots somehow find themselves short of at least the third seed in the upcoming playoffs, every person who criticized head coach Bill Belichick will point to the infamous 4th-and-2 as the genesis of all that apparently went wrong.

You know full well that if Kevin Faulk made that catch for the first down, “the HC” would have been a genius, so the idea that there’s such debate and vitriol the day after is actually pretty comical. Probably funnier, if not sadder, is that the people who made Belichick a football demigod have the gall to actually ask if this ill-fated decision has an effect on his legacy (a featured poll in ESPN’s SportsNation).

Yet, enough fist-shaking at the fist shakers, here’s the absolute, fundamental core truth of not just The Call, but of every play in every sport; one’s success comes from another’s failure. An offense doesn’t just score strictly because a player made the right pass or another can smell the goal. A cornerback may have been a step behind; the power forward didn’t do enough to impede his opponent’s progress to the basket; the goalie made a terrible misplay of the header.

On the flip side, we’re conditioned to believe that scoring is everything in sports and that defense, while a nice-looking toy, is optional. The quarterback threw the ball late; the batter swung at a shoulder-high fastball (stupidly, of course); Chris Duhon decides he wants the last play of the first half.

We have to remind ourselves of this because while we will forever be told of how that 4th-and-2 decided this game, few will dare mention that if the Patriots imposed their will for the entire contest, that final 2:23 would have been played out in a completely different manner. If the Patriots’ defense – which was given 34 points from its offense – made their stops late, Tom Brady & company would have taken the victory formation to end the Colts’ undefeated stretch.

It may be a great topic for discussion for a while, but an excellent game as last night’s should serve as testimony to the fact that there has never been a game in the history of sports that was decided by just one play.

After all, The Catch (or The Catch II) didn’t just happen.

The Immaculate Reception didn’t just happen.

Heck, even The Goal That Really Wasn’t didn’t just happen.

Say What?!?!: Another thought to put this to bed: for those who believe that going for it was actually the right call, do you believe it was because of how much faith many instill in Bill Belichick? If this was a neophyte coach like Detroit’s Jim Schwartz or Kansas City’s Todd Haley, how would we receive the decision?
Photo Credit to AP via Yahoo! Sports

Double (II)

Page 38 was all mine for this week's edition of the paper, starting with words on the Giants' wide receivers (who will be given a bit more leeway by this writer for a little factoid at the end),

"So, you’ve heard it for almost a year; the New York Giants wide receivers don’t scare anybody. Plaxico Burress is weeks away from starting a 20-month prison term for his accidental shooting. Amani Toomer, the franchise leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns is in Kansas City. Beyond that, there are either unproven talents, players who have battled more injuries than defensive backs or guys who don’t provide mismatches on the field.

"It’s a long-standing cliché for a reason, but someone has to step up and seize the opportunity."

... and ending with giving dap to Robinson Cano while others are focused on the 'bigger names' that don the pinstripes.

"He was never known as the most patient hitter on a team that is known for wearing out opposing pitchers. However, more than likely, Cano will surpass his career highs in doubles (41 in 2006 and 2007) and home runs (19 in 2007 and already as much this year). He’ll come close to other career best in all other offensive tallies and see career low in strikeouts (currently 45 with as many as 85 in that banner 2007 season). Defensively, he’s solid and if anything, he is very durable at a position where base runners try to distract second basemen from making throws to first base; at times resulting in some scary collisions or awkward landings."

It will certainly be double duty until the end of the Yankees' postseason, which is a pleasure for some of you and sickening certainty for others reading this.

You should also check out the rest of the section (and paper, duh!). My editor and the sports section's lead photographer Marc Rasbury is crying for the Mets, but finds some solace in knowing that the US Open is around the bend. Also, the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy takes prominence as well since his legislation and troubled past had a dramatic impact across socioeconomic backgrounds.

With an unsurpising, yet still disappointing change of plans this morning, posts planned for later might get some early afternoon shine. It would be VERY EASY to criticize and "go in on 'em", as the kids say. However, as another cliche goes, when life gives you lemons...

Idea (II)

As you were invited to over the weekend, here are a few of the moments that stuck out to me this year in sports. Of course, there were a good bit that I was fortunate to have attended, whether it was related to the Beacon, SNYS or as a fan. Yet, there will be other posts about that throughout the holidays.

All credit to the original uploaders.

• Beyond being there and meeting Joe Frazier (though I should have finished the article... oops), this was such a thorough and unexpected domination by Bernard Hopkins, even the most avid Kelly Pavlik supporters had to stand in awe and respect.

• After two barbeques in South Jersey and actually getting some sleep, this epic match was the cherry on top of a great Fourth of July weekend.

• Sure, there are a lot of you who are Boston Celtics fans now, but your hearts were in your laps because of a team no one expected to win more than a game in the first round... let alone three. Welcome back to the NBA, Atlanta. We've missed you and your ridiculous pyrotechnics!

• Who would have thought that the NHL would have given us the first treat of a phenomenal 2008? Oh, that's right, the people that watched this game on New Year's Day. If you were subjected to the anti-climatic bowl games later that evening, I hope you at least enjoyed this earlier that afternoon. (By the way, I recognize how much many puckheads dislike Sidney Crosby or at least the hype around him. However, you had to have appreciated this moment.)

• Sorry, Patriots fans. (Note: If anyone has a video with Marv Albert's radio call, please send the link. If you can't recall, let's just say that I'm not a fan of FOX.)

• Finally, since there isn't a great video from YouTube and MLB does not allow embedding, search "All Star Home Run Derby 2008" in its video site.
  For those who followed me one the journey to Dallas back in July, I was able to add photos and videos from the last game before the All-Star break (revisit, if you will). Instead of covering the All-Star Game festivities myself, I was at a hotel in suburban Dallas with a face stuffed full of pepperoni, sausage & Sprite, excitedly jumping up and down like a stressed-out nicotine fiend without smokes.
  To say that what Josh Hamilton did the following night at Yankee Stadium defied our wildest imaginations is an understatement. However, it was great to see a football-crazed state hold off all the talk about the Cowboys, the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners, if only for a little while. There's a bonafide superstar in the making in Arlington and the Rangers need to do everything possible to build around him.

So, share you favorite moments, no matter where they may come from.

Gigantic

Horrendous commercials. Great football game.

That's what Super Sunday is supposed to be about.

It'll be nice to say that I'll cover the Super Bowl champs next season.

Now, can everyone that considers him or herself a Giants fan lay off of Eli Manning? In fact, don't give me this "I knew it all along". You didn't. Please don't lie to yourself, the true Giants fans and that girl you've tried to talk to all night.

David Tyree! What can you say?

Remember the name Steve Smith. The one from USC. The one who caught passes in seven of New York's scoring drives in the playoffs.

Kawika Mitchell, who played out of his natural middle linebacker position to come to the Giants, is about to get a big pay raise. One year, $1 million seems like such a pittiance.

Justin Tuck is for real. Ask Tom Brady.

Lawrence Tynes won't get killed by Tom Coughlin, after all.

Coughlin, himself, should be recognized for being one of the best tactical coaches in the league. Has been for years, whether it was RIT, Boston College, Jacksonville or here with Big Blue.

Jeremy Shockey will be a man possessed next season, even if he has a ring now.

That Giants defense will be the copycat template General Managers use this offseason.

Will Tiki Barber be the grand marshall of Tuesday's parade? Looking forward to seeing that.

While I wouldn't call this game an upset in terms of man for man, coach for coach, roster for roster, in historical context, it's the biggest in league history.

As for Patriots fans. Disappointment is understandable, to say the least. However, the team will be back strong next season. With a couple of defensive tweaks.

Don't fall in love with history unless it's relevant.

Wes Welker is still the truth.

Randy Moss will have another shot at a ring and it will be as a Patriot.

It's time for the braintrust in Foxborough to address the aging middle of the defense in the Draft. Picking safety Brandon Merriweather last April was a start.

These Pats would have still KILLED the '72 Dolphins. But, now we have to endure Mercury Morris.

And now... onward to the NBA. And the rest of life.