Just How Difficult?!?

Since February 3rd, 2002, New England sports fans have found themselves at the epi-center of what is often referred to as a 'Title-Town.' However, what exactly does it take for a city, or in our case a region, to achieve this status? In Chicago it took the greatest single-sport athlete of a generation winning six championships in one sport over an eight-year period, all while taking a quick second from basketball to try his crack at America's past time. In Detroit it took four Stanley Cup Championship parades in 11-years. For the 'Big Apple,' it was Joe Torre's Yankees rolling through the Canyon of Heroes four times in five years. For New England however, it's placed itself into uncharted 'Title-Town' waters since early February 2002;

Super Bowl wins for the New England Patriots for the seasons of 2001, 2003, and 2004. World Series Championships for the Boston Red Sox in curse-breaking 2004 and then again in 2007. An NBA Championship following a 66-win regular season for the Banner 17 raising Boston Celtics in 2008. Then this past summer, the Boston Bruins etched their names onto Lord Stanley's challis for the 2011 Stanley Cup Championship.

Yet, how different could this have been . .both good and bad?!?

Tuck Rule; Via Wikipedia; It applies if the quarterback brings his arm forward in a passing motion, but then changes his mind and tries to keep hold of the football rather than making a pass. In this situation, if the quarterback loses the ball while stopping his passing motion or bringing the ball back to his body, it is still considered a forward pass (and thus an incomplete pass if the ball hits the ground). Or as we like to call it, the beginning of what will now be referred to as the start of The Patriot Dynasty. Oakland Raider Charles Woodson (future Super Bowl Champion) could have made the a play of the decade if not for this little rule that shot Tom Brady and the Patriots into another stratosphere . . . and so the question must be asked; Had that not happened, what would be?!? 1st Championship that might not have been.

*Disclaimer; We're not forgetting Patriot kicker Adam Vinatieri and his 3 Super Bowl Rings which he more than deserved. Each and every one of those clutch could have gone the other way, and they didn't.

The Curse-Breaking 04' Red Sox!?!? Puh, leassssssssssssssssse. Down 0-3 in the ALCS to the New York Yankees?!? Ya'll can't even write that stuff. By far the best moment of my sports fandom. Better than the Celtics '08 Championship, better than all three of my Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl victories, and better than Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich declaring himself cancer free on GameDay (just said that), but by far the easiest, 'What shouldn't have been moment.' Four straight wins, against the best team in major league baseball, against the best closer in the history of the game?!?! Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, Dave Roberts, need I go on?!?! What might not have been, right?!?!

February 3rd, 2008 - David Tyree & Eli Manning put the world on it's proverbial a**. An Asante Samuel interception, a sack of Eli Manning, a knocked down ball from what we consider a future hall of fame defensive back Rodney Harrison, and we're talking about the Brady/Belichick era in a completely different tone. It didn't happen. The Patriots would have completed the single-greatest season in NFL history, a 19-0 mark even! But that didn't happen and it came so close to doing just that. What would the past month have looked like had Manning taken a sack and the Patriots wrapped up their fourth Super Bowl victory back in 2008? The conversation between Brady and Montanta would be over, the season would be something for the record books, but more importantly, there would have been a parade running through the streets of Boston as the New England sports arrogance was lifted to another level. What didn't happen, what didn't.

That 'Banner 17' raising season?!? It looked great when future hall of fame 'ballers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were holding up Celtics jerseys next to Paul Pierce in had 'The Truth'the summer of 2007, didn't it? What would have happened not shut down a proposed trade in 2005 that would have sent him to Portland for the 3rd overall pick and the cap relief of Nick Van Exel's $13 million dollar expiring contract?!?! 'Cause that would have happened had Pierce not stepped in and refused to go to Portland. It wasn't just a rumour, and you wouldn't have raised 'Banner 17' without Pierce going toe-to-toe against LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in back-to-back NBA playoff rounds, own that! Oh, and they would have never seen Cleveland and LeBron or Kobe and L.A. had they not survived their first round scare vs. Atlanta whom pushed them to the limit! What very easily could have been erased!

So, when you look at the last few weeks, and think about Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker not making a great catch, or super-human quarterback Tom Brady not coming through for the second time in four years, think about what may not have been?!? You're still the only fan who saw their four major professional sports teams notch a pro championship in less than seven years! Can you dig?!?!

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Prop It Up!

One of the coolest things about betting on the games biggest stage?!?! Proposition bets! (That's if gambling was legal) So if we WERE able to make these bets, here a few we would . . .

To win Super Bowl XLVI MVP? A less than 100% Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski means A-W-A-T-T (All Welker, All The Time). Tom Brady is a very smart man, he doesn't make the same mistake twice. Meaning?!?! Throwing into double-coverage hoping Matthew Slater is going to come up with the ball isn't an option. Also didn't Wes Welker get engaged recently?!?! As a man walking straight into the hornets nest that is matrimony in less than two months, we got to put our money where our mouth is. TB is one for making historical figures out of his pass catchers, or making them straight millions; see David Givens, David Patten, and Deion Branch. You're either getting paid or you're raising hardware. Wes Welker +1200, Bank It!

Who will the Super Bowl XLVI MVP thank first? I can't even believe we can do this? I hate to see what God's day would be like if it weren't spent helping athletes W-I-N. You got to know that whoever wins MVP thanks the lord and savior first?!?! Also, I'd love to know what this line would look like if Tebow ever gets the Broncos into the Super Bowl. Mortal Lock: God +175

Player to score the 1st touchdown in Super Bowl XLVI? We're from Massachusetts, you know that right!?!? We really think Eli & Co. are going to make everyone from Augusta to New Haven sweat bullets on Sunday night. The fact that former University of Massachusetts standout Victor Cruz can dominate any New England defensive back plays right into that. Cruz has had the innate ability to make big plays in the biggest moments, just ask Rex and the Jets if you don't believe us. Eli to Cruz, move all-in . .Victor Cruz +650

Will the Patriots score in every quarter? By hook or by crook, you 'betcha! Dominating offense, solid kicker, scoring in every quarter shouldn't be that difficult, and for sixty bucks?!?! We're comfortable laying the $100. Here's what really does it for us, you know they're scoring in the fourth quarter, the third quarter is their quarter because they've historically made the best half-time adjustments. I'll waive the 1st quarter and say they score in one of their first two possessions, with everything hinging on quarter number TWO! Yes +160

Will the Giants throw a first-half interception? First off, Eli threw an interception in the first meeting earlier this season. Secondly, he throws a ton; 32 Times against Atlanta, 33 times against Green Bay, and 58 times against San Francisco . . IN THE RAIN! If Eli comes in, really confident and really excited to get out there and play, he's going to throw a INT. The 'Niners had more than one opportunity to record an interception two weeks ago and just didn't! I still don't respect the Giant offensive line as much as the public has and they've still got to put a body or two on Vince Wilfork. Eli makes a big mistake early. Yes, he throws a first-half INT +150

Total field goal attempted by both teams? You've got a Giants defense that is pretty stout, they aren't going to give up crazy yardage to New England. That Patriot defense has played well in the postseason and I respect that. In a game that is going to be very close, points are at a premium. Both of these coaches know to take the points and kick the field goal, also they're indoors meaning weather is completely irrelevant in their decision to kick the field goals and put points on the board! Over 4 field goal attempts +150

How many times will NBC show Peyton Manning? I know NBC and the world loves Peyton Manning, however if the Patriots win and I think they will, how often do you think Peyton is going to be on camera?! He's smart enough to stay away from the camera while watching his brother play. I'm hoping that all the coverage on Peyton will saturate the moment and keep NBC away from rehashing it. Here is what I see for mentions; (1) "Peyton with Archie watching his baby brother try to win his second . . " (2) Camera finds Colts owner Jim Irsay, starts talking about his relationship with Peyton, then camera finds Peyton back in the box with his father. (3) Reaction to Eli's first touchdown. (4) Reaction to Eli's poor timing mistake in the first half. That's it! Under 5½ Times -155

Another Super Bowl column up tomorrow . . .

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