2008 Woodie Awards
Commentary: Super Bowl showcases true NFL greatness
Andrew Young
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Sports
This year's Super Bowl generated more hype and pre-game brouhaha than any other game in recent memory. It was the undefeated New England Patriots and their quest to dominate the NFL and complete a "perfect" season versus the New York Giants, a team with a mission: to de-throne the mighty Patriots and steal the show, winning football's greatest prize - the Lombardi trophy.
So the stage was set: Feb. 3, 71,071 screaming fans packed into the University of Phoenix Stadium, news outlets worldwide flocked to the venue to report the games happenings, and Tom Brady even brought his girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen, to the game (did he not learn from the whole Tony Romo/Jessica Simpson fiasco?). Fast forward to the final whistle as the game concludes - the Giants walk away Super Bowl champions and the Patriots walk away amidst controversy as head coach Bill Belichick walked off the field before the Giants could execute one final play to seal the victory. The Patriots have also come under more fire recently for yet another cheating accusation, this time for a Patriot employee staying behind during the team walkthroughs of Super Bowl XXXVI and filming the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough.
Let the world know, make sure everybody understands, write it down - I am an Indianapolis Colts fan. However, as my journalism professors have pounded into me, as a journalist, we should always question and demand answers. Therefore, as a journalist, I demand to know the truth as to whether the Patriots did in fact cheat, constantly or sporadically, during this six-year period of time. But because there is no real way to pinpoint whether they did or did not/have or have not, they are still innocent until proven guilty. I personally believe that the cheating instances have been sporadic at best and haven't been consistent for the past six years. However, the Pats have already been busted once for videotaping the defensive signals of the New York Jets and have received a bit of punishment for it.
As someone who wants to eventually make a career out of writing for the media, it appalls me to see these sports columnists rant about how the Patriots are so great and how they're untouchable and "perfect." But when it was all said and done, the Giants are the NFL's newest champions and the Pats got what was coming to them - a blemish on their record.
Contact Andrew Young at ajy@iupui.edu.
So the stage was set: Feb. 3, 71,071 screaming fans packed into the University of Phoenix Stadium, news outlets worldwide flocked to the venue to report the games happenings, and Tom Brady even brought his girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen, to the game (did he not learn from the whole Tony Romo/Jessica Simpson fiasco?). Fast forward to the final whistle as the game concludes - the Giants walk away Super Bowl champions and the Patriots walk away amidst controversy as head coach Bill Belichick walked off the field before the Giants could execute one final play to seal the victory. The Patriots have also come under more fire recently for yet another cheating accusation, this time for a Patriot employee staying behind during the team walkthroughs of Super Bowl XXXVI and filming the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough.
Let the world know, make sure everybody understands, write it down - I am an Indianapolis Colts fan. However, as my journalism professors have pounded into me, as a journalist, we should always question and demand answers. Therefore, as a journalist, I demand to know the truth as to whether the Patriots did in fact cheat, constantly or sporadically, during this six-year period of time. But because there is no real way to pinpoint whether they did or did not/have or have not, they are still innocent until proven guilty. I personally believe that the cheating instances have been sporadic at best and haven't been consistent for the past six years. However, the Pats have already been busted once for videotaping the defensive signals of the New York Jets and have received a bit of punishment for it.
As someone who wants to eventually make a career out of writing for the media, it appalls me to see these sports columnists rant about how the Patriots are so great and how they're untouchable and "perfect." But when it was all said and done, the Giants are the NFL's newest champions and the Pats got what was coming to them - a blemish on their record.
Contact Andrew Young at ajy@iupui.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
kellyscott
posted 2/06/08 @ 8:48 AM EST
hey i thought it wasnt boring as some thought, i was on the fence as they say, hoping maybe NE would run the table going 19-0, or the giants would upset them , a great game, also i stayed sober threw another super bowl!!!
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