As Always, Excuses Abound the Week Before the Super Bowl

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the media circus that is Super Bowl XLII.  The immortal battle between Boston and New York to determine which U.S. city can reign as the supreme leader of ridiculous and uninspiring media hype, both before and after the game.  Which city will make history by writing, talking, and proclaiming (Amen, brother) the good word of how Eli Manning will now become the face of Gatorade over his elder brother for taking his team to the Promised Land and destroying the evil Goliath with the swing of his trusted sling.  Or will it be Tom Brady who will be named by the Vatican as the second coming of Jesus Christ (Halleluiah!) after defeating the wrath of Strahan, through which the Gates of Hell reside between his front 2 teeth.

Frankly, the public relations departments for each franchise should be applauded for the countless hours and unimaginable effort they must go through to create the frenzy that comes with an event of this magnitude.  But what they do not get nearly enough credit for is the less obvious background ideas they have embedded into the deepest, darkest parts of our mind—the simple subconscious suggestion that even though THEIR team is clearly going to win, maybe, just maybe, something could go wrong.  Namely, I wish to show my admiration to those creators of the Psychic Post-game Excuses.

Everyone around the water cooler is talking about the huge point spread in Vegas, the undefeated Patriots and the clarity of their blow-out win, or the Giants and how the underdog still has a little bite left in ‘em.  And clearly, nobody can escape the paparazzi snappers taking pictures of Brady’s foot or the reporters splashing the Plaxico trash talk all over the front pages of the sports section.  But think about it—is this information being leaked/released, or is it a backup plan for the team with the least amount of points at the end of February 3rd.  Here are just some of the headlines and statements from the big time news sources (i.e. CNN-SI, MSNBC, ESPN, Fox News):

Brady shows slight limp in first practice: Patriots QB missed all three last week while nursing sore right ankle

Brady returns to practice: Pats QB back on field after missing sessions last week

Flu-ridden Giants arrive for Super Bowl XLII: Several players came down with illness after subzero game vs. Packers

Giants show unity as Ross, others battle sickness

Giants arrive in Arizona: ‘Business trip’ begins with six players battling the flu

Plaxico Burress calling for a win

Moss has restraining order extended

“…some observers feel the Giants may hold an advantage in the Super Bowl because they played a neutral site game this season in London against the Miami Dolphins.”

“…there is something to be said about a Giants team that performed better on the road this season than it did at home.”

Brady gets taped up for Patriots Workout

Brady not concerned with injured Ankle

And of course there’s always talk about the asterisk due to Spygate, the questionable injury report for New England, and whether or not Eli is able to grow facial hair.  The point is that we talk about these headlines trying to predict the outcome of the game, but in reality the fans of the losing squad will generally turn around and use them as an excuse for why they lost.  It’s like explaining to your teacher in 4th grade you did poorly on a test because you were up all night hunting for meat to feed your family in Oregon Trail.

We’ve heard them all before: Jordan has the flu and still scores 112, Schilling pitches the game of his life with a bloody ankle and 40,000 stitches in it, and Rasheed Wallace “Guaran-sheeding” a win and the maximum allowable technical fouls in a season (the last one not so far stretched).  Anyway, I thought I would throw them a little support and make a few more reasons either team can use to explain why they couldn’t bring home the championship:

Winter weather teams uncertain how warm temperature, perfect weather will affect the passing game

Wes Welker’s mustache grown too large: trainers uncertain how to put mouthpiece in

Archie Manning planning to cheer for successful QB son at Super Bowl XLII: “We’re all very proud of Peyton”

Giants plan to place Rachelle Washington in first-row of end zone after coin-flip: Will Randy Moss be taken into custody for a touchdown?

Jessica Simpson plans to attend Super Bowl to support New Yorkers

Brady suspected to have pulled groin after ‘Going for it on 4th and down’ with supermodel girlfriend

Raging M

References:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ross_tucker/01/28/roadtrip/index.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3219550
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/specials/playoffs/2007/01/28/moss.restraining.ap/index.html

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