Posted by
David Smith on Monday, February 04, 2008 12:09:28 AM
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick just revealed his classless, unsportsmanlike side as far as I am concerned. Pursuing the first undefeated season in the NFL since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, and the first 19-0 season in league history, the Patriots had history in sight and vindication within reach.
It was this same Patriots team, and coach, who were found to have been taping their opponents, the New York Jets, in their season opener. These tapes of Jets coaches signaling were subsequently destroyed by league officials, currently raising the ire of Congressional representatives. Winning out, or finishing the season unbeaten, would have been the "ultimate revenge" (AP) for league-imposed penalties. They fell one game short.
But even more amazing than this failure, excused by the fact that the 42nd edition of the Super Bowl was one of the most amazing competitions in the history of the NFL Championship Game, was that Belichick left the field, vanquished, before time expired.
OK, only one second remained, and he had met New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin at midfield, both coaches mistakenly unaware that time remained. It does not matter.
Belichick has something of a reputation, and it isn't just as one of the winningest coaches in the league. Having been caught taping opponents' signaling and pre-game warm-up's, Belichick has quickly gone from one of the most amazing coaches in NFL history to one with lingering questions of whether or not he is a 'cheater,' and just how deserving all those victories have been.
Well, thanks to an amazing display of team play by the Giants, led by MVP Eli Manning, the Patriots will forever be remembered as the only 18-1 team in NFL history--very fitting for a team that also faces such questions about their off-the-field tactics. The Giants came in believing in themselves and each other, and both offense and defense put on a spectacular display of football.
The defense did not allow the Patriots to establish their usually effective, highly potent offensive groove. And Manning's offense was just good enough to keep it close until the 4th quarter when they took over. After scoring a touchdown to take the lead, the Giants allowed the Patriots to establish themselves for their only dominating drive of the night, a quick drive that resulting in a lead-changing touchdown.
But instead of backing down, the Giants came out and made their name proud, driving down the field for the game-winning touchdown marked by three 3rd down conversions, including one where Manning eluded three Patriots who grabbed his jersey, spun and ran to his right, throwing a pass downfield to receiver David Tyree, who himself made a seeminly impossible catch, holding the ball between one hand and his helmet while being tackled!
After this Giants touchdown the Patriots had one more chance to drive down the field with just over 30 seconds remaining. A sack and two other ineffective plays resulted in a long 4th down play, which fell incomplete, resulting in the ball going back to the Giants with 0:02 seconds on the clock.
Now, to this point, the game had been one of the best Super Bowls ever. And both coaches were under the impression that it was over, meeting at midfield to offer congratulations on a victory for one coach and a well-played game by all involved. Belichick then left the field, believing it to be over.
Only one problem--time remained!
Now, I'm being pretty anal retentive by even making this post. It obviously has nothing to do with States' Rights or anything to do with the government. I just really, really detest the fact that someone who is otherwise a really great football coach having such an unwittingly frequent tendency of doing such utterly classless, unsportsmanlike things.
It's one thing to win and leave the field 19-0 to be celebrated forever as one of the greatest.
It's one thing to lose one game short, yet leave the field recognizing that for one day, for one game, any given team can and did win, and today that was not your team, and maintaining your dignity and professionalism.
It is quite another thing to fall short of such a lofty achievement and to leave the field of competition in such a classless manner.
History will always remember that Cornwallis lost to Washington at Yorktown. It will also remember that Cornwallis refused to submit to Washington directly, sending his subordinate to do so. It will also note for all time that Washington delegated his subordinate to accept the surrender of Cornwallis' sword.
Belichick, in quite a less important moment in the grander scheme of history, tonight repeated history.
Oops.