So it is that in this year, 2005, it’s the New England Patriots versus the Philadelphia Eagles in that epic contest.
And how cool is that, if for mere symbolic value?
I’m fairly neutral as far as which team I want to win. Both teams are personified by their quarterbacks: Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb, a couple of seemingly classy guys.
The only reason that I *might* want to see the Eagles win is to simply hear Mr. McNabb calmly thank one Rush Limbaugh for his victory. But if his team—the one with the best record in the NFC and the third best record in the NFL--does win, he’ll probably be more gracious than that. Maybe. I hope not, though.
On the other hand, Tom Brady and other quarterbacks like him have set a new tone following onto the greats in that position. And who can forget how heartening it was to see the very red-white-and-blue Patriots win the Super Bowl in that still very raw year of 2002?
The only teams with better regular season records than the Eagles were the Patriots and the Pittsburg Steelers—beaten by the Patriots yesterday. The Steelers were the leaders; now we have two of those who worked the hardest in the regular season and who survived crunch time in the playoffs. And, in spite of these statistics, what counts in football is the individual year, getting to the Big Show and one’s performance in same. (Does any NFL fan remember the names of Doug Williams or Jim McMahon?)
So all I can say is this: you go, boys. May the best men win.
