18-1 Makes For A Much Less Interesting Book

There are a lot of small points I want to make about the Super Bowl last night, but none of them are worth expanding too much on because, after all, it was the Giants and the Patriots. But this probably means a list of some kind.

• I've already read where people are complaining that the game was boring until the fourth quarter. Those people can eat a dick; this was a great game almost the whole way through. Defensive games are usually more physical and less sloppy with a higher probability of injury, which makes the game more exciting. And come on, how cool was it to see Tom Brady on his back without it being in a cologne ad?
• Remember when Brady was offended that Plaxico Burress predicted the Patriots would only score 17 points in a 23-17 Giants win? Turns out Burress overestimated.
• During the two weeks of build up to this game, every football analyst everywhere was asked if Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. You can mention him in the discussion if you like, but his choking away a Super Bowl doesn't help your argument. I think Brady showed that he has some more work to do before he can challenge Joe Montana for the throne.
• Eli Manning's scramble and heave to David Tyree ranks up there with the Immaculate Reception as one of the best/luckiest plays in Super Bowl history.
• If it was ever unclear that defense wins championships, I hope this settled the issue. This game was all about quarterback pressure, and the Giants put the screws to Brady all night. I know the Buccaneers took Gaines Adams first last year and the team has serious needs in other areas, but I wouldn't complain at all if their first round pick again this year was a defensive lineman.
• I may not have been too far off with that thing about Jeremy Shockey cutting himself. Did you see him in the luxury box, hammered well beyond the limits of good taste? God, how I wish someone had a camera on him when Kevin Boss caught that 45 yard pass to set up the touchdown. That play alone may have sealed his trade.
• Did you see the interview with Bill Belichick after the game? I love the loser's interview because it reveals character. Even though they just lost the biggest game of their lives, most losing head coaches take a second to at least congratulate the winning team. Not Belichick. "We're disappointed" was pretty much the whole interview.
• Poor kids in third world countries will be wearing collector's items next week. Those 19-0 T-shirts have to be worth more than the standard losing team's pre-printed victory wear.
• The only real drawback I see to this outcome is that Mercury Morris will continue to be an insufferable asshole. As I said, it's a small price to pay for the looks of profound disappointment and disbelief on the faces of Patriots fans today, but man... he's such a prick. Things were so much nicer when he was in prison.