A special win for a “special team”
IN what has been described as one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time, it was Steve Tisch’s New York Giants who prevailed over Bob Kraft’s New England Patriots, winning the 46th National Football League title 21-17.
IN what has been described as one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time, it was Steve Tisch’s New York Giants who prevailed over Bob Kraft’s New England Patriots, winning the 46th National Football League title 21-17.
It was the second time the two Jewish co-owners have come head-to-head in the Super Bowl, and Tisch is two from two with the Giants toppling the Patriots in 2008 as well.
“I thought four years ago was exciting; that was [just] a dress rehearsal,” Tisch said in his post-game speech.
“This was one of the greatest football games I’ve ever seen.”
Tisch, who is now in his seventh year as part owner of the Giants, knows exactly what it takes to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and praised his charges for their gallant efforts in allowing him to do it for a second time.
“So many people thought we couldn’t do this. They thought we were done, we couldn’t get here and we couldn’t win. But here we are and we did it,” Tisch said.
“This is a special day and this is a special team.”
More than 100 million people in the United States tuned in to watch the grand event, plus millions of others around the world.
And it was certainly a nail-biting affair that had everyone on the edge of their seats, coming down to the final seconds when Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady threw a hail mary pass into the end zone, which was incomplete.
Tisch was certainly one person who was biting his nails, though left his toenails alone, after painting them red and blue (the Giants’ colours) to bring his side good luck throughout the playoff series.
“One foot is red and one is blue. Each of my daughters did one foot,” Tisch said.
“Of course, all the credit for this has to go to our players, coaches and fans, but hey, if this brings us a little bit of luck, why not?”
Unfortunately the Patriots couldn’t get up for Kraft and his wife Myra, who passed away from cancer in July last year. Had they prevailed, the win would have been dedicated in her memory.
“You know, when we dedicated this season to my sweetheart, I met with the players and coaches and asked them to do everything they could do to make this season special in her honour,” Kraft said as the Patriots arrived back in New England.
“You have a six percent chance of going to the Super Bowl and a three percent chance of winning. I think the coaching staff and players really did a remarkable job this year.
“But look, we’re all disappointed in what happened.”
Kraft has been in charge of the Patriots since 1994, and embarked on his sixth Super Bowl hoping to achieve the ultimate success for the fourth time. But that wasn’t to be, and he is now left to ponder what could have been in 2012.
“We’ve set a level of expectation here that is high and I’m very happy with that, and that’s the way we run all of our businesses,” Kraft said.
“This was a memorable season, that I won’t forget for a long time.”
Jewish Patriots player Julian Edelman will want to erase it from his memory though, with the wide-receiver-come-cornerback missing out on the opportunity get a hold of his first Super Bowl ring.
A number of Giants players put the pressure on him to perform in the week leading up to the match, and despite saying that he “will ignore the noise” from them, the inexperienced Edelman seemed to go missing at the vital times.
ASHLEY SHENKER WITH AGENCIES
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