Super Bowl LI: The Atlanta perspective

[tims4wins]

Says the guy whose city's teams have won 37 major professional sports championships. Boston fans rank which of their championships felt the best; fans from many other cities can only dream about what winning championships must feel like, and what they might want those championships to feel like when they come.

You have been super classy for the last 2.5 weeks, it's been fantastic. It sucks to lose these games.

I have to say I don't understand this. Back in 2001 - before any of the titles - we never believed the Pats (or Sox) could win. You probably forget the details, but in the 4th quarter of that game, the Pats held a 17-3 lead and the Rams had 4th and goal from the 2. Warner got flushed from the pocket, strip sacked, and Tebucky Jones picked it up and ran 99 yards for the touchdown. I think I hit my head on the ceiling I jumped so high. Not until he reached the end zone did we see the yellow flag indicator on the screen - holding on McGinest. Rams scored 2 plays later, then scored again, then obviously Brady had the drive and Vinatieri made the kick. And maybe because of that Brady became Brady.

But at the time, jesus christ I would have rather had a 24-3 lead than watch the Patriots drive in a tie game with 1:21 left.

 

[joe dokes]

I took a look at the Super Bowls.

In the 80's, there wasn't one really, really incredible Super Bowl. The two SF wins against Cinncy would be the top 2. Neither was as good as last Sunday. They were great, but only one of those games could be a classic, the Joe Montana "is that John Candy?" game. Still not the tippy top.

The 90s were a near disaster for Super bowls. So many egregious blowouts. The Giants Bills was probably the best game, that was pretty close to amazing. But not a classic, it was a grind 'em out game. And then there was the Elway helicopter game, which was pretty damn good, but not a true classic.

Things get better. The 00s had a number of awesome games. Rams v. Titans was the first "classic" game in decades. That bomb to Bruce after the Titans tied and then the Dyson gets tacked on the one on the last play of the game. That was legitimately awesome. The Pats beating the Rams was definitely a classic. The games against Carolina and Philly were great, close games, but not really classics. Giants/New England was a classic. That game was sick. Pitt/Arizona was awesome, probably not a classic, in my opinion. That's 6 games out of 10 that were legit.

And the 10's are also pretty good. Saints Colts was pretty awesome, the score is deceiving b/c of the pick 6, but that was a great game, plus the onside kick and the Saints winning after Katrina. That was good. Pack Steelers was perfectly cromulent but forgettable. Giants/Pats #2 was great, not a classic like game 1. Ravens/49ers was awesome, close to a classic. Seattle Denver was the worst game in 13 years. That was baaad. Seattle/NE was a classic game. The comeback was legit. The Kearse catch. And then the pick. Classic. Denver beating Carolina was a pretty lame game.

So if I'm ranking, Sunday's game is up there, versus those other classics listed above. Now that I look at it, it's definitely top 5.

This obviously ignores those Pitt and Dallas games, which were definitely classics, but I was 4 years old when they happened, so it's really hard to rank them. I guess we can throw out the 60s, because those games were all blowouts, although the Jets, an AFL team, winning as 17 point underdogs is a big deal for the league. So that was pretty good, but certainly not a classic football game. Those Miami wins were boring af. Minnesota losses were bad. So there isn't much in the 70s anyway.

So, in summary, Sunday's game was definitely a classic game when ranked against any decade or game.

Colts beat Dallas on a game ending FG in V. But that, ironically, was a shitty-played game. Only defensive MVP though.

 

[tims4wins]

For all the talk about the play calling and everything else that happened... thank you Devonta Freeman. His play on the strip sack was the single worst mistake in the game and the single biggest factor in the comeback. It was unspeakably bad. Just a horrible, horrible blunder.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

By the way, for all of the Belichick and Brady love elsewhere in this forum, let's not forget how things looked at halftime. I had plenty of time to think about what winning a Super Bowl would feel like, and at halftime I was strangely dissatisfied. Both playoff wins against the Seahawks and Packers came against teams suffering important injuries, and although the Falcons truly dominated both games, that domination felt slightly hollow because of the circumstances (even if many pundits had picked the Falcons to lose both games). And well into the third quarter of the Super Bowl, it looked like Belichick and McDaniels had messed up pretty badly, and that Brady was way below his usual best. I'd wanted the Falcons to win their first Super Bowl like the Patriots had won their first, beating a great team in a closely fought game that went down to the wire or close to it; if the Falcons had coasted to win by three touchdowns on Sunday, there would have been a very strong "Why were the Patriots so bad?" vibe, perhaps even more than "Why were the Falcons so good?"

Of course, the Falcons didn't win, so perhaps I should have been happy with the proverbial bird in the hand.

That's an interesting perspective. The thing is, team sports is always a two-horse race. It's like the joke where two guys are camping and a shout goes up that there's a bear headed toward the camp. One guy calmly starts tying up his sneakers. The other guy asks him, "why are you doing that, you can't outrun a bear." The other guy says, "I don't need to; I just need to outrun you."

That's team sports. It will always be that way. If you're looking for a game where two teams play at the absolute height of their abilities on a higher level than anyone else, and one is just a bit better, you can wait decades to see it. It just doesn't happen like that too much, especially in football. Matchups are so important and part of doing well is making the other guy do poorly. The Rams played poorly in Super Bowl 36. Lots of that had to do with the Patriots but lots of it had to do with Martz being really stubborn. The game was close, to be sure, but it wasn't on that high level of teams surging and countersurging in a pure display of athletic competition that one hopes. It happens more in basketball, like Michael v. Magic.

It's not for me to tell anyone else how to root. It's a highly personal thing and, sure, the only thing better than having one of your teams win a championship is having it win one in one of those "greatest games ever played" things. The Patriots got that this year in a way that perhaps the Falcons wouldn't have if they'd just kept cruising and won going away. But part of the reason the Patriots looked bad for so long is because of what the Falcons were doing right. And as the rest of the game made clear, little advantages in football can lead to a big discrepancy on the scoreboard. And once neutralized, by coaching or fatigue, it made a difference. It will be interesting how you feel about it the next time the Falcons make it to the Super Bowl. Will the heartache of this loss make it so that you are ready to say, "any way is ok with me"?

Red Sox 2004 is the kind of thing that happens maybe once in several generations, and I'd never wish it to have gone otherwise. But espeically after 1986 and the years went by, I would have actually been fine with beating the White Sox 4-0 in the ALCS and then beating the Marlins on a walk off bunt because a guy tripped over his shoe lace.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Colts beat Dallas on a game ending FG in V. But that, ironically, was a shitty-played game. Only defensive MVP though.

Yup.

(Except for VII, XII, XX, XXX, XXXV, XXXVII, XLVIII and 50)

 

[johnmd20]

Yup.

(Except for VII, XII, XX, XXX, XXXV, XXXVII, XLVIII and 50)

Should've done it asterisk style.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Damn. You're right, that woulda been better.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Colts beat Dallas on a game ending FG in V. But that, ironically, was a shitty-played game. Only defensive MVP though.

I don't think the field goal in V was game ending, right? It was like Vinatieri's field goal in 38, where there was a subsequent kick off. I think only 36 and 51 are actual "walk off" Super Bowls, where the offense actually won the Championship on the final play. Super Bowl 25 you could say was a "walk off" on defense, with a missed field goal. Or maybe the Tennessee tackle one yard short. But in terms of a game ending game winning play to score and win the Super Bowl, I think the Patriots have the only 2.

Of course, that's really because of the bizarre fact that only one Super Bowl has ever gone to an overtime, and also you could make the case that Super Bowl 36 deserves an asterisk as a "walk off" because the clock probably kept going a bit longer than it should have.

 

[edmunddantes]

They instituted the rule a couple of seasons after that where it stipulated only 6 seconds could go off the clock on a field goal (iirc).

 

[loshjott]

Colts beat Dallas on a game ending FG in V. But that, ironically, was a shitty-played game. Only defensive MVP though.

Only losing team MVP is what he meant. And the FG was not a true walk off. There were 5 sec left.

 

[InstaFace]

In terms of gut punch losses, last night isn't even in the same galaxy as the Dallas game. Dallas never had the lead for the final 3 quarters of the game and they were behind huge, before making a frantic comeback. The Falcons had a 99.3% win probability and they lost.

The only fair comparison, I would think, would be the 2006 AFC Championship Game. Maaaaaybe the Super Bowl for the 1988 season (49ers-Bengals II). Not even Rams-Titans measures up.

The Falcons have arguably the best draft mind in the NFL as their Asst GM, with his nearest competition being his former boss (or, to be fair, John Schneider). They have as good a chance as any to hit on a few defense picks and play for the NFC title again next year.

...As for what this means to me as an Atlanta fan - particularly an Atlanta fan who was studying abroad in 1995-96 and never felt the Braves World Series win was my own - there's a real chance that this will fundamentally alter my relationship with sports forever. I'm sure Red Sox fans felt this way after 1986...but then, the Celtics had just crushed the Rockets in the NBA Finals a few months earlier, right? This just feels horrendous: the Braves are years away from relevance, the Hawks are violently stuck in the middle, and the NFL is too random to take anything for granted. (And the Flames and Thrashers are both in west-central Canada.) I don't begrudge any of you your joy after what just happened. But my disappointment is so crushing - too crushing to get to sleep, so I'm now in the middle of the worst all-nighter ever - that I really do wonder why I should bother with this whole sports malarkey. Surely no hypothetical, by-no-means-assured future joy can be worth this.

That's how lots of us felt on October 18th 2003. Perhaps including you. I have never before seen that much shock and depression on as many faces, and felt it myself.

I thought it was close enough that, had the officials called it an incompletion, the Patriots might have lost the challenge. I think it was a legitimate catch, with Edelman completing the catch before any part of the ball touches the ground. But it was thisclose.

The ref announced that the call was "confirmed", not that it was allowed to Stand. That alone should suggest that had the initial call gone the other way, they would have reversed.

Close plays are not necessarily close calls upon review.

 

[E5 Yaz]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/122343440718?lpid=82&chn=ps&var=422827527971&ul_noapp=true

 

[johnmd20]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/122343440718?lpid=82&chn=ps&var=422827527971&ul_noapp=true

That's cold. Ice cold.

 

[coremiller]

The only fair comparison, I would think, would be the 2006 AFC Championship Game. Maaaaaybe the Super Bowl for the 1988 season (49ers-Bengals II). Not even Rams-Titans measures up.

Except the 2006 AFCCG Game wasn't a title game. I don't think anyone in football has ever had a higher championship probability and not won. The only relevant comparisons are other sports. From baseball, there's the Rangers in 2011, the SF Giants in 2002, the Yankees in 2001, the Indians in 1997, the Red Sox in 1986. In basketball, the 2013 Spurs. In soccer, AC Milan blew a 3-0 lead in the 2005 Champions League final.

 

[E5 Yaz]

That's cold. Ice cold.

i wouldn't mind wearing one of those

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

That's an interesting perspective. The thing is, team sports is always a two-horse race. It's like the joke where two guys are camping and a shout goes up that there's a bear headed toward the camp. One guy calmly starts tying up his sneakers. The other guy asks him, "why are you doing that, you can't outrun a bear." The other guy says, "I don't need to; I just need to outrun you."

That's team sports. It will always be that way. If you're looking for a game where two teams play at the absolute height of their abilities on a higher level than anyone else, and one is just a bit better, you can wait decades to see it. It just doesn't happen like that too much, especially in football. Matchups are so important and part of doing well is making the other guy do poorly. The Rams played poorly in Super Bowl 36. Lots of that had to do with the Patriots but lots of it had to do with Martz being really stubborn. The game was close, to be sure, but it wasn't on that high level of teams surging and countersurging in a pure display of athletic competition that one hopes. It happens more in basketball, like Michael v. Magic.

It's not for me to tell anyone else how to root. It's a highly personal thing and, sure, the only thing better than having one of your teams win a championship is having it win one in one of those "greatest games ever played" things. The Patriots got that this year in a way that perhaps the Falcons wouldn't have if they'd just kept cruising and won going away. But part of the reason the Patriots looked bad for so long is because of what the Falcons were doing right. And as the rest of the game made clear, little advantages in football can lead to a big discrepancy on the scoreboard. And once neutralized, by coaching or fatigue, it made a difference. It will be interesting how you feel about it the next time the Falcons make it to the Super Bowl. Will the heartache of this loss make it so that you are ready to say, "any way is ok with me"?

Red Sox 2004 is the kind of thing that happens maybe once in several generations, and I'd never wish it to have gone otherwise. But espeically after 1986 and the years went by, I would have actually been fine with beating the White Sox 4-0 in the ALCS and then beating the Marlins on a walk off bunt because a guy tripped over his shoe lace.

I think I've come around to your way of thinking.

I should say that perhaps my halftime reflections were somewhat colored by having followed the SoSH Game Thread throughout the first half and seen all of your swearing and outrage about McDaniels et al., and how bad/badly the Patriots were doing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/122343440718?lpid=82&chn=ps&var=422827527971&ul_noapp=true

Hell, I might buy one of those and just deny that the fourth quarter ever took place. #alternativefacts

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

By the way, on the subject of partially alleviating my Super Bowl pain, I did get to do this today:


That's my voice doing the commentary - you can't really beat calling an overtime goal that wins a major tournament final. (Still would have rather seen the Falcons win, of course.)

 

[Jordu]

You have a cool job. Nice call, too.

 

[InstaFace]

Oh god, CP is Jon Meterparel.

Boy is JMOH going to be sorry.

(kidding, that's pretty awesome stuff)

 

[Al Zarilla]

I don't think the field goal in V was game ending, right? It was like Vinatieri's field goal in 38, where there was a subsequent kick off. I think only 36 and 51 are actual "walk off" Super Bowls, where the offense actually won the Championship on the final play. Super Bowl 25 you could say was a "walk off" on defense, with a missed field goal. Or maybe the Tennessee tackle one yard short. But in terms of a game ending game winning play to score and win the Super Bowl, I think the Patriots have the only 2.

Of course, that's really because of the bizarre fact that only one Super Bowl has ever gone to an overtime, and also you could make the case that Super Bowl 36 deserves an asterisk as a "walk off" because the clock probably kept going a bit longer than it should have.

Wasn't there 7 seconds on the clock when Adam hit it? And then I think they had it somehow tick down to 1 second, and then they even blew that off. I didn't mind though.

 

[SumnerH]

Oh god, CP is Jon Meterparel.

Boy is JMOH going to be sorry.

(kidding, that's pretty awesome stuff)

Great sportscaster voice, too. Kudos!

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Thanks, guys. Very kind words. (The best words, actually.) Although I'm worried about how quickly InstaFace dug up that JMOH post from 2012.

One final reflection from me before this thread probably dies, now that I'm back from Sweden and have reflected further about both the Super Bowl and my commentary experiences: I've always rooted for drama in sports over dominant performances. Put another way, I hated watching Tiger Woods destroy the fields by 10+ shots at the Masters and US Open - I would much rather see Jean Van de Velde, Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard in an Open Championship playoff. The defining team sports episode of my childhood was the 1991 Atlanta Braves' run to the World Series, and when they lost to the Twins in 10 innings in Game 7, I honestly wasn't devastated. I can remember exactly where I was sitting and what I felt when the Twins won that game, and I was almost smiling, actually: the Braves hadn't won, but they'd played in a classic game and a classic series, and the whole experience was overwhelming for someone who grew up living and mostly dying with the Braves' (and Falcons') struggles from 1983 to 1990. Red Sox fans must have felt very similar at the end of 1967 or 1975, no?

Anyway, I suppose Sunday's game will be my personal equivalent of the 1986 World Series, and when it comes to my teams in the future, I probably won't worry about how history might treat them while they're still in the process of trying to win. But having commentated on that game on Tuesday, one in which my sole rooting interest was for "the story", I was reminded why I love sports in the first place - and that love is more universal than an attachment to any one team or set of teams. For some people, sport is a barely veiled excuse to practice tribalism, and the anger felt in hating one's opponents is probably more real than the joy felt in supporting one's team. That's never been me, and I hope it never is...and if that means I occasionally care more about drama and history than my team's fortunes, well, that hardly seems like a bad thing.

 

[joe dokes]

Yup.

(Except for VII, XII, XX, XXX, XXXV, XXXVII, XLVIII and 50)

Wow. I really screwed that pooch.

After actually looking it up instead of relying on my memory

1)Howley was the only MVP from a losing team. I knew that game was significant for some defensive MVP something.

2)And yeah.....there was a kickoff after OBrien's FG.

 

[loshjott]

Anyway, I suppose Sunday's game will be my personal equivalent of the 1986 World Series, and when it comes to my teams in the future, I probably won't worry about how history might treat them while they're still in the process of trying to win. But having commentated on that game on Tuesday, one in which my sole rooting interest was for "the story", I was reminded why I love sports in the first place - and that love is more universal than an attachment to any one team or set of teams. For some people, sport is a barely veiled excuse to practice tribalism, and the anger felt in hating one's opponents is probably more real than the joy felt in supporting one's team. That's never been me, and I hope it never is...and if that means I occasionally care more about drama and history than my team's fortunes, well, that hardly seems like a bad thing.

If Sunday was your 1986 WS, you'll have some very happy times in the next couple decades. Good luck to the Falcons!

 

[Marbleheader]

End of turning point last night, Ryan is walking towards the tunnel and stops, turns around and longingly soaks in the confetti celebration. Tough to watch.

 

[reggiecleveland]

For all the talk about the play calling and everything else that happened... thank you Devonta Freeman. His play on the strip sack was the single worst mistake in the game and the single biggest factor in the comeback. It was unspeakably bad. Just a horrible, horrible blunder.

It is like the ball through Buckner's legs, except maybe worse. The game was already toed when BUck made his error, and it was physical error not a mental error.

 

[Marbleheader]

The hold was really bad too, it was completely unnecessary. Ryan taking the sack was arguably the single worst play of the game under the circumstances.

 

[GregHarris]

The post game quotes by Ryan about that non-field goal series were puzzling. "We do what we do" (paraphrasing). Ya know, Matty Ice, it's ok to say something like "if we had to do it over again we would have called it differently".

 

[Harry Hooper]

End of turning point last night, Ryan is walking towards the tunnel and stops, turns around and longingly soaks in the confetti celebration. Tough to watch.

Kind of like this?

Helton enjoyed a nice long career, but that was his only trip to the WS.

 

[DegenerateSoxFan]

To all the Atlanta fans, I can only offer my heartfelt sympathies and the sincere hope that your guys are in the mix again next season. I have been on other side of that watching the other team drive for the winning TD, and I can imagine how excruciating it was to see that the Falcons D was just out of gas, with no hope of stopping Brady from driving it in. You will get over the hill someday, and the feeling you get when you crest that peak will be all the sweeter.

 

[Fisks Of Fury]

If Sunday was your 1986 WS, you'll have some very happy times in the next couple decades. Good luck to the Falcons!

See now, that SOUNDS like a nice thing to say until you remember that after 1986, we still had over 15 years to actually reach the promised land. So here's hoping you DONT have to wait quite that long.

 

[bankshot1]

Colts beat Dallas on a game ending FG in V. But that, ironically, was a shitty-played game. Only defensive MVP though.

And MVP on the losing team-Chuck Howley.

edit: saw it got covered

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

To all the Atlanta fans, I can only offer my heartfelt sympathies and the sincere hope that your guys are in the mix again next season. I have been on other side of that watching the other team drive for the winning TD, and I can imagine how excruciating it was to see that the Falcons D was just out of gas, with no hope of stopping Brady from driving it in. You will get over the hill someday, and the feeling you get when you crest that peak will be all the sweeter.

Yeah, we had no chance of stopping Brady in overtime. But that fade which Beasley got his hand on...one final nut punch.

 

[AB in DC]

Kind of like the Asante Samuel play nine years ago -- it would have been an absolute miracle INT, but everyone still talks about it like a coulda-been.

 

[54thMA]

End of turning point last night, Ryan is walking towards the tunnel and stops, turns around and longingly soaks in the confetti celebration. Tough to watch.

Caught that as well; tough to watch for sure.

There are no guarantees in life when it comes to returning to the Super Bowl, just ask Dan Marino.

Ryan is a very nice guy, all class, hated to see him in that situation.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Caught that as well; tough to watch for sure.

There are no guarantees in life when it comes to returning to the Super Bowl, just ask Dan Marino.

Ryan is a very nice guy, all class, hated to see him in that situation.

Yup. He was one of my favorite BC players. All class and a great player (who Tom O'Brien stupidly didn't appreciate). It's so hard to make the Super Bowl and the NFC is going to be a gauntlet for the foreseeable future. Wouldn't shock me at all if he never gets to another one. Can't believe he turns 32 in May.

 

[Bergs]

Yeah, we had no chance of stopping Brady in overtime. But that fade which Beasley got his hand on...one final nut punch.

That was a worse DPI than the one that got called the previous play.

 

[cheekydave]

Just read this whole thread. Wanted to say to Conigliaro, my heart goes out to you. we KNOW how you feel as multiple incidents that have been listed above have quite a painful impact. just NOW can I watch Tyrees catch, Buckners boot, Boones HR, and Even Sugar Ray Hamiltons penalty, and not feel like im going to puke or kill someone. Someday, your day will come, and you will complete the circuit, hang in there.

 

[Carlos Cowart]

You can't see it now but the orgasm you'll have when Atlanta eventually wins, whether that's next year or in 20, will be all the more spectacular due to the kick to the balls you received last Sunday. Be tantric about this, my friend, and drink lots of fluids.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Kind of like the Asante Samuel play nine years ago -- it would have been an absolute miracle INT, but everyone still talks about it like a coulda-been.

Miracle because of context, you mean, right? Because, while not an absolute gimme, that was an entirely makeable catch. It went through his hands.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Miracle because of context, you mean, right? Because, while not an absolute gimme, that was an entirely makeable catch. It went through his hands.

Yeah, this wouldn't have been a miracle if he'd caught it

 

[BigSoxFan]

Samuel's miss has always bothered me more than the Tyree catch. Fluke plays happen but our ball hawking DB missing a play he makes 9 out of 10 times was tough to take.

The other play that I remember (was at the game so much of it is hazy) is a Giants fumble in the first half deep in their territory that we were all around but somehow didn't pick up.

I feel relieved that I can actually talk about this game without wincing thanks to Malcolm and TB12.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Pierre Woods, I believe, had the fumble but couldn't quite corral it.

 

[joe dokes]

Samuel's miss has always bothered me more than the Tyree catch. Fluke plays happen but our ball hawking DB missing a play he makes 9 out of 10 times was tough to take.

I think Don Meredith was the first football guy I ever heard say something along the lines of: "The coaches find the fastest guys; the ones that can catch the ball play receiver; the ones that can't play DB." I'm sure its hyperbole, but I think of it every time a DB misses what looks like an easy INT.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Just read this whole thread. Wanted to say to Conigliaro, my heart goes out to you. we KNOW how you feel as multiple incidents that have been listed above have quite a painful impact. just NOW can I watch Tyrees catch, Buckners boot, Boones HR, and Even Sugar Ray Hamiltons penalty, and not feel like im going to puke or kill someone. Someday, your day will come, and you will complete the circuit, hang in there.

Somehow I think I feel a lot better about last Sunday than I would be feeling if the same thing had happened to the Falcons at the hands of, I don't know, the Steelers or another entitled fanbase that never suffered the sort of heartache that Boston went through. I'm not sure I share your optimism for the future - e.g., it's not like Buffalo fans have gotten any closer to glory since the Norwood miss - but you guys have been awfully kind regardless.

 

[RIrooter09]

Pierre Woods, I believe, had the fumble but couldn't quite corral it.

I'm pretty sure he recovered it but Bradshaw ripped it from his hands at the bottom of the pile.

 

[Harry Hooper]

I think Don Meredith was the first football guy I ever heard say something along the lines of: "The coaches find the fastest guys; the ones that can catch the ball play receiver; the ones that can't play DB." I'm sure its hyperbole, but I think of it every time a DB misses what looks like an easy INT.

Yes, Woods had it but the officials were REALLY slow to blow the play dead.

 

[AB in DC]

Miracle because of context, you mean, right? Because, while not an absolute gimme, that was an entirely makeable catch. It went through his hands.

It was off his fingertips, just like Beasley's.

(and I still think his foot landed out-of-bounds anyway)

 

[Tony C]

Right. It simply did not go through his hands. Not sure why people consistently mis-state it. The only question for me in re him fucking up is if he mis-timed his jump. But to his fingertips like that, it would have been a great catch.

 

[cleanturtle]

In 2004, the Red Sox swept the Cards in 4 straight, never having trailed at all in the Series. And only in Game 1 did the final outcome ever feel in doubt. However, I don't know a single Red Sox fan that felt any disappointment that the Cardinals did not put up more of a fight. I get what you're saying, but methinks you're overthinking things a bit much there.

I totally get wanting to win while the other side puts up their best fight. 2004 was sweeter to me because that's what happened in the ALCS. I may have been wrong, but to me the Yankees always seemed like the real threat, and the sweetest victory. If your example is right, maybe I'm the single Red Sox fan who would have found it less satisfying to sweep the Yankees in 4.