Super Bowl Spectacular
http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/960/1/Super-Bowl-Spectacular/Super-Bowl-Spectacular.html
Andrew Mindzak
After a long and successful 15 year baseball career that started off walking his first 8 batters, then hitting the 9th before getting pulled, he has switched gears to writing about sports instead of playing them (although he is always up for a game of wiffleball).
The reigning 2006 shuffleboard champion on his cruise to Alaska, Andrew feels that there is nothing better than early-mid 90's music and taking it in with a nice cold Dos Equis.
He has been participating in Fantasy Football for over 10 years and is a firm believer in awarding fantasy points for 'Super Models Dated'. Another firm belief is Donald Arthur Mattingly should be in Cooperstown. But that will be another story...until then, email him here.
The reigning 2006 shuffleboard champion on his cruise to Alaska, Andrew feels that there is nothing better than early-mid 90's music and taking it in with a nice cold Dos Equis.
He has been participating in Fantasy Football for over 10 years and is a firm believer in awarding fantasy points for 'Super Models Dated'. Another firm belief is Donald Arthur Mattingly should be in Cooperstown. But that will be another story...until then, email him here.
By Andrew Mindzak
Published on 02/4/2008
Over 97 million viewers tuned into the big game on Sunday to see the Giants upset the previously-perfect Patriots. ASM's Andrew Mindzak was one of them.
Over 97 million viewers tuned into the big game on Sunday to see the Giants upset the previously-perfect Patriots. ASM's Andrew Mindzak was one of them.
Super Bowl Spectacular
As we have come to know, there are never any certainties in sports. We all love David vs. Goliath stories, even more so when David wins. However, watching this year’s Super Bowl with a few friends, who know that the biggest David vs. Goliath story was in our own house.
Several of our friends are Giants fans, which was going to make this game very nerve wracking, but one of our other friends has a unique trait of his own…compulsive gambling. That’s right, David vs. Goliath, or in this case, the gambler vs. the house. Now, in this case, the house doesn’t always win, but if you challenge him enough, his win total is quite top heavy (kind of like Pamela Anderson. Speaking of Goliath sized objects….never mind).
Being as I am a Dolphins fan, I was pretty impartial to the outcome to this game, although with Miami having the only unbeaten team in NFL history, it would be nice to see the Giants ruin the Patriots season. With that being said, I was stuck between 2 totally different fans. Let me recap the events of this year’s amazing Super Bowl...
As we start to mosey on into the living room to watch the beginning of the game, our friend the gambler (we’ll call him CG for Compulsive Gambler from this point on) was already ecstatic. The game hasn’t even started, and here he is going nuts. “What happened, is Tom Brady not playing?” we asked. “No, I bet on tails, and the coin toss came out on tails!!!” Now, we didn’t know betting on the coin toss was even an option. All we were used to was picking either team with or without the spread, and betting on the over or under of total points scored in the game. This coin toss thing was a bit much we thought, but knowing our friend, we weren’t all that surprised. So, with his night off to a good start, the game begins. The Giants receive, and start the game off. First play of the game is a rush by Brandon Jacobs for 3 yards. Our friends that are Giants fans are mildly excited for a decent start. However, CG is going nuts yet again, “I bet the under on distance of Jacobs first run. The over/under was 3.5, and I took the under!!!!” Once again, we are just dumbfounded, that we’re all of 5 seconds into the game, and he has won 2 bets. Something tells me he would’ve bet on whether Eli Manning wears boxers of briefs if there was an option to do so.
Once the game gets going, CG quiets down, but the Giants fans are making some noise now that they are up 3-0. As the 1st quarter comes to a close, the Patriots are driving, and Brady throws a pass to tight end Ben Watson in the end zone, but there is a penalty against NY for pass interference. Everyone is not happy with this call, CG and Giants fans alike. Why is CG upset one might ask? “I bet that New England would have committed the first penalty tonight.” Now his bets seem to be getting more and more obscure, and we really are wondering if he bet on Eli’s under garment situation.
The game is moving along with New England up 7-3, and the Giants are driving right after the 2 minute mark, but their drive stalls out, and they decide to punt. The Giants fans slouch back in the couch, but CG now moves to the edge of his seat as Jeff Feagles punts on 4th down. The punt gets downed at the 11 yard line, as is the case with most Feagles punts over the course of his career, and CG now sits back with everyone else. As halftime rolls around we start to watch the Tom Petty concert, which was pretty darn good. Petty looks like he still can rock!
But I can’t enjoy it as much as I’d like, being as I’m sitting near CG.
All I can think about is what is he betting on now??? As the fans rush the field to be near Tom Petty’s stage, I’m thinking to myself “Did he bet on the over/under on how many people get trampled?” Watching Tom Petty, I forget about CG, until I see fireworks going off inside the domed stadium in Arizona. “Did CG bet that a firework will hit a fan???” Now don’t get me wrong, CG isn’t a bad person, but I just wonder what goes on inside his head sometimes. So, as we all get our snacks for the start of the 2nd half, we resume our positions on the couches and get ready for one of the best 30 minutes of football I can ever recall.
Several of our friends are Giants fans, which was going to make this game very nerve wracking, but one of our other friends has a unique trait of his own…compulsive gambling. That’s right, David vs. Goliath, or in this case, the gambler vs. the house. Now, in this case, the house doesn’t always win, but if you challenge him enough, his win total is quite top heavy (kind of like Pamela Anderson. Speaking of Goliath sized objects….never mind).
Being as I am a Dolphins fan, I was pretty impartial to the outcome to this game, although with Miami having the only unbeaten team in NFL history, it would be nice to see the Giants ruin the Patriots season. With that being said, I was stuck between 2 totally different fans. Let me recap the events of this year’s amazing Super Bowl...
As we start to mosey on into the living room to watch the beginning of the game, our friend the gambler (we’ll call him CG for Compulsive Gambler from this point on) was already ecstatic. The game hasn’t even started, and here he is going nuts. “What happened, is Tom Brady not playing?” we asked. “No, I bet on tails, and the coin toss came out on tails!!!” Now, we didn’t know betting on the coin toss was even an option. All we were used to was picking either team with or without the spread, and betting on the over or under of total points scored in the game. This coin toss thing was a bit much we thought, but knowing our friend, we weren’t all that surprised. So, with his night off to a good start, the game begins. The Giants receive, and start the game off. First play of the game is a rush by Brandon Jacobs for 3 yards. Our friends that are Giants fans are mildly excited for a decent start. However, CG is going nuts yet again, “I bet the under on distance of Jacobs first run. The over/under was 3.5, and I took the under!!!!” Once again, we are just dumbfounded, that we’re all of 5 seconds into the game, and he has won 2 bets. Something tells me he would’ve bet on whether Eli Manning wears boxers of briefs if there was an option to do so.
Once the game gets going, CG quiets down, but the Giants fans are making some noise now that they are up 3-0. As the 1st quarter comes to a close, the Patriots are driving, and Brady throws a pass to tight end Ben Watson in the end zone, but there is a penalty against NY for pass interference. Everyone is not happy with this call, CG and Giants fans alike. Why is CG upset one might ask? “I bet that New England would have committed the first penalty tonight.” Now his bets seem to be getting more and more obscure, and we really are wondering if he bet on Eli’s under garment situation.
The game is moving along with New England up 7-3, and the Giants are driving right after the 2 minute mark, but their drive stalls out, and they decide to punt. The Giants fans slouch back in the couch, but CG now moves to the edge of his seat as Jeff Feagles punts on 4th down. The punt gets downed at the 11 yard line, as is the case with most Feagles punts over the course of his career, and CG now sits back with everyone else. As halftime rolls around we start to watch the Tom Petty concert, which was pretty darn good. Petty looks like he still can rock!
But I can’t enjoy it as much as I’d like, being as I’m sitting near CG.
All I can think about is what is he betting on now??? As the fans rush the field to be near Tom Petty’s stage, I’m thinking to myself “Did he bet on the over/under on how many people get trampled?” Watching Tom Petty, I forget about CG, until I see fireworks going off inside the domed stadium in Arizona. “Did CG bet that a firework will hit a fan???” Now don’t get me wrong, CG isn’t a bad person, but I just wonder what goes on inside his head sometimes. So, as we all get our snacks for the start of the 2nd half, we resume our positions on the couches and get ready for one of the best 30 minutes of football I can ever recall.
Super Bowl Spectacular
The Patriots start of the 2nd half with a solid drive to the Giants’ 31. Now, it is 4th and 13. Most of us are thinking here comes a field goal. Well, much to the chagrin of CG, they go for it, and Brady’s pass falls incomplete. The Giants fans are really excited now, but CG is going ballistic. “Why do you go for it on 4th and 13 when you can easily kick the field goal?!?!?!?!?” Turns out CG bet on the over 44.5 for longest field goal distance of the game. That kick would have been a 48 yarder, and with Gostkowski’s leg, 48 yards is very reachable. Turns out, this kick will be a big factor in the outcome of this game!
Late in the 3rd quarter, the Giants are faced with 4th and 6 on New England’s 41 yard line. Being as it is too long of a field goal for their kicker Lawrence Tynes, they opt to punt. Once again, the Giants fans sit back in the couch, whereas CG is now on the edge of his seat. Feagles’ kick goes out of bounds at the Patriots 10 yard line. Now, CG starts cursing up a storm. “What’s wrong?” we ask. “I bet that one of Feagles’ punts will result in a touch back” CG says with a very distraught look on his face. Now I’m not only certain he bet on Manning’s underwear preference, but probably what his brother Peyton wears as well!
As the game wears on, Brady hooks up with Welker more than Brittney Spears and, well, anyone with a pulse. As a Miami fan, I can’t find any solace in the fact that Welker is no longer a Dolphin. That sadness deepens as Welker catches his 11th pass, tying a Super Bowl record. At this point, Brady passes to Randy Moss for the go ahead touchdown to put the Patriots up 14-10. Everyone is slumped in the couch, but the Giants fans are not feeling good at all now that New England pulled ahead with under 3 minutes left to play. Now the Giants get the ball at their own 17 yard line.
The drive starts off well for Eli and the Giants, as he completes an 11 yard pass to Amani Toomer. A few plays later, the Giants are faced with 4th and 1, and a Jacobs rush gets them the first down they desperately needed. Now on 3rd and 5, Eli almost gets brought down for a sack, but somehow he gets away, and heaves a 32 yard pass to David Tyree who makes an amazing catch for a huge first down, and now puts the Giants in striking distance. Now it is 3rd and 11, and Manning finds rookie Steve Smith who makes a very veteran play, getting enough yards for the 1st down, and also gets out of bounds to stop the clock. Now it is 1st down at New England’s 13 yard line with 35 seconds left, and Manning wastes no time lofting one to Plaxico Burress in the end zone to put the Giants up for good 17-14. All of the Giants fans are going absolutely berserk! But sure enough, there is CG sitting on the couch with his arms crossed in displeasure. “I bet that there would be no scoring in the last 2 minutes of the game” he mumbles as he now switches from soda to vodka. Then, CG looks at the coffee table, and checks out a box pool he entered his name in. He looks at the Patriots numbers, and sees he has the Pats score ending in a 4. Ok, so he follows that grid line over to the Giants numbers and sees he has a 7 in that column. “NO WAY!” CG yells as he starts running around the house like he actually cared about the Giants winning. He wound up winning the final score box for his box pool, and all in all he finished even on the nights events. So, as the nights events have now unfolded, everyone gets to go home happy. David beat Goliath on the football field and David beat the house as well. The Giants won, pleasing all of the Giants fans. CG broke even saving his night, and I got to watch a fantastic football game and also experienced a compulsive gambler watch a game they are betting on. Well worth the price of admission.
Late in the 3rd quarter, the Giants are faced with 4th and 6 on New England’s 41 yard line. Being as it is too long of a field goal for their kicker Lawrence Tynes, they opt to punt. Once again, the Giants fans sit back in the couch, whereas CG is now on the edge of his seat. Feagles’ kick goes out of bounds at the Patriots 10 yard line. Now, CG starts cursing up a storm. “What’s wrong?” we ask. “I bet that one of Feagles’ punts will result in a touch back” CG says with a very distraught look on his face. Now I’m not only certain he bet on Manning’s underwear preference, but probably what his brother Peyton wears as well!
As the game wears on, Brady hooks up with Welker more than Brittney Spears and, well, anyone with a pulse. As a Miami fan, I can’t find any solace in the fact that Welker is no longer a Dolphin. That sadness deepens as Welker catches his 11th pass, tying a Super Bowl record. At this point, Brady passes to Randy Moss for the go ahead touchdown to put the Patriots up 14-10. Everyone is slumped in the couch, but the Giants fans are not feeling good at all now that New England pulled ahead with under 3 minutes left to play. Now the Giants get the ball at their own 17 yard line.
The drive starts off well for Eli and the Giants, as he completes an 11 yard pass to Amani Toomer. A few plays later, the Giants are faced with 4th and 1, and a Jacobs rush gets them the first down they desperately needed. Now on 3rd and 5, Eli almost gets brought down for a sack, but somehow he gets away, and heaves a 32 yard pass to David Tyree who makes an amazing catch for a huge first down, and now puts the Giants in striking distance. Now it is 3rd and 11, and Manning finds rookie Steve Smith who makes a very veteran play, getting enough yards for the 1st down, and also gets out of bounds to stop the clock. Now it is 1st down at New England’s 13 yard line with 35 seconds left, and Manning wastes no time lofting one to Plaxico Burress in the end zone to put the Giants up for good 17-14. All of the Giants fans are going absolutely berserk! But sure enough, there is CG sitting on the couch with his arms crossed in displeasure. “I bet that there would be no scoring in the last 2 minutes of the game” he mumbles as he now switches from soda to vodka. Then, CG looks at the coffee table, and checks out a box pool he entered his name in. He looks at the Patriots numbers, and sees he has the Pats score ending in a 4. Ok, so he follows that grid line over to the Giants numbers and sees he has a 7 in that column. “NO WAY!” CG yells as he starts running around the house like he actually cared about the Giants winning. He wound up winning the final score box for his box pool, and all in all he finished even on the nights events. So, as the nights events have now unfolded, everyone gets to go home happy. David beat Goliath on the football field and David beat the house as well. The Giants won, pleasing all of the Giants fans. CG broke even saving his night, and I got to watch a fantastic football game and also experienced a compulsive gambler watch a game they are betting on. Well worth the price of admission.