It rarely happens, but this year’s big game really lived up to its hype. It was a classic showdown: the undefeated New England Patriots—one of the greatest teams ever to play the game—facing off against the surprising wildcard New York Giants. Super Bowl XLII—(That's 42 for you non-Romans out there)—was an epic David & Goliath confrontation, pitting the pursuit of perfection against a potential miracle upset.
For the mighty Pats, under the masterful leadership of the handsome & heroic Tom Brady—that golden boy with the golden arm—this would be the last notch in their gun belt. Yes, that final stop in their magnificent quest for a perfect season, an accomplishment so rarified that it had only been achieved once before in the long, hard-hitting history of the NFL.For the Giants—whose team name seemed a gross misnomer in
this potentially lopsided affair—it was the opportunity for young (& often erratic) Eli Manning to prove himself. The “Prince Harry” of the Royal House of Manning, Eli has always stood in the long shadow of legendary dad Archie and Crown Prince Peyton, the successor to the throne.Absolutely nobody expected the Giants to be in this year’s big game. They had sorely disappointed their fans last year, falling far short of expectations. And when their gifted & glamorous running back (& UVA alum) Tiki Barber decided to hang up his cleats & retire early, no one thought the Giants would accomplish anything notable this season. But when it was all said & done, that scrappy gang from New York was the last team left standing to take on the glorious Patriots & perhaps deprive them of their seemingly inevitable date with destiny.
Many fans, in search of history, were rooting for New England to climax their pristine, record-setting season with a bold exclamation point, dismembering, decapitating and disemboweling the hapless Giants on their way to 19-0 elegance. But some folks (like me) enjoy rooting for the underdog. Rather than joining the bandwagon on the way to a coronation, some of us believe that the game still has to be played before the crown should be bestowed. (Hmm. Can anybody say “Barack” and “Hillary”?)Anyway, as the great contest finally got underway, little Eli, like a young shepherd boy armed with only a slingshot and 5 smooth stones in his hand, valiantly
took the field against the seemingly unconquerable foe. For 3 quarters of the game, a strong defensive battle ensued. The Giants had trouble scoring, but—gasp!—so did the invincible Pats. For the longest time, the score surprisingly remained frozen at 7 to 3, Patriots.But then, in the game’s final quarter, when it appeared that Eli and company might never get the ball across the goal line, they scored a clutch touchdown and took the lead. But knowledgeable Giant fans breathed none too easy. For every credible armchair quarterback in
America knew that cool Tom Brady would never roll over and play dead. General Tom marched his army down the field and quickly reversed the Giants’ fortunes with a quick score of their own. The Patriots were back in control, and things looked grim for young Eli. Surely, there was no way little Manning could do it again. But just when it seemed the tiny Giants’ hearts were about to be squashed into the turf, Eli literally escaped the clutches of his potential captors and lofted an unbelievable desperation throw that put his team within striking distance. Seconds later, he threw his second touchdown pass of the quarter. 
Suddenly it was 17-14, Giants. Only seconds remained on the clock. Tom the Great & his gladiators mounted a final assault. But their last ditch effort fell short. The Touchdown King’s last pass was incomplete. Grown men wept. Women screamed. New England fans rent their clothing, donning sackcloth and ashes. There was no joy in Patriotville. The mighty Brady had struck out.Without a doubt, Super Bowl XLII
was a great game with tons of drama, emotion and heroics. And the truth is: Heroic feats inspire us. They touch us deeply. They remind us of the God-given potential within any of us to rise up and courageously meet the challenges that come our way in life.Lest we forget, however, life’s greatest heroes are not those who play with a pigskin on a gridiron, but rather those who know and do the will of God each day. Thus, while you may never have the chance to lead your team to the Super Bowl, you can still be a hero as you walk by faith and allow your life to be shaped according to God’s plan. Anybody that does that is pretty super in my book.
Pastor Danny
P. S. Jordan, I'm sorry your boys lost.
