Even though it’s the biggest sporting event of the year, because my favorite team is not in the game, sometimes it’s hard to enjoy the spectacle as much as I could be. That’s why I generally try to find reasons to root for a particular team and stick with it. Being a Browns fan, it’s really easy any time the Steelers or Ravens are in the big game. Other times, Super Bowl XLIV for example, it is not nearly as easy to decide. I was rooting for the Saints over the Colts in that game, but I didn't really despise either team. I think that was the reason the game wasn’t nearly as exciting compared to the other Super Bowl games from the past four years.
Here are a few, fairly arbitrary reasons to get attached to the New York Giants, with the hope that it might just make the big game more engaging:
-The Underdog
As we are all well aware, the New York Giants just slipped into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Since then, they have had to win three road playoff games in a row. They handled the Atlanta Falcons in the first round and surprised a lot of us following it up by crushing the 15-1 Green Bay Packers as well. Then, finally, they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in an overtime thriller. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots had to beat the Tebow led Broncos and just barely beat Baltimore after Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying field goal.
Despite all that, the Giants still enter this game as 3-point underdogs. I think this is something that Browns fans can relate too. I don’t think the Browns have a lot of things in common with the Giants, but constantly being considered an underdog might just be one of them. Personally, unless I have an invested interest otherwise, I always root for the underdog. I love underdog stories. I hope that this game is among them.
I won’t bore you with the same 2007 comparisons and rematch storylines that just about everyone else is making. I just wanted to mention, one of my all-time favorite underdog sports moments was during Super Bowl XLII and the final minutes that turned 18-0 to 18-1.
-Fantasy Football Attachments
This might be really weak for some, but when you enjoy playing fantasy football as much as I do, you can really start to develop a liking for your fantasy players. This happens for me every single season. When they’re on your fantasy team, you have a reason to watch their games and hope they play well. You become a fan. From the two teams playing in the Super Bowl, this year it was Victor Cruz. In a fantasy season that had really inconsistent WR play, Cruz was a bright spot. He was among the players on my team that truly led me to the championship season I had in my money league. He also entered the league undrafted and didn’t record a single catch during his rookie season. Then he started this season fourth on the depth chart and didn’t really get a chance to showcase his talents until some injuries to other Giants receivers moved him up. That’s when he exploded for a Giants franchise record 1536 receiving yards and topped it off with nine touchdowns.
Do you have any Fantasy Football “bromances” with players in the Super Bowl of your own?
-They didn’t videotape opposing teams’ defensive signals
This one is pretty simple. Between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, the Giants are the team that didn’t participate in one of the most infamous controversies in NFL history, a controversy that resulted in some of the most severe penalties ever imposed on an NFL team and head coach (Bill Bellichick). It is more popularly known as “Spygate.” To put it simply, the Patriots cheated, they were caught, and they were punished. Do you remember who didn’t videotape opposing teams’ defensive signals to gain an unfair advantage? That’s right, the New York Giants.
I understand this isn't exactly riveting stuff, but it's Super Bowl week and the Browns aren't in it. The least we can do is root against a cheater, right?
0 recs | 58 comments
How about because your Wife is from NY and her whole family are crazed NY fans (not Jets or Mets, Just Giants, Yankees, Knicks and Rangers). She even went with my Brother in Law to Indy last weekend.
The other day I said its not fair, how many championships have you had since we have been married? She said a bunch. And I said how many have I had….sigh
but ya Go GMen…it will make life much easier at home this winter.
Red-Right-88 - February 1, 2012
We have more than the Giants. Unless you’re talking Cleveland in general. Also, if it bums you out that it’s not fair, then idk what to tell you.
SpecialBrownie - February 1, 2012
i’ll be rooting for my pool numbers. and beer.
pwndabear - February 1, 2012
especially beer.
Mr. Bad Example - February 1, 2012
Im cheering for NYG cus they have the most Troy Trojans woot woot
troy145 - February 1, 2012
NYG fan on Sunday. Patriots are my third most hate team. Behind the obvious.
SpecialBrownie - February 1, 2012
How about because the Patriots have Gerard “Big Money” Warren on their d-line. After not doing a thing in Cleveland I can’t root for our first round bust to win a superbowl. Oh and the fact that the Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics have all won in recent years to go along with the Patriots wins.
tdubbs12 - February 1, 2012
Meteor. My inner Indians fan will perform seppuku if I root for any New York team or pseudo Boston team.
ouched - February 1, 2012
Meteor is good. I used to go with stretcher, but that stopped being fun.
GoBrowns - February 1, 2012
There used to be a guy on here named “Simmsinns” who really liked fantasy football too. You would’ve liked him.
Dawg Nuts - February 1, 2012
Also, I’m rooting for the Patriots.
Dawg Nuts - February 1, 2012
He probably would have crushed me in fantasy football. He seems like an intimidating figure.
Jon @ DBN - February 1, 2012
He wasn’t that good. My team kicked his ass.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
Truth be told none of us really liked him.
notthatnoise - February 1, 2012
Root is the wrong word. To “root” for a team implies you actually care about that team. It’s more like choosing death by lethal injection or the gas chamber (like when we watch Ratbirds v Stoolers). I’m with pwndabear, I’m “rooting” for beer and pool numbers – because I actually care about that.
Kosar19 - February 1, 2012
Then again, in Australia “root” means this.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=root
Aussie Brown - February 2, 2012
I’ve heard that from Aussie friends.
North Coast Flea - February 2, 2012
Can’t give Ochocinco an excuse to actually feel like he contributed if the Patriots win. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me who wins. Both teams are eyeing their fourth Superbowl. The quicker the Steelers get dethroned, the better.
Heavysoviet - February 1, 2012
I still hold a grudge over Metcalf up the middle. Bellichick did not know how to coach when he was here and then turns into an all time great (after going back to Parcells and learning a few things) I will never forget it! Go Giants
GrillGuy - February 1, 2012
Giants all the way.
Not to really get in to it, but Spygate was a bunch of horse crap. The Pats got shafted only because people were crying about it. They did nothing wrong.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
Except that they did break an NFL rule.
North Coast Flea - February 1, 2012
So if they had someone writing down the signals it would have been ok? It’s the other teams fault for throwing signs out. The rule itself is bogus. Every person on the field and in the seats can see the signs. The whole thing is just stupid.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
It is a very stupid and arbitrary rule, I agree. It wasn’t even that they were recording the signals it was where there were recording them from. Either way, they broke that rule.
North Coast Flea - February 1, 2012
What gets me is that every team (probably) studies the opponent’s sideline. I mean, I did that as a player and coach. It’s not a secret, it’s part of the game.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
Damn this pisses me off. When you see a coach throw up a fist with his right hand (in a pattern of multiple motions) and the WLB blitzes every time he does it, how do you ignore it? So what if they taped and studied it. You have one guy on the field with a headset for a reason. Use it, morons.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
Well if I remember correctly, Spygate is what lead to them giving a guy on D a headset, not just the QB.
North Coast Flea - February 1, 2012
Oooo, you got me on that one. I thought the Mike had a headset before that. Damn, 4 years goes by fast. For some reason I thought the Mike always had an ear piece. But you’re right on that point.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
BY, I agree that the whole Spygate thing is overblown. To me, there’s a big difference between “cheating” like the Pats did, and maliciously cheating like James Harrison does. My high school wrestling coach told me “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.” I know there are limits, but it wasn’t like they did something awful.
Legoman0721 - February 1, 2012
I would agree with you if I thought they only ever filmed that one sideline during one game. A lot of tapes were destroyed rather quickly before anyone got a chance to look at them. I still think it’s likely that the Patriots filmed the Rams walkthrough before the super bowl.
notthatnoise - February 2, 2012
Filming a practice is just wrong.
Brownie's Year - February 2, 2012
I should be clear that there isn’t physical evidence of this. I should also be clear that the reason this evidence doesn’t exist is because the league destroyed it.
notthatnoise - February 2, 2012
I thought I remember some footage showing what the Rams walkthrough could have been. It was behind one endzone giving the perspective the players would see, just far enough out to see everyone. I think Spygate was more about that.
Doc's Kid - February 2, 2012
I think you better check your facts. Once a cheater, always a cheater.
Kosar19 - February 1, 2012
LOL look at his hands!
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
Tom Brady is a tool. Eli probably is too, but I don’t see it as much with him. Rooting for the Giants.
emily522 - February 1, 2012
STOP with the term ROOTING!!
Here’s a cross-section of my Browns roots. They run deep, and are entrenched. I have no roots or rooting interest for the Giants or Patriots. STOP!!
For further illustration, here’s the roots of a typical Bandwagon Stooler fan.
Kosar19 - February 1, 2012
Take a chill pill.
North Coast Flea - February 1, 2012
Simply trying to illustrate the misuse of the term “rooting” as in my earlier post. And a true Browns fan has no idea what a “chill pill” is.
Kosar19 - February 1, 2012
We all know that everybody here is a Browns fan first, foremost, and forever. Take a chill pill.
Legoman0721 - February 1, 2012
That was just plain weird.
Brownie's Year - February 1, 2012
As posted above
Then again, in Australia "root" means this.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=root
So yeah, stop with the rooting.
Aussie Brown - February 2, 2012
We heard you the first time. Don’t they play football in Australia in shorts with no helmets. Now that’s a mans game…
My favorite Aussie term is “dunny.” The wife’s boss is from Australia, she’s the coolest person ever.
Kosar19 - February 2, 2012
But did you click on the link to see how funny it is to hear you say you “root” for the Browns?
Our footy’s pretty good. One of my team’s star players does all this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6N0gk9XP0
Aussie Brown - February 2, 2012
Yes I did, I’ll have to add that into my covert cursing arsenal.
Kosar19 - February 2, 2012
Sounds like the Giants are going to be very happy with Em.
The New Kardiac Kids - February 2, 2012
But the Steelers aren’t in the Super Bowl this year.
JustBob - February 1, 2012
The Patriots are my second favorite team. Huge Belichick fan. I liked when he was the Browns coach and never understood the fans who hated him then, or now. I guess he suffered for being right about Bernie Kosar. And I think I am more forgiving of his early career growing pains.
That said, I will be surprised if the Patriots can beat the Giants. NY seems to have the kind of defense that gives Brady & Co. major problems, while NE does not seem to have a defensive answer to Cruz & Hicks. I don’t understand how the Patriots are favored in this game. They struggled to beat the Ravens. No, wait, they should have lost to the Ravens. Meanwhile, the Giants put a beat down on a very good Packers team in Green Bay.
So what am I missing?
JamesPowell - February 1, 2012
What team is favored has little to do with who the experts think should win. It’s all about making sure the betting is even on both sides.
notthatnoise - February 2, 2012
My problem with Belichick as the Browns coach was 12/5/95. Browns kick a field goal at the end of the game…losing 31-13 instead of 31-10. Why??
GoBrowns - February 2, 2012
Why would you care?
North Coast Flea - February 2, 2012
I don’t like that either, but its not exactly uncommon.
Legoman0721 - February 2, 2012 via Android app
I like revenge. I don’t have anything against either team, but I’m all for a good revenge story. I also don’t get most of the Pats/Belichick/Brady hate, so I’m rooting for the Pats on Sunday.
Legoman0721 - February 1, 2012
All I want is to watch a good game. I would rather see the Giants win, but as long as neither team gets blown out then I’ll have a good Super Bowl Sunday. I love watching the game no matter who is playing. I get to chill with my Navy buddies drinking some whiskey so it’s a good day’. When you’ve gone a half a season without watching football during a year when we had to deal with an offseason like we did it doesn’t matter who’s playing. So long as there’s good football.
Brownsbacker488 - February 2, 2012
Bill Simmons would be (even more) insufferable if the Patriots win.
Go Giants.
Aussie Brown - February 2, 2012
I’m looking forward to that. Go Pats.
Legoman0721 - February 2, 2012
GO BEER!
pwndabear - February 2, 2012
Hooray beer!
North Coast Flea - February 2, 2012
Jamaican guy!
SpecialBrownie - February 2, 2012
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