Let's Remember Super Bowl XLII and Chill on the Presumptive Victory, Please?

I don't know about all y'all, but I'm really not comfy with all the "throwing in the towel," "got it in the bag," "it's over" talk concerning Barack Obama, John McCain and the headlines we'll be seeing just days from now. Call me a typical Democrat, but I'm not ready to declare any sort of victory on anything until I see it on Wednesday, November 5th.

That's what I've learned from being a New York Giants fan -- it ain't over till it's over. Really. I'm dead serious.

Think back to early February of this year, specifically February 3rd and the days leading up to it. The Giants had wrapped up an unbelievable post-season and fought their way into the Super Bowl. It was a miracle to those of us who were just happy to see them get into the post season, then beat the Buccaneers, then the Cowboys, and then, finally, the Packers. I'll never forget that. Those last two games bookended my birthday.

But damnit, did they have to fight for that victory, facing down the undefeated "almost perfect" Patriots favored by the vast majority of commentators and analysts. Except for my best friend ever, Keith Olbermann, who warned everyone not to underestimate a fourth-quarter comeback by Giants QB, and namesake of my first-born son, Eli Manning.

I think we should all take that to heart in this presidential race before we all jump to conclusions. Because the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 42 was not just a comeback, it was impossible. Improbable. And it happened anyway.

Remember this?

This was the impossible catch by WR David Tyree. The one he caught with his head. Remember what happened right before that?

This was what should have been a sack. This should have been a sack. It wasn't. Instead, it was magic. Wonderful, amazing football magic. Eli escaped that yank and passed the ball to David Tyree.

Let this be a lesson to those of us hopeful Democrats (clearly using The Secret) and those resigned Republicans (clearly using reverse psychology). Heed our candidate's warning: Don't get cocky. If there is anything true of both the Democrats and the NY Giants, it's that we can almost always find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot. And as much as I really hate equating my team with the GOP, both also really know how to fight to victory, especially John McCain in this campaign. Remember last summer, when everyone thought he was done before primary season and Rudy Giuliani -- Rudy Giuliani -- was considered a front-runner? He came back, didn't he?

But, as much as I'd love to take Tucker Carlson, my favorite opposition research, to heart when he says Obama supporters have nothing to worry about, I say "This was written on October 21st and is now obsolete." And when he quotes a Democratic insider who compares the Democrats to the Cincinnati Bengals (who are "used to losing, not winning"), I would remind everyone that we only beat them in overtime. Put that in your pigskin and smoke it.

I'd like to be cautiously optimistic, especially since the polls look so good in this last week. But the Giants scored their game-winning touchdown on February 3rd with 35 seconds left in the game.

The 2008 Giants are shaping up well, but we should never take a winning streak for granted. (Or else we'll be beaten by a bunch of puppies from Cleveland.) And those of us supporting Obama -- or just giving up on McCain -- should stop trying to predict the future.

Look at this picture of WR Plaxico Burress catching that last victorious TD:

There was a Patriot right there, ready to ruin everything. Don't think for a second that anything was being taken for granted.

Which is why we have to hold tight and keep playing like the 2008 Giants. We don't have to come from behind this time, like we did last year. We're there. We just can't give it up.

The GOP are the Dallas Cowboys. John McCain and Sarah Palin are Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. The Giants will play them for the first time this season on Sunday, November 2nd. The Cowboys are beleaguered with losses and fraught with injuries. But they are still the Cowboys and they can still win if we don't show up.

You can see that I'm a pretty rabid Giants fan, which, by default, means that I hate the Cowboys. But I'll tell you something -- when I was a kid, a Dallas fan got my entire school bus barking at me and calling me a dog. So you'd better believe it's personal, bro. You'd better.

So Giants, consider this your pep talk -- defend the little girl who was barked at. Don't screw this up.

And Dems, consider this your pep talk -- defend your honor and that of this entire nation. Don't screw this up.

And let's all remember to vote.

PS: Olbermann, expect a Special Comment from me one of these days for comparing Sarah Palin to the Giants before the VP debate. You're on my list for that one.

Comments

[michellemtsu]

Very apt analogy, and something I've been thinking for long time. Thanks for saying it better than me. As an Eagles fan, I'm a Cowboys hater too! Like we say in Philly: I'm an Eagles fan and whoever is playing the Cowboys! So for this week...Go Giants!

[cdub1991]

The only problem with this analogy is that folks who followed the tail end of last season were not, in fact, surprised by the Giants victory. They had almost beaten New England at the end of the season. New England was flat throughout the playoffs and sometimes looked as if they were sleepwalking. They should have lost to San Diego. The trajectory of the two teams intersected at just the right moment to allow the Giants to win.

It's not overconfidence when one has tracked the Obama campaign for two years and every major stratagem has played out as predicted by the campaign. That's just cold, hard analysis.

[BlackJAC]

The analogy is more applicable to the 2000 and 2004 elections, as the point spread of that game was so narrow that it really did hinge on a single touchdown. This election is closer to being down ten runs in the bottom of the ninth with two outs--sure, you could hope to score an extra run or two to narrow the gap, but it's extremely unlikely you could rally enough to get as much as a tie.

[jeett]

Except the analogy works very well when you consider that the Patriots were favored by three touchdowns or more before the game was even played. Regardless of how many points in whatever number of polls Obama may lead today, this game does not fully play out until the last polls close on the night of November 4. We can never get complacent when the opposition is as well practiced in election tricks as the Republican are. Let's not forget 2000 and 2004. Go, Jints!

[BigBluebELIever]

I have made this comparison many times. In fact, the only thing that could top that Super Bowl run for me would be an Obama victory. And even a Giants repeat would not take away the pain of another Republican win. However, I do have one critique... after Plax' catch to make it 17-14, the Pats got the ball back, and the pass to Randy Moss was milimeters away from his hands. Moss catches that and he likely takes it to the house. So, even when you think it is over with hardly any time remaining, until you see a kneeldown or concession, it ain't over. GO BIG BLUE!!!

[Nommo]

Those millimeters being the result of the pressure Brady was getting all day, more, it seems, than he had gotten the entire season. Really, Moss never had a chance to catch that.

[arizonabay]

Jamie, thank you for putting to paper or in this case internet, what I have been thinking about every since the convention. I keep seeing that pass when I wake up on Nov. 5. I totally agree about all the back slapping high-fiving. To keep with the sports analogy. We have to act like we are down by 10 points. We need to take the ball and run it down the republican “throats”.

Also Jamie as a true Houston Oilers/Texans fan a greatly share in your hatred of the Cowboys, they can’t lose enough for me. Lets hope McCain/Palin continue to be like the Cowboys of recent years and find new ways to choke in the big game.

[Blakkwolfe]

Ouch. Being a Pats fan still recovering from the combined emotional wreckage of the Tyree catch (which still needs a name; like the Immaculate Reception-only slightly grander) and the early loss of Tom Brady during the first game of the season. However, your point in the article is extremely valid. There are so many X Factors that can still screw this up. Voting machines that are "switching" votes. Ballot shortages in College towns. And of course, the standard lies and caging techniques that they are still trying to perfect. Still a lot of angry, racially driven Palin-drones out there, too...Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

[Yermammy]

Tell em, Jamie! Some people never learn.
VOTE! BO & JB

[ajax2]

I'm glad Obama and Biden compared the Palin/McCain ticket to GW Bush and his policies and not the Dallas Cowboys. However the comparison could have been much worse with Ralph Nadar touting the election as a who cares 'pickem'.

[Yermammy]

Did you get the point or not? This isn't ESPN. LOL

[NationalTreasure]

hear, hear!

I agree with you there is still time for the republicans to make mischief. Over 65% of our nation's clerk and recorders and state secretarys are republicans and there are too many voting machines that are being used although they are problematic.

GET OUT AND VOLUNTEER AND VOTE

There are stil five days left to volunteer for Obama/Biden 2008 or any of your local down ballot Democratic canidates.

[vjskydog]

Thank you for this analogy. As a Patriot fan, last February is a reminder to all that the game is played on the field (in the election booth) not in the media. Very few people gave the Giants a chance and, to their credit, they surprised the viewing public.

Please Obama supporters, keep this in mind. Do not underestimate the forces of evil.

Obama/Biden 08

[Speakchic]

I could have written this article and I'm so mad I didn't. I have been comparing Barack to the 07 Giants for so long. They went on the most unlikely of runs in playoff history and I have that "taste of victory after that Tyree catch" but I'm sitting waiting for Plax to catch that final TD pass.

I think Obama supporters know what's at stake and just like in the 4th qtr we will continue to play until the clock reads 00:00.

Great post!

[jvii]

Jamie Frevele, ain't nobody showboating, we are sprinting full speed across the finish line. In NC, we will know whether giving it all we got produced a victory for OBAMA/BIDEN.

We are all listening to see if the proverbial Fat Lady is going to sing.

We do remember NH. I do not detect any attitude similar to your article. You must get your materials from Lou Dobbs or Limbaugh.

[Jamie Frevele - Huffpost Blogger]

Actually, my materials come from a political science education that taught me how flawed some polling can be. I prefer to be cautiously optimistic and wait until the votes are (all) counted.

[jvii]

Jamie:
Thank you fofr taking time out of your day to respond to my post.

Polls do noyt vote, most people do not understand poll dynamics anyway. I once believed in poll before NH. Boy, did Hillary teach me a lesson.

As I said, in NC, I am just going to make somemore calls. Tomorrow, I will see what HQ has for me to do as we will have 6 days left. There are still many doors I can knock on too!

This election is very nerve racking and who can forget Watergate and GOP mischief over the years.

I have worked in other campaigns but have never seen one so organized and supported from bottom up.

Elections going forward will definitely be doing case studies on this one...well, at least on Obama's organization.