MILWAUKEE (just down the road from TITLETOWN) -- I couldn't have done it without the team.
That's the first thing you need to know, it was a total team effort, top to bottom. It's really rare to have a group like we had, all pulling together in one direction. We just felt like we had something special right from the beginning of the season, and every week we sat here watching the TV in the upstairs bedroom, we just got more and more confident that we had what it takes to go all the way.
The back rests, first of all -- I can't say enough about the back rests. A football season is a long haul, you need that kind of support if you're going to make it through, and we had foam that just wouldn't quit. So that's the first thing.
Plus the cable guys -- I mean, none of this even happens without the cable guys. They were ready for us every weekend. You know how you get that thing where the picture freezes and then it breaks up and all you get is those tiny little squares? They were right on top of it -- there wasn't anything they hadn't seen before, and they were ready, made the adjustments and we're right back up.
The answering machine -- not that your normal person would even think of calling us while the game is on, but just in case, we had the answering machine right there so we could stay focused.
And how do you make this kind of run without the second refrigerator in the basement? Particularly early in the season when it's still really hot out and you have to watch out for dehydrating? Just knowing we had that second refrigerator standing by -- it gave us all sorts of confidence.
And of course, the tiny hot dogs in the tiny pastry buns. Let me tell you, the oven came through big time the deeper we got in the playoffs. You need your protein in situations like that -- you can't afford to come up short, and the oven gave us everything it had. The microwave, too -- don't forget the microwave.
See, that's the thing: When it was the oven's turn, we knew we could count on the oven. When we needed the microwave, same thing. From the first day of training camp, everyone had just one goal -- no big egos, no hidden agendas.
Did we go through adversity? Sure we did. You can't accomplish something like this without going through adversity. When the krinkle-cut chips ran out, we went with the sea salt. When the onion dip went down, the five-layer fiesta dip stepped up and we didn't miss a beat. That's the kind of depth we had. Pretzels. Pistachios. No excuses, just find a way to get it done.
What it all comes down to is attitude, and this was the finest collection of beverages and appetizers and comfort foods I've ever had the honor of working with. We even had chili one night! I mean, who has a big gloppy bowl of chili right in the middle of a football game? But it kept us loose. That was the whole idea -- to keep us loose. And it worked.
Dynasty? It's way too early to start talking dynasty -- all the pieces have to come together, and there's plenty of other folks that want to take that trophy home, too. But I have to say, I like our chances, and everything we've got going for us.
Oh, and the players.
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Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist. You can write to him at rickhoro@execpc.com.