Now that everyone has seen it all, written billions of pages about it, I would contribute my bit on a truly wonderful win....wonderful not because it proclaimed a dynasty, not because it is historic but for all but these reasons. When you see odds turn, when you see someone break out from a whole defensive line and complete a 32 yard pass, then you know it is the day of the underdog. I guess our basic nature tends to cheer for someone who is down, who has no chance...what fun is there in cheering for someone who is obviously strong, better in everything? The reason probably lies in the fact that this world has a small number of people who have achieved a lot and tons of people who want to achieve...Barack Obama would put in a simple phrase: Audacity Of Hope!!
So first, a quick blurb about the game. Plaxico Burress had claimed that Giants would beat Patriots 20-17 and the world was laughing at his foolishness. Tom Brady, in an uncharacterstic fashion, responded saying that if Burress had said 45-42, that would have at least done some justice to the way Patriots have been racking up the score board...hmm...interesting. Did you feel some invincibility factor catching up with an otherwise disciplined Patriots team? I guess, sometimes, success gets the best of even the best amongst us. Giants defence was expected to come good and they definitely exceeded the expectations hitting Brady 18 times and sacking him 5 times. On the offensive side, Giants were led by Eli Mannning. I am not a huge fan of the younger Manning but something has happened to him in last 4 games. Turnovers are not happening, he is not trying to prove anything and things seem to be finally settling down with him. Now it is not easy if you have an illustrious brother like Peyton Manning and you are part of the Manning family where their father was also a quarter back for New Orleans. You sometimes wonder if Eli would ever be able to come out of the shadows. He sure did yesterday. With less than two mintes left and Giants looking at a long 3rd down, Eli was faced with the monstrous Patriots defensive line all over him. He scrambled, tried to keep himself on the feet, kept pusing himself out of the mob and then threw a 32 yard scorcher( How much I would have liked if it was Brett Favre and not Eli Manning!!!)to David Tyree. On the receiving end, Rodney Harrison of Patriots was all over Tyree but somehow Tyree managed to jump a few inches more and grabbed an improbable catch. From there on, it was easy but till then, we were all ready to shut up, coronate the Patriots and get ready for the Boston swagger for a long time.
So I guess the lesson is simple and proved in one of the best settings of all. When you are down and out and no one is giving you a chance, and deep within, you don't know if you are capable of doing it...pull up your strings, promise yourself that you will give it your best shot and go out and do your job. You will see the tide turn and conventional wisdom thrown out of the window. It sure happens otherwise Ali would never have beaten Sonny Liston, India would not have won the 83 world cup and Hillary would have already become the President!!!
I am inhaling Obama for Super Tuesday...How about you?
3 comments:
I couldn't stop myself first I have very closely followed this US election and built my perspective and secondly, have very closely followed New Engalnd's 18-1 run.
I personally like Obama for the same reaosns I liked Giants. I want him to succeed for the same reason I liked Eli Manning to become MVP and outshine Tom Braddy. Yes, I like underdogs to shine and am anti-establishment. Though, it can be all together a different discussion that Bill Belichick was far worse than Tom. But another part of me also says to inject some objectivity in the discussion.
I would like to learn about some of the issues and how Obama is advantageously positioned against Hillary. First, let's address the most burning topic: Economy. I would like to understand your stand on this before making my point. Do you agree that Hillary will be bringing a package called 'Billary' to White House. If no, I agree she is of no use other than extensive 35 years of experience in Health Care. If yes, I would like to present a data point. Alan Greenspan, in his book: The age of turbulence, said that Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon were two smartest presidents he worked with. Yes, Alan is a renowned economist and he appreciated Bill's wisdom in reference to his understanding and ability to make decision in field of economics. Bill created most number of jobs in past few decades.
Don't we need someone who has been there and done that?
Healthcare: I do agree that she doesn't know how making it mandatory is going to help everyone but she has made an effort to understand it. Now she says, she is going to make it affordable too by adding same tax plans that she will impose higher tax for people with higher income. Point is she has shown learnability and thing is this is not a burning issue. Obama scores here but he has to answer how is he going to make sure everybody gets it? Is he really going to put high taxes on Hollywood -- who have supported him so much, just an example. Still the bugger question is open: how everyone will get it.
Foreign Policy: Obama says he is going to talk to leaders from enemy countries. Bill made same effort in UN General Meeting ( may not have gotten the name rightly) to talk to Iranian president. People from Syria etc. He didn't succeed because enemies didn't want to talk.
I am more interested in learning from Obama that how is he going to allure these enemies to talk to him? Just having lived in Indonesia, the country with highest number of muslims, doesn't make him unique for this effort, as he has mentioned in various debates. Definitely, he represents a fresh 'breed' and hence a unique perspective, quite different from predecessors and has promise but he doesn't have much past stories to back up his diplomatic abilities.
However, I think Obama has great leadership potential as illustrated by his campaign. He really really rocked it. He is best candidate for VP and youth and experience is the need of hour.
Lastly, he needs to stand up and 'own' his decisions. On 6 situations, he said he pressed wrong button and hence he was anti-democratic policies. On 107 instances, he voted present. He wasn't able to make a decision. Did he lack judgment?
It's a battle between heart and mind and
I am open to learn on these topics. Please flood...
With surge in Obama's favor tonight, he is going to come up as a champion out of this super tuesday. And, I will be happier for the fact because he has the ability to beat McCain. I can live with Romney but McCain is a big no ...Ron Paul, though not electable, is best ;-)
Yes, I am still battling between my heart and mind :-)
Dude...the Tyree pass is going down in history as the "WTF just happened?"...for one, Eli managing to get out of that crazy huddle and then execute that pass. On the other end, Tyree managing to balance the ball on his helmet, while defense was just pounding him. Speechless moment!
Hi Ranjan,
I am not sure if I know you but here is my response to your comments:
1) From when could you claim the work of your husband on your resume? I was a recruiter before and haven't seen one instance till now!!
2) Both Obama and Clinton talk rhetorically about Economy,Health Care etc. The reality is that both would end up doing substantially different things than what they are saying right now because big government was never a solution. It is more of an essay writing contest between the two than anything else.
3) Finally, foreign policy needs more judgement and realism than anything else. Why did US keep talking to Russia even at the height of the cold war and why does India engage Pakistan? Because diplomacy is the art of finding friends out of enemies. Obama has consistently talked about change in the mindset of US foreign policy. He got trashed for doing so at the beginning of the campaign but it is going to be his big differentiation moving forward. US doesn't talk to Iran but does Iran really creates that many problems? How about Russia and Putin? And what about North Korea. America needs a new engagement with the outside world and both Hillary & McCain cannot provide it.
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