MIAMI, FLA. — When 106 million viewers just in the
United States are watching the same thing on TV,
there has to be a compelling story.
Kanye West, four years ago, said President George W.
Bush doesn’t care about Black people in the tragic
human despair and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue told Saints
owner (and used-car salesman) Tom Benson he would
not take the Saints out of New Orleans.
That was the foreword of the incredible story of
Super Bowl XLIV, where Peyton Manning — oldest son
of Archie Manning, one of the all-time original
great Saints — was in position to confirm that he is
the greatest quarterback of our time.
Four years ago, Tony Dungy’s Indianapolis Colts
captured Super Bowl XLI 29-17 over Chicago. Manning,
the only four-time MVP in NFL history, was supposed
to cement that argument. Or, like a good attorney,
make a strong case.
All the talk during Super Bowl week was that
Manning, with a second Super Bowl win in four years
with two different head coaches, could confirm that
he’s the greatest quarterback of our time. Better
than San Francisco’s Joe Montana, Pittsburgh’s Terry
Bradshaw and Ben Roethslisberger, Green Bay’s Bart
Starr or New England’s Tom Brady.
Montana and Bradshaw both won four Super Bowls — Brady has won three, and Starr and Roethlisberger
have two each. The pressure cooker of a Super Bowl
can sometimes make it difficult to clear your
throat, much less carry your team. Manning did not
deliver on the expectations.
Hold the phone; no way do you lose this game as a
favorite in the Super Bowl and be considered the
best of all time. This game is too big to lose,
especially if you’re the favorite and with the game
on the line in the fourth quarter you throw a
74-yard interception to Tracy Porter for a
touchdown. Game, set, match — I don’t think so.
A motivated Drew Brees delivered the goods, carrying
the Saints to Super Bowl glory with a sensational
performance. I thought all along that Manning and
Brees should have shared this year’s MVP award.
After all, Brees led the league in three categories:
TD passes (34), QB rating (109.6), and a record
completion percentage (70 percent).
In 2000, Manning shared the honor with Tennessee’s
Steve McNair, who led the Titans to the Super Bowl.
Brees completed 82 percent of his passes — 32 of 39
passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns — to grab
MVP honors and a trip to Disney World.
The 2009 season was not only the year of the
quarterback; it was also the year of the long
winning streak: Indianapolis 14, Saints 13, San
Diego 11 straight wins. But it took a man from
Purdue University to kick the state of Indiana in
the gut. That man is Drew Brees. (Payton spent one
year at Indiana State University, 1990-91.)
Brees’ coach, Sean Payton, shocked the world with a
second-half opening onside kick that the Saints
recovered and drove down and grabbed the lead 13-10.
That decision was huge, especially after being
stuffed in the first half on the one-yard line when
the Saints failed to get any points.
But the Saints, who play their home games in the
Superdome, finally got up to speed and became a
super team. Super Bowl XLIV, for me, comes full
circle. This is my 30th Super Bowl. I’m among the
few reporters who have achieved that.
I first covered the world’s biggest game in January
of 1981, Super Bowl XV in New Orleans, Oakland 27,
Philadelphia 10. For a young reporter, what an
impact that week had on my career.
My late wife Carol was born in New Orleans. We met
in high school in Chicago.
Her mother also was born in New Orleans, and her
parents, Dr. Robert and Mercedes Johnson, graduated
from Xavier University in New Orleans.
Her extended family in New Orleans extended such
hospitality to me, welcoming me into their homes.
Her late aunt, Ella Tillman, and Ms. Delores Henry
made me feel so welcome. Those great meals were
classics: gumbo and rice, turkey necks, butter
beans, all that great food for a young reporter. It
was great.
Last year, I was the first reporter in sports
history to cover his son in a Super Bowl. The game
was a 27-23 classic and a heartbreaker decided in
the final seconds.
If it had not been for that first one in New
Orleans, I would not have seen the Saints become
Super Bowl champions. I was able to cover all three
of the Saints’ playoff triumphs as they beat
defending NFC Champ Arizona 45-14, NFC North Champ
Minnesota 31-28 in overtime in the NFC Championship,
and finally Sunday’s 31-17 win over the Colts.
The Saints had to be sentimental favorites. The Who
performed at halftime. Who dat?
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on
KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740
Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at
3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on
Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader
responses to
lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit
www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
