Tuesday Tally

Nine Questions asked during a Chindian Super Bowl party:

I-What does this second and eight mean?
(We explain downs and yardage)

II-Would you like another beer?
(We answer Yes, please)

III-If the NFL is celebrating 100 years why is this only the 53rd Super Bowl?
(We explain NFL/AFL merger)

IV-Why do they use Roman numerals?
(We Explain that it looks cool)

V-Why is the coach always talking into a headset?
(We explain coordinators, observers and such)

VI-Why is there not much scoring?*
(We explain pro-offense rules changing since mid 2000)

VII-Is the curry paneer too spicy for you?
(We answer no)

VIII-How is this Tom Brady always in the Super Bowl?
(We explain his greatness, using Gisele as an example)

IX-Is American football related to rugby?
(We answer probably not)

*Most of our neighbors immigrated here in the mid 2000s and have never seen a Super Bowl defensive slug fest.

Super Bowl Full Circle

Super Bowl LIII kind of felt like going home, riding the circumference of the Circle of Life as it were.

Let me explain.

The Patriot's first Super Bowl win came in 2002 against....the Rams. The Pats were the young upstarts, the surprise AFC winners going up against the Rams 'Greatest show on Turf' offense.

Mrs. Stroock and I watched the game in the drafty old farm house we rented since moving to New Jersey the previous July. It was a dark, cold winter, made so by 9/11.

We were back in school, online - on a dial up - writing papers past midnight, with only a vague idea that when we had time we'd like to write a novel.

Never did we imagine we'd be watching Tom Brady, all those years, twelve novels, one mortgage and three little girls later.

On LIII

We're already hearing people say the game was boring.

To this we reply baaaaaaaa!

We saw some serious defense in Super Bowl LIII.

We also saw Belichick (it's really time for spell check to recognize that name) and Brady make adjustments and figure out a way to make a game winning drive after 50 minutes of futility. As soon as Brady hit a few plays on that drive , well, we just knew.

Brady was off his game for virtually the entire game, until it mattered the most.

That's why he's the greatest ever.

Rams QB Jarrod Goff was out of his depth and let down his defense, which performed admirably.

Hats off to the young Coach McVeigh for coming to Super Bowl LIII with a good game plan and hanging with the Napoleon of the NFL.

Bill Belichick now has six Super Bowl rings. 

Which is why he's the greatest of all time.