The Super Bowl...it's what's "New"

So Super Bowl XLII is all set as the New England Patriots are one step from immortality as they face the New York Giants. The next two weeks, people will be talking about the Pats, so let's spend a minute on the Giants.

First of all, if you've lived in the New York area at any point in the last 4 years, you are the happiest today for Giants QB Eli Manning and coach Tom Coughlin. Eli has lived in his brother's shadow forever, and with the way he orchestrated his draft day trade to the Giants, he asked to be put in the pressure cooker. And for a while, it looked like he would evaporate in it. No one, not even the most staunchest of Eli supporters though, would have ever thought that he could play this well. He has been extremely accurate with the ball, and its clear that he and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride are on the same page. Not bad for someone who many Giants fans wanted to bench at mid-season.

Coach Coughlin has also felt the wrath of Big Blue fans for his tenure. The guy took Jacksonville to 2 AFC Championship game appearances, but came up short. It looked like he was the wrong fit through his first 3 years, an old school coach who was out of touch with today's players. Yet this team, which was so undisciplined and out of control last year, which somehow was Coughlin's fault, are playing mostly error free and penalty free, which Coughlin needs to get credit for.

But as happy as people should be for Eli and Tom getting to the Super Bowl, they should be equally as happy for the Giants getting to the Super Bowl WITHOUT Tiki Barber. I mean, if you're Tiki, doing 4th hour segments on the Today Show that no one is watching, you've got to be just feeling like crap that this has happened. For those not catching my meaning:
- He retires after last season, and many people expect the Giants to fail in 2007 without him
- He then criticizes Eli and Coughlin, saying Eli can't lead them to success and never will, and that intimates that he would have returned if Coughlin didn't.
- After the team plays well without him, he and his brother run smack about Plaxico Burress and the rest of the team before the 1st playoff game.
- Now he's doing manicure segments on television while his former team gets ready to play in the Super Bowl - without him

Kind of sucks to be Tiki right about now, huh? The only thing better would be if NBC were broadcasting the game next week and he'd be forced to be there covering it.

Oh, and its also nice to see the Giants succeed without Tara Reid flailing his arms around after every play saying he's open and dragging the team down with his selfishness. The solid play of Kevin Boss in his absence means the Giants can move on without #80 after this season, which makes them all the more likable.

BTW, I'll be live blogging the Super Bowl on Mahalo, and we'll also be live blogging the commercials as well, so be sure to log on while you tune in.

P.S. - The numbers from our coverage this past weekend continue to exceed expectations, especially the boxing coverage that generated over 12,000 hits! Thanks to all who visited.