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CALLING SIGNALS |
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GAP |
 New England's Tom Brady ...reaches the peak |
Some are true champions;
the others can keep hoping
By BUCKY FOX
of TheColumnists.com
Donovan McNabb reaches.
Tom Brady reaches...the peak.
Andy Reid climbs.
Bill Belichick climbs...atop pro football.
Welcome to the difference in last week’s Super Bowl. The Philadelphia Eagles nearly won. The New England Patriots merely won. Again.
The Pats reign threes. They won by three points in a Super Bowl … for the third time in four years … for their third NFL title.
Why do they keep winning the close ones? Because Brady, Belichick & Co. are clutch. They see the moment and seize it.
Remember Brady’s first Super Seizure? It came in the closing moments of the 2002 Super Bowl against the favored St. Louis Rams. While TV commentator John Madden advised Brady to melt the clock and rely on overtime, Brady said nuts to that. He sped the Patriots downfield to set up their championship field goal.
Brady has since tacked on two more titles. As has Belichick. Killer B’s headed for the Hall of Fame. Maybe they’re future stadium statues.
They tower over Philadelphia’s phlops. The Eagles keep flapping their wings up there, but can’t find the perch that counts.
In his latest big game, McNabb couldn’t break out of the pocket. He couldn’t keep his passes out of Patriot hands.
In his fourth straight year near a title, Reid couldn’t manage the clock. He couldn’t decipher New England’s run defense.
The Patriots could. The Eagles couldn’t. That’s what separated New England’s Bowl gold and Philly Super silver.
Such is sports.
Some rise to Olympic heights:
Carl Lewis met expectations by sweeping four track and field gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Tara Lipinski stunned everyone beyond the ice by capturing figure skating gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Sarah Hughes did the same at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
Some hover around a level that lacks glitter:
Jim Ryun dominated the mile, but couldn’t capture 1,500-meter gold in his big 1968 Mexico City Olympic shot.
Michelle Kwan wins every national and international event she skates, but not the Olympics.
You have money in the pro
bank:
Derek Jeter.
Curt Schilling.
Shaquille O’Neal.
Tim Duncan.
Troy Brown.
Adam Vinatieri.
Mark Messier.
Tiger Woods.
Serena Williams.
And those who play on credit:
Barry Bonds.
Alex Rodriguez.
Kevin Garnett.
Chris Webber.
Peyton Manning.
Randy Moss.
Eric Lindros.
Sergio Garcia.
Elena Dementieva.
The gap between those groups is as wide as Tom Brady to Donovan McNabb … Bill Belichick to Andy Reid.
Champions and hopefuls.
©2005 by Bucky Fox. This column first posted Feb. 14, 2005.
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can comment on this column online. Please address your message
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