Detroit Lions Weblog

In Defense of Greatness

As a long suffering Lions fan, I believe that I have a very clear view of what your standard, run of the mill, mediocre-to-very-bad NFL franchise looks like. In the unexceptional world of the modern day, socialist NFL, we were rewarded with a brief and exceptionally rare glimpse of true greatness, during the 07/08 NFL season.

Many observers believe that justice was served in last Sunday’s Super Bowl. Cheaters shouldn’t win, mom, apple pie, and “aw shucks” americana overcame the elitist, smug, urbane, and cosmopolitan in the Manning vs. Brady match-up. The league has been constructed so that teams like the Giants can from time-to-time unexpectedly rise from the heap and gain the league’s highest award, the Lombardi trophy.

Much like the 2006 World Series, where another incredibly mediocre team, the St. Louis Cardinals, rose up unexpectedly, the Giants decidedly defeated the 18-0 Patriots, who had previously defied all NFL constructs, amid their run towards greatness.

The NFL, and the hordes of supportive media scribes, will trumpet the astonishing success of the league, and it’s Horatio Alger-like 2007-2008 world champions as a indication of the beauty of their controlled design, which places league parity above all else philosophically.

I strongly disagree with this idea, because I believe that we should all strive to rise above the flotsam in life. The Giants played incredibly well for about a month and a half during the 07/08 season, does that seem deserving of the league’s highest honor and the rewards that go along with it?

To the victors ultimately goes the spoils, and the Giants won fair and square in the arena of play. That being said, a large part of me was disappointed by last Sunday’s outcome.

“Spygate” be damned, the Patriots were likely one of the best teams that we have ever had the privilege of seeing, but after one loss, they will now join the innumerable, litter of also-rans that comprise of the league’s history, who continue to warm the hearts of a particular franchise’s fans with their relative success, but by not achieving their final step towards glory, are regarded as failures in the grand scheme of things.

The Patriots have been a remarkable team, and Tom Brady enjoyed the most exceptional season as QB in the NFL’s history, at a time where quality play at that position is in a serious state of decline .

The Patriots have provided an unmatched antidote to the salary cap and free agency, and have enjoyed an enviable stability and success as a franchise. Meanwhile, the hapless Lions have languished.

At a time when teams, like the Lions, have defied the internal logic of the league’s design by failing miserably, I am glad that one organization has spit the bit, and rose above, in spite of all the forces utilized to prevent that from happening for any extended period of time.

With the low rumbling of upcoming league-wide drug problems and a return to labor unrest, among other major problems that are likely to surface, I really enjoyed that a team stood at the pinnacle of the league, at a time of great success and stability for the NFL.

In many ways, the Patriots 07/08 season may serve as a convenient analogy to the success our once great country enjoyed in the future.  Unmet promise, instability, and dissension eventually mar all good things.  I expect that the Patriots success in 07/08, much like the high standard for achievement our country once set, will be longed for, rather than decried, at some point in the future.