Sweet Justice

Every once in a while, sporting events provide the illusion that there is more going on than just the event itself. We are lucky when these events take place -- they become permanently attached not only to our memories, but to history itself.

The first Ali-Frazier bout in 1971 was one such event for many people. Muhammad Ali represented so much more than just a boxer to millions of people, and his loss in that great fight was a blow far beyond the interests of sport.

The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" was another such event. The underdog Americans, representing democracy and freedom, took on and defeated the Soviet team. It was far more than a clash of hockey players.

In 2001, the New York Yankees represented the recently attacked city in the World Series. They were outmatched by the Arizona Diamondbacks on so many levels. Yet for three games in the Bronx, it was pure magic. The Big Apple was able to smile again.

Sunday's Super Bowl was one such event for me. Forget for a moment that it was yet another in a long line of New York-Boston battles, though that in itself made it still more special. No, this was to me another battle of good vs. evil -- of what is right about sports against what is wrong.

Here were the New York Giants: the underdogs, the team few expected to even have a winning season, let alone represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Yet they were hungry. They came out and won games by outplaying their opponents, by playing hard-hitting football the way it's supposed to be played. They are a class organization, top-to-bottom -- a concession that from an Eagles fan like me is quite a revelation.

There were the New England Patriots: the team on the verge of being just the second NFL team to finish undefeated. In addition to that, they had destroyed previous offensive records. Of course, the manner in which they did this has been called into question. In the first game, they were caught cheating. Word is out that they may have been cheating in other seasons as well.

The Giants represented what was great about sport. The Patriots represented what sport is in danger of becoming.

The Giants showed confidence -- predicting a victory. The Patriots showed arrogance -- showboating on the occasional big play and inviting Giants players to Patriot victory parties.

It was a great game. The game lived up to all the hype and tension anyone could have hoped for.

When Brady hit Randy Moss to give the Pats a 14-10 lead with less than two minutes on the clock I was devastated. The bad guys won again.

For me, it was Barry Bonds breaking Aaron's record, Roger Clemens winning his seventh Cy Young, and other moments we've endured recently. The cheaters, the ones who break the rules to win, were going to win again. I was disgusted.

Then, hope returned on what had to be the best single play I have ever seen. A nearly sacked Manning to Tyree's helmet pass that ended up caught. The good guys were fighting back.

A lesson I always teach my son is to never quit. Showing persistence is what makes champions. And here I was watching the lesson happen before my eyes. The Giants drive continued. And then I saw Manning loft one toward the end zone.

Could it be?

Was that a Giant all alone there?

The good guys won.

Maybe there is hope for sport.

Of Apples And Oranges

Sylvester Stallone has admitted to using Human Growth Hormone to bulk up for the new Rambo movie. Why is anyone concerned?

Forgive me, but I do not see how Sly's use of HGH is even remotely the same as, say Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds. Stallone is an entertainer. He is a Hollywood celebrity. He is just a famous guy. What he puts into his body does not affect the outcome of games, of seasons, of records. He's 61. What he is doing is akin to botox for men.

Who is he cheating by doing this? The answer is only himself. If it makes him feel better about himself, so be it. Would I do anything like that? Of course not. I'm not that vain. But he is, and vanity is not a crime (though I believe illegal purchase of HGH is).

Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds did not take the same stuff to look better. They didn't do it to feel better about themselves. They did it to enhance their performance in a competitive environment. They wanted an edge. That edge sent them over the top. One has seven MVPs and is the home run king. The other has seven Cy Youngs, over 350 wins and is second all time in strikeouts. Neither would have numbers like that without drugs.

And that is a tremendous difference.

If you believe Stallone's HGH use is wrong because of the message it sends to children I ask you to look through your DVDs and CDs at home. Please remove Goodfellas (cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine), Breakfast Club (cigarettes, marijuana), Platoon(alcohol, marijuana), Invincible (alcohol), Elf (alcohol), Grease (cigarettes), The Godfather I, II & III (cigarettes, alcohol). These films portray drugs in a positive light. There are others there as well.

Also, remove from your music collection the following: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Elvis Presley, Black Sabbath, ACDC, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Guns n' Roses, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Merle Haggard, Dion, the Eagles and Jimmy Buffett. Each of these have portrayed alcohol or drugs in a positive light at some point during their careers.

We do want to be consistent.

In my eyes, what Sylvester Stallone did is little more than a boob job.

And there's nothing wrong with that.