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Category Archives: Immortality

Belichick and Brady playing for Super Bowl immortality

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INDIANAPOLIS - They're baaaacck.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have returned to the Super Bowl, and
once again the New England Patriots quarterback and head coach
are a victory away from adding their names to the record books.

They've already made their mark in the NFL, obviously, and will
set at least another at kickoff by becoming the starting
quarterback-coach tandem with the most Super Bowl appearances,
with five.

But Brady and Belichick struck out at matching the four Super
Bowl titles of quarterbacks Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw and
coach Chuck Noll the last time they made it to the NFL final.
The Patriots, of course, lost to the New York Giants four years
ago.

And once again, those Giants stand in the way of history in a
rematch that is likely to set records of a different kind - for
hyperbole.

Still, there is no overstating what is at stake for both teams
in Super Bowl XLVI and for Belichick and Brady, who have the
opportunity to join a select few.

"I was a 49er fan growing up, so Joe Montana and Steve Young
were my two favorite players," said Brady, who was born and
raised in San Mateo, Calif. "It was always a special time for
me to go out there [to Candlestick Park]. My parents had season
tickets and we'd go sit up down in the end zone about ten rows
from the top of the stadium."

Montana won Super Bowls for San Francisco in 1982, '85, '89,
and '90. Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers set the bar with
championships in 1974, '75, '78, and '79. Brady won three in
four years - 2001, '03, and '04. If New England beats the
Giants, he will join Roger Staubach as the only other
quarterback to win Super Bowls six years apart.

Belichick would match Cowboys coach Tom Landry in that regard
with a victory. But to win four is the goal and would place him
on par with Noll, an achievement Grace Ybarra, a 12-year-old
from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps of Indianapolis, noted
when she asked the taciturn 59-year-old coach what it would
mean.

"It's very flattering to be mentioned in the same sentence with
Chuck Noll," Belichick said. "So thank you for doing that."

Belichick and the Patriots aren't normally welcomed to this
Midwest city with open arms. New England beat the Colts, for
many years their chief rivals, in the playoffs on the way to
two crowns.

"I never had too much hospitality here till I went for it on
fourth and 2," Belichick quipped, referring to the 2009
regular-season game against the Colts when he went for it from
his own 28-yard line.

The Patriots touched down here Sunday at 5 p.m. Earlier in the
day, 25,000 fans gave the team a send-off at Gillette Stadium.
At the rally, Brady said, "We're going to give it our best and,
hopefully, we have a lot more people at our party next
weekend."

A few New York media outlets characterized the statement as
Brady guaranteeing a victory, Joe Namath style.

"Well, it was a pep rally," Brady said. "People are pretty
excited."

The Giants, who arrive Monday, don't need extra motivation.
Quarterback Eli Manning and coach Tom Coughlin are also trying
to make history by joining the Super Bowl two-timers club.

Belichick was asked if New England had revenge on their minds.
The Giants not only upset the Patriots, 17-14, in Super Bowl
XLII, but they dashed their hopes of finishing 19-0.

"I don't think [it] has very much bearing on anything,"
Belichick said. "I think the team that wins Sunday will be the
team that performs the best."

Brady and Belichick have often been on the team that performed
the best. No matter what happens Sunday, both already have
their exalted place in the annals of the game.

 

Gronk update

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who suffered a high ankle
sprain in the AFC championship, wore an air cast off the
airplane.

Though his father, Gordy, recently told a New York radio
station that his son would play Sunday, Belichick was evasive
when asked for a prognosis on his Pro Bowl tight end.

"I'd say day-to-day," Belichick said.

A high ankle sprain typically takes more than two weeks to
completely heal, but signs point to Gronkowski giving it a go.

 

Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745,
jmclane@phillynews.com
or @Jeff_McLane on Twitter.

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Belichick and Brady playing for Super Bowl immortality

Indefatigable Djokovic wants more

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World No.1 Novak Djokovic is eyeing sporting immortality
following his heroic Australian Open final triumph over Rafael
Nadal.

First it was Roger Federer, then Nadal but now that he's taken
the game to extraordinary new levels, it's the all-conquering
Djokovic looking to join Rod Laver in the most exclusive club
in tennis.

Serbia's tennis super-Novak will head to the French Open in May
striving to become only the second player in the 45-year open
era - and just the third in history - to have held all four
grand slam men's singles trophies simultaneously.

'I want to get my first final at least in Paris. I have never
been in finals there and I have a feeling that I'm ready this
year to achieve that,' Djokovic said after denying Nadal 5-7
6-4 6-2 6-7 (7-5) 7-5 in the longest men's grand slam final in
history.

The brutal five hour, 53 minute encounter - which started
before 8pm on Sunday and finished at 1.37am on Monday -
eclipsed Mats Wilander's four hour, 54 minute win over Ivan
Lendl in the 1988 US Open final.

It was also the longest match in Australian Open history,
surpassing Nadal's five hour, 14 minute semi-final win in 2009
over countryman Fernando Verdasco, and left both combatants
almost out on their feet at Rod Laver Arena.

'The fact that we played almost six hours is incredible,
incredible,' Djokovic said.

'It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the
match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of
energy that we had from our bodies.

'It's probably the longest finals in the history of all grand
slams - and just to hear that fact is making me cry, really.

'I'm very proud just to be part of this history.'

But still he wants more.

'I'm prioritising grand slams this year, as every year, and
Olympic Games. I think that's one of my highest goals,'
Djokovic said.

'The grand slams matter the most.'

Djokovic's latest triumph over Nadal, from a service break down
in the fifth and deciding set, placed the 24-year-old alongside
his vanquished Spanish foe and fellow all-time greats Federer,
Pete Sampras and Laver as only the fifth man in professional
tennis to win three consecutive majors.

And after thwarting Nadal for a seventh straight time in nine
phenomenal months, Djokovic will arrive at Roland Garros also
hoping to become the first man since Donald Budge in 1937-38 to
complete a non-calendar year grand slam sweep.

The Serb vowed to do whatever it takes to repeat, if not
exceed, what he achieved during his mighty 2011 season when he
landed 10 titles, including his three slams, and snared the top
ranking for the first time with victory over Nadal at
Wimbledon.

'I'm going to have some weeks off now and I'm going to try to
enjoy this victory as much as I can,' Djokovic said.

'Then back to office, back to work, preparation. There is much
that awaits for me.'

Djokovic's 14th success over Nadal in the 30th instalment of
their enthralling series earned him a fifth career major,
elevating him above the likes of Jim Courier, Guillermo Vilas
and Australia's 1950s great Lew Hoad.

But this was easily the hardest earned of the lot.

Apart from the nigh indestructible Nadal, Djokovic had to
overcome an untimely nine-minute rain delay to close the roof
at Rod Laver Arena and then climb off the canvas in the
dramatic fifth set.

Nadal had just played a miraculous game to hold serve from
love-40 for 4-4 in the fourth set when the roof was shut.

But when play resumed, the Serb held his nerve and serve to go
up 5-4 before the set was decided in a tense tiebreaker.

Djokovic stood on the brink of victory at 5-3, but Nadal was
not done yet and he sent the capacity crowd into a frenzy when
he forced a deciding set when the top seed dragged a forehand
wide.

Re-energised after drawing level, Nadal had seized the
advantage in the fifth set with a break to go 4-2 up, but was
unable to consolidate as Djokovic - against all odds - roared
back.

Showing no signs of the fatigue and breathing problems he
suffered in his near-five-hour, five-set semi-final win over
Andy Murray on Friday night, Djokovic continued to club winners
from all parts of the court.

When he finally prevailed, the Serb fell on his back in
jubilation before ripping his shirt off to celebrate his third
Open crown to go with his 2008 and 2011 titles.

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Indefatigable Djokovic wants more

Djokovic closes in on sporting immortality

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AAP

All-conquering world No.1 Novak Djokovic is eyeing sporting
immortality after denying Rafael Nadal once again to
dramatically defend his Australian Open crown at Melbourne
Park.

Serbia's tennis super-Novak outlasted Nadal 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7
(7-5) 7-5 in the longest men's grand slam final in history - a
brutal five-hour, 53-minute encounter that started on Sunday
night and finished at 1.37 on Monday morning.

The gripping contest eclipsed Mats Wilander's four-hour,
54-minute win over Ivan Lendl in the 1988 US Open final.

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It was also the longest match in Australian Open history,
surpassing Nadal's five-hour, 14-minute semi-final win in 2009
over countryman Fernando Verdasco and left both combatants
almost out on their feet at Rod Laver Arena.

Showing great sportsmanship and humour despite flogging
themselves to near exhaustion, the both gladiators quipped
"good morning" to the crowd at the 2am presentation.

"Rafa, you are one of the best players ever. You are one of the
most respected players on tour," Djokovic said.

"We made history tonight. Unfortunately, there couldn't be two
winners tonight."

Nadal was gracious in gut-wrenching defeat.

"Congratulations to Novak and his team; they deserve it. They
are something fantastic," the world No.2 said.

"I will never, ever will forget this match. Even if I lost, it
was very, very special to me."

Djokovic's epic triumph from a service break down in the fifth
and deciding set placed the 24-year-old alongside his
vanquished Spanish foe and fellow all-time greats Roger
Federer, Pete Sampras and Rod Laver as only the fifth man in
the 45-year open era to win three consecutive majors.

Djokovic will now head to the French Open in May bidding to
join the legendary Laver in an exclusive club of just two
players to have held all four grand slam men's singles trophies
simultaneously.

And after thwarting Nadal for a seventh straight time in nine
phenomenal months, Djokovic will arrive at Roland Garros also
striving to become the first man since Donald Budge in 1937-38
to complete a non-calendar-year grand slam sweep.

For Nadal, the misery continues with Djokovic maintaining a
potent mental edge over the Spaniard in much the same way as
Nadal seemingly lives rent-free inside Federer's head.

Nadal could see the finish line when he led the Serb 4-2 in a
fifth set full of twists and turns.

But the Spaniard dropped serve twice as Djokovic rallied to win
five of the last six games to take the match.

Nadal had been hoping to climb to equal fourth place alongside
Laver and Bjorn Borg on the all-time grand slam leaderboard
with an 11th career major, but instead departed Melbourne Park
with a somewhat dubious, if undeserving, place in history.

The 25-year-old Majorcan is now the only man in the open era to
lose three successive grand slam finals after his latest
disappointment followed four-set defeats to Djokovic at
Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

But while Djokovic converted two-sets-to-love leads in London
and New York, he had to fight tooth and nail to win the 30th
instalment of their enthralling series.

Apart from the nigh-indestructible Nadal, Djokovic had to
overcome an untimely nine-minute rain delay to close the roof
at Rod Laver Arena and then climb off the canvas in the fifth.

Nadal had just played a miraculous game to hold serve from
love-40 for 4-4 in the fourth set when the roof was shut, at
the Spaniard's behest, after four hours of riveting action.

But when play resumed, the Serb held his serve and nerve to go
up 5-4 before the set was decided in a tense tiebreaker.

Djokovic stood on the brink of victory at 5-3, only to commit
two unforced errors and helplessly watch Nadal bring up set
point with a booming unreturnable serve.

Djokovic sent the capacity crowd into a frenzy when he pulled a
forehand wide to ensure a fifth and deciding set.

Re-energised after drawing level, Nadal seized the advantage in
the fifth set with a break to go 4-2 up, but was unable to
consolidate as Djokovic - against all odds - roared back.

Showing no signs of the fatigue and breathing problems he
suffered in his near-five-hour, five-set semi-final win over
Andy Murray on Friday night, Djokovic continued to club winners
from all parts of the court.

When he finally prevailed, the Serb fell on his back in
jubilation before ripping his shirt off liked a prized
heavyweight boxer to celebrate his third Open crown to go with
his 2008 and 2011 titles.

Djokovic's fifth career major elevated him above the likes of
Jim Courier, Guillermo Vilas and Australia's 1950s legend Lew
Hoad.

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Djokovic closes in on sporting immortality


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