What’s left? People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive? A stint with the Chicago White Sox? Lighting the Olympic torch in Salt Lake City? The ceremonial first pitch for the Red Sox home opener?
This debate raged in the Big Easy last week when reporters got a good, long look at Brady in daily press conferences ... Damon or DiCaprio?
By the end of Super Bowl XXXVI, the question was ... Marino or Montana?
We’ve been blessed with greater talents. Certainly no one would equate Brady’s skills with those of Ted Williams, Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, or Larry Bird. Fred Lynn had an equally impressive rookie year (and never mind the technicality, this was Brady’s rookie year). But those stars came with impressive resumes and accompanying expectations. Brady came needing ID to get into the stadium.
That’s what’s so amazing. A year ago, Brady was on the roster, but even Patriot fans who were dissatisfied with Drew Bledsoe spent their time talking about Michael Bishop. Brady was a sixth-round draft pick. Old No. 199. He was a kid who played in one game in 2000-01, throwing three passes against the Detroit Lions, completing one.
And now Brady is the It Guy. In one magical season, he did something Teddy Ballgame and Ray Bourque never did in our town: He won a championship. Helped by a clever, low-risk offensive game plan, Brady rarely makes mistakes that cost games.
You watch him and you listen and it’s hard to tell if he understands how great and unbelievable this is. It’s as if he expected nothing less ... you get a chance to play, you win the Super Bowl. Simple.
Princes of Main Street, Kings of New England, the World Champion Patriots will be feted today in Boston’s first championship celebration in 16 years. Brady no doubt will say a few words and they’ll be the right words.
He knows nothing of curses and the sky-is-falling mentality that pollutes our sports landscape. He dares to wear a Red Sox cap, sometimes backward. He’s quick to talk about his parents and his sisters. He’s respectful of his teammates.
And he’s clutch. Like Montana. Already.
