SF Examiner: Tom Brady falls short in bid to match Montana

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

Tom Brady didn’t catch the man whom as a kid he idolized. It could have been because a couple of his best receivers didn’t catch the ball. But ever the team player, Brady was philosophical, not angry.

Another Super Bowl for Brady — the fifth in 10 years — and after three victories, a second straight loss. This time to the same team, the New York Giants, who beat him four years ago. Sunday, in Super Bowl XLVI, those Giants defeated Brady’s New England Patriots 21-17.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: Super Bowl odds are in favor of Patriots because of Tom Brady

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

How to figure this one, Super Bowl XLVI, between the New England Patriots, who haven’t lost in 11 games, and the New York Giants, who in November were the last team to beat the Patriots, if only by a 24-20 score?

It’s between a Patriots defense, which wasn’t very intimidating, and a Giants rushing offense, which has come up small.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Eli: 'This Might Be the Last One'

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS — The father and two sons, as so many others walking the streets, wore football jerseys — but not those of the Giants or Patriots. These were Green Bay Packers uniforms, the No. 12 of Aaron Rodgers.

A year ago, they were the team. A year ago, he was the man. A year ago.

How quickly the days go by. How swiftly times and teams change.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012

SF Examiner: Patriots' Tom Brady was almost a San Francisco 49er

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

INDIANAPOLIS — It could be better for Tom Brady. He could be playing for the 49ers, his team when he was a kid. Such a Niners fan.

“I’d run around the parking lot at Candlestick in my Joe Montana jersey or Steve Young jersey,” Brady said. “Throwing the ball. There were some great times.”

These aren’t bad times. On Sunday, for a fifth time...

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Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Super Bowl Media Day: Senseless, Harmless

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- “Name the Kardashian sisters.’’ Was that an order? Or a request? Rob Gronkowski sat and thought. Maybe better than being asked what kind of tree he would be if he were a tree. But not by much.

Super Bowl media day, when 100 football players, if not all at once, and 100,000 journalists, cameramen and assorted mountebanks -- well, more like 3,000, but it seems like 100,000 -- gather to annoy each other.

“Kim,’’ began Gronkowski, the Patriots’ tight end. “Khloe ...“

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© RealClearSports 2012