Who Dat, Baseball Style

Eleven years ago in 1998, with major league baseball struggling, two players captured America’s attention with a chase at an historic record; 61 home runs set by Roger Maris in 1961. In a time when we didn’t care about who’s juiced, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa fed off of each other, and they both eclipsed the total that stood for almost 40 years. They overcame media attention that had previously stressed great players into mediocrity for decades.

This year’s NFL season has a similar feel to it, although admittedly there is no concern of pro football losing its fans even with the ongoing labor/owner tension regarding a season without a salary cap.

Unless you’ve been under a rock (or living in another country), you already know that the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints have both started the season 10-0. This is fairly familiar territory for the Colts, who have won 19 consecutive regular season games and routinely win at least 8 in a row to start a season. It’s a completely new experience for the Saints, however. New Orleans is renowned for a laissez-faire attitude, so long as the natives could ‘laissez les bon temps rouller’, or let the good times roll. They are much like the Cubs; loveable losers with a fan base that is completely devoted to them, win or lose. So could this organization really be two-thirds of the way through a perfect season? More importantly, is it possible that they could complete the season unblemished on the road to their first Lombardi trophy?

Peyton Manning is generally considered to be the best quarterback of our generation; perhaps of all time. He has a perfect build for an elite quarterback, with size, speed, and the intelligence needed to run such an efficient passing attack. Even against staggering odds, he controls the line of scrimmage as a lieutenant would; commanding his troops to victory more often than not. The Colts remind me of Mark McGwire, who was a mountain of a man, crushing baseball out of parks as if they were fireworks on New Year’s Eve. When McGwire walked up to the plate, you expected a home run every time, despite the fact that his batting average predicted only one hit in every 4 at bats.

Drew Brees is rapidly gaining respect and is being talked about in the same breath as Peyton. This is very similar to the Sammy Sosa that left the White Sox as a scrawny base stealer but quickly developed the power to match McGwire. He was a fan favorite, and the media’s darling. The Saints are supplying that feel-good story this year.

The Colts have made the playoffs in 9 of the past 10 seasons, but they never had that perfect season. Often, the spotlight shines brightly on this team in December, when their playoff spot has been secured. The stress levels intensify and they usually struggle to finish off a perfect season. Only once in the Peyton Manning era have they won a Superbowl; in 2006, they went 9-0 before losing their first of 4 games.  This year, however, they have the Saints going stride for stride with them each week, matching their win total.

The Colts and the Saints are sharing a spotlight. Both teams are playing well enough and getting enough breaks to continue to win. It could be that there is interdependence for them to continue their success. Both teams should be favorites to win their remaining games; the only reason to fear a loss would be from self-destruction. But much like the Sosa/McGwire rivalry, there seems to be something beyond the weekly wins. It seems that these teams are meant to meet in the Superbowl. Despite great storylines involving the Patriots and Brady’s recovery, or Favre’s return from retirement, the primary story remains about the league’s two undefeated teams.  If New Orleans beats New England this week in Monday Night Football, they will affirm what most fans and players already know: these New Orleans Saints are a special group, and they may have it in them to make history.

And wouldn’t it be fun if two undefeated teams arrived to the Superbowl, patting each other on the back while acknowledging each others’ greatness, ready for a showdown that would match the 1998 baseball season? Yes, it seems like a stretch, but then again, so did 70 home runs in a season.

I’m ready.