Much will be written tomorrow morning about the heroism of the New England defensive corps, holding an Indy team that was the 4th highest scoring of all time to a mere field goal ; shutting down the what-has-he-ever-won MVP Peyton Manning like no one else in the NFL this season. Hundreds of words will be used to describe the exploits of RB Corey Dillon (above), coming up huge in his first-ever playoff appearance, giving New England the sort of credible rushing option they’ve lacked in recent memory. And of course, there is Chez Meow Meow’s favorite Matt Damon-alike, Tom Brady, still undefeated in the post-season.
(Burma circa 1983, photo by Kevin Gannon. The Patriots’ record that year was 8-8)
To which I can only, big deal. The real credit for New England’s thorough demolition of Indianpolis must go to Boston’s venerable avant-rockers Mission Of Burma, who continued their uncanny (and unintentional) habit of playing a ferocious live set on the eve of a crucial Pats victory. To recap :
January 18 and 19, 2002 – The trio of Miller, Conley and Prescott (augmented by Bob “Silver Bullet” Weston on tape loops and live sound) return to the big stages of their hometown for the first time in nearly 19 years, playing 3 shows in two days at Boston’s Avalon and Paradise nightclubs.
January 19, 2002 – New England 16, Oakland 13 (OT), the so-called “Snow Bowl” drops the curtain on Foxboro/Sullivan/Schaefer Stadium ; Tom Brady catches a lucky break when ref Walt Kelly overturns an apparent fumble, citing the infamous “tuck rule”.
January 17, 2004 – Burma play their first headlining NYC show in two years, baffling the near-capacity crowd with their opening cover of Pink Floyd’s “Astronomy Dominy” and proceeding to lay waste to the brains of those assembled for the ensuing two hours.
January 18, 2004 – New England 24, Indianapolis 14. Two AFC Championships in 3 years for Belichick’s Patriots, as Peyton Manning is no match for the elements or a standout performance by Ty Law.
January 14, 15, 2004 – Burma headline two nights at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom, debuting scads (scads!) of new material.
January 16, 2004 – Patriots 20, Colts 3. Cut that meat!
(a humbled Manning tells the Genius, “I’m never washing this hand”)
Oh, and nice job on the part of the Comatose Broadcasting System, missing Tom Brady’s 4th quarter TD dive, instead thrilling us with a commerical for “Cold Case”.
on a slightly related matter, i watched the game with the sound turned down and the volcano suns bumper crop turned way the hell up.
I drove home to CT from Boston after the Paradise matinee in 2002. That was not fun. The snow, that is – I don’t need to tell you about the show. I mean, c’mon, free donuts – duh.
free doughnuts and a great version of “Heart Of Darkness” at the end.