As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, we must all take time to pay respect to the football heroes of the past. No, I am not talking about Montana, LT, Simms, Elway, or even Namath. I am talking about Scott Norwood.
In class, we talked about how television has the ability to bring family together through discussion of the material. While I do not necessarily believe this to be a great thing, I must admit that Norwood made my father and I a little bit tighter that day. After actually meeting a self-proclaimed Bills fan last night, I was reminded of a simpler time in my life.
For those of you that don’t know, Scott Norwood was a placekicker for the Buffalo Bills during the 80s and early 1990s. Despite being a notable kicker, he is also famous for going “wide right” in the most important game of the season. Let’s go to the tape:
Additionally, Norwood was the inspiration for this famous film:
With 8 seconds left, this field goal miss gave the Giants a victory in Super Bowl XXV, by a score of 20-19. While I am not here to claim Norwood was a bad player, far from it, I just want to thank him. With Lawrence Tynes nearly blowing the NFC champion game, I felt it was important that we remember those who have made growing up a NY football fan so memorable. While Norwood never tried to kill Frank Reich for having a bad hold (or got a sex change and went on a killing spree), we can see how this has become an important element of football past.
Norwood is ingrained in the minds of all Giants’ fans. The blown kicks by Tynes last week came a little too close to home. Despite his failed attempts, he pulled through. Hopefully, we do not have Tynes blowing it for us this weekend as number 11 did for the Bills on that famous January day.
Finally, thank you so very much Scott Norwood for helping my family come together, if only for a little while.
P.S. There’s is an extremely funny Robot Chicken sketch with Norwood. However, I couldn’t find it online. If anyone can find it, send me a link.
-Louis
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I have nothing of real import to say here, Louis, except that I’m delighted to see you use your blog for something other than class work. And with embedded videos! Get down with your bad self!