Viva Murillo!

You learn something new every year, but the 2007 season was special. Since football is over (and it's over. The Pro Bowl isn't football. It's more like a casual sports clinic in Hawaii) this is a good time to look back on what insight the year has provided:

• I learned fans can be unpredictable. The uproar over Michael Vick was understandable, but where's the similar outrage over domestic violence incidents? Abusing dogs is heinous, but so is abusing people.

• I learned there's a good reason why I'm not an NFL head coach. When Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio let Byron Leftwich go and named David Garrard his guy, I thought it was a terrible move. But Garrard went on to lead Jacksonville to the playoffs while Leftwich languished in Atlanta. He was right and I was wrong. Hats off to the Jaguars.

• I learned there's a good reason why I'm not an NFL GM. I thought the Chargers were silly for not trading Michael Turner. What could San Diego backups contribute to the team when Tomlinson is the starter? Then they win in Indianapolis thanks to hard running by Turner and a fantastic play by Darren Sproles. The Chargers were right and I was wrong.

• I learned all good things must come to an end. In Indianapolis, the torch has been passed. There's no doubt that Reggie Wayne is the top receiver, and a case can be made that Gonzalez or Clark are more dangerous second options than Marvin Harrison. Maybe he comes back strong in '08, but I think Marvin's Hall of Fame career is ready to wrap up.

• I learned your league better have a plan to deal with weird scoring plays, and you can't rest once you handle one. It was bad enough that leagues had to score the play where Kevin Curtis recovered his own team's fumble in week 16. But if your league plays in week 17, you had to deal with the same thing because he did it again. How does the same player do that in back-to-back weeks?

• I learned that sometimes it's weird seeing an athlete cry. Terrell

  Owens' breakdown protecting "his quarterback" seemed inauthentic considering his habit of stabbing them in the back previously.

• I learned that sometimes it's great seeing an athlete cry. Plaxico

  Burress' tears after the Super Bowl were genuine and appropriate. He gave the team everything he had all year, saving his energy for game day and playing a huge role in their success. He probably has a long off-season of rehab ahead of him, but I'm sure it's worth every second.

• I learned that sometimes the cliched sports quotes are correct. I can't stand it when athletes say "nobody gave us a chance" because it's just a motivating tool to get them pumped up for a game. But in the case of the Giants, I think they're right: Nobody gave them a chance. Sure, some contrarians picked them to look witty, announcers mapped out strategies for success and fans let themselves hope for a title. But I don't think anybody really thought with any confidence that they were going to beat New England -- except the players. Can't say enough about their accomplishment and the game. It's great to see a Super Bowl that lived up to the hype.

Enjoy the off-season, and I'll see you in the summertime. In the meantime, check out playoff hockey and Arena Football. And please enjoy this Youtube gem that was recently uploaded involving Chris Berman. Warning: Foul language and hilarity ahead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnC8BtNBNLo

Share your 2007 stories below. You can also reach Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@gmail.com..

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