Closing Thoughts on Super Bowl XLI [J. Mark English]

With the exception of an 86 year old curse, this Colts team reminds me of the 2004 Boston Red Sox. The Colts as a team were labeled as chokers for the past decade.

Last year, after starting out 13-0 and being considered the odds on favorites to win the Super Bowl, they lost a heartbreaking defeat to the Steelers at home, missing a last second field goal.

Similarly the Sox lost the 2003 ALCS to the Yankees in seven game series, despite having a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 8th. They would go on to lose in the 11th off an Aaron "frickin'" Boone home run.

Both teams used the anger, and frustration and turned it into resolve in their respective off seasons. They persevered and got back into the playoffs the next year.

Once again however, they found themselves faced with what seemed like insurmountable deficits. The Colts were down by 18 points to their nemesis, the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. The Sox were down three games to none to the Yankees in the ALCS.

But the two teams fought back, and were relentless in their approach towards their goal.

They reached their mountain tops. They exhibited a life lesson. No matter how hard things are. No matter how deep the valley may be, you can always climb back on top.

When former President Richard Nixon resigned from office in 1972 he said:

The young must know it; the old must know it. It must always sustain us, because the greatness comes not when things go always good for you, but the greatness comes and you are really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes, because only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

The Red Sox soared to their highest mountain, and now its the Colts turn to reach their apex. The Colts now will know how truly magnificent it is so soar so high.