Newberg All The Way

Mark Newberg has captured his third Swami Title, and his second in the expansion era, clinching with Seattle’s dominant performance in Super Bowl XLVIII.  This may be the best we’ve seen in Swami prowess, only to be compared to his own magical run in 2007 when he pulled off the nearly identical feat of leading the season from Week 1 to Week 17.  How this one differs is that now in 2013-14, there is a playoff format that extends the season to a whopping 23 weeks.

Newberg had to do everything just right to hold off Guy Heath, who came on late in the season just enough to do battle in the final ultimate match–the Super Bowl.

“This is what the league was designed to do.  The Super Bowl should be the pinnacle of the season, and we had ourselves a Swami Bowl.” Heath said. “Unfortunately, the big game fell short and it was over before it started.”

However, it was a great year indeed.  Newberg began the season with four straight 10-win weeks and really never looked back.  How hard is it to keep a lead all the way?  We can only ask Newberg himself; he is the only one to do it before.  A season like this we may never see again.  He has embodied what being a Swami means.  He has picked the winners consistently, often going against the grain, going “Lone Wolf” with unconventional picks that ultimately made him this season’s champion.

For Heath, this was the closest he’s ever come to lifting the trophy.  “It was a honor just to be nominated.  But really, who’m I kidding.  I wanted it so bad I could taste it.  Dang it all to hell.”  Needing Denver to win the Super Bowl looked very good when the day began.  The temperature in New York was on the warm side, and the conditions were clear.  Denver and their high-scoring offense was surely going to be a test for Seattle, so we thought a hard fought match was in store and everyone would be glued to every down.  Instead, it was barely watchable after Seattle ran back the kickoff to begin the 2nd half.  Such is life.

Congratulations to Mr. Newberg.  This is an honor well deserved and a Championship very well earned.  Clear a spot on your mantel.