Good to the very last minute!

How cool was that!

A Super Bowl that was good to the very last minute! The Giants had the ball. Eli Manning was in position, and he proved that he was more than ready to take control of the game.

Now, I do appreciate all the people I spoke with last week saying how crazy I was thinking that the Giants hand any chance with the Patriots. I especially liked the taunting calls before kickoff – (funny how those folks didn’t call after the game!).

During the last game of the season - I'd seen all I needed to see. Even though it was the regular season finale, between the Pats and the Giants (the Giants lost by three)…I saw something in Eli’s eyes. There was this focused look on his face that you don’t often see. But when you do, you almost get stopped in your tracks. Then you could just see that look grow during the playoffs.

If you think back to yesterday’s game at the beginning of the fourth quarter. I remember watching Tom Brady walk off the field. Not the cool, calm, collected Brady he normally is when he has all day to set up his passes. He looked warn out and rattled.

Then you looked on the sidelines with Eli on the bench and you just got the feeling that this guy was not going to be beaten. He was calm, and focused. My buddies agreed… there was an air about him that he was not going down without a fight.

Whenever you see pouting and whining - you know the tide has definitely turned - no matter what the score. Another bad sign for the Pats… A few minutes later Brady marched the Pats down the field for the go-ahead score.

The other side cheered wildly. Started to give me a little grief, but I stood steadfast in my resolve. "Don't celebrate too early," I said. "The game isn't close to being over."

Eli put on his helmet and took the field. As he did so you could feel his absolute belief and total conviction. He would not be beaten. And then the "miracle" pass. Not the Immaculate Reception - but pretty close.

The game was just as well as over. In fact, it was over before it started.

Forget the score. Forget who was in the lead for what amount of time. Just watch the eyes of the quarterbacks. Read the face. It'll tell you all you need to know.

Despite winning three previous Super Bowls; despite guiding the Patriots to an almost perfect season - the fact is Brady and the Patriots didn't want to win as much as Eli Manning and the Giants. He just didn’t seem AS hungry.

So much of success is nothing more than "staying hungry." It's all about DESIRE.

Who wants it the most?

So tell me, how much do YOU want it?

Unfortunately, I’ve learned several painful lessons (more than I want to count), as a competitive athlete and coach. Through those trials and tribulations I can tell who is ready for success and who isn't.

Some are ready when the game begins – but after things get a little rough and "the game" isn't as easy as you'd hoped - if you take the person's "vision pulse" - you may find it has dimmed significantly. I see this all the time. You can see it in the eyes and on the face. And where it BEGINS is in the mind.

Being successful and wanting to win is a feeling that vibrates from every cell in your brain and body. Even if you say you want to win - whenever you lose you can point to the other guy and say, "Well, he must have wanted to win MORE."

That was the story last night. And it's the story every day of our lives.

Winning generally isn’t about physical strength. It isn't about who has the strongest hands, arms, legs, neck or abs - although physical strength most certainly helps.

It isn't about who is fastest or most skilled, either - even those these qualities also help.

It's about WHO wants it most. It's about who has the strongest MENTAL MUSCLES.

Your mind is and always will be the most important muscle on and off the field.

Those who have played the game at the highest levels and have emerged victorious understand this. Those who have merely played - don't.

So I ask you again, how bad do YOU want it…

Til next time….