Feb. 5, 2008 - Nielsen Media Research announced on Monday that Super Bowl XLII was the most-watched sporting event in television history. A record 97 million viewers tuned in, knowing full well that an epic story was unfolding no matter who won the game. Fortunate for most, the plot was high in drama and featured an ideal twist - the end to New England's undefeated season.

Of course, commissioner Roger Goodell would never publicly pledge an allegiance to one franchise over another. But, part of him was celebrating inside when the potential headaches of a tainted Super Bowl went out the window.

The Patriots' pursuit of perfection was a highly profitable enterprise for the NFL, but the league had already made the most of it. There was national interest for the entire regular season, buzz throughout the playoffs, and a nation of non-fans tuning in to root against football's Evil Empire.

Then, just when perfection was set to harm the NFL in the form of Spygate, questionable officiating and general discomfort, Eli Manning and the underdog New York Giants came to the rescue.

In a way, the weight of the entire nation was on Manning's shoulders when he took the field on Sunday night. And he once again delivered the performance of his lifetime, making all the timely plays and leading the Giants on a gutsy, game-winning drive in the final two minutes.

Manning Fever continued, as a member of football's royal family once again overcame scrutiny and won his first Super Bowl.

We can't be sure what will come of Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter's investigation into the Spygate scandal, but more importantly, it no longer matters. Patriots may dominate the individual NFL record books, but the franchise's tarnished team achievements no longer will.

The NFL cashed in on New England's perfect regular season, then avoided all of the troubles associated with a Super Bowl title. Bad karma caught up with the Patriots in the end, and that asterisk-free 18-1 record couldn't have been more perfect.