The New York Giants put on an amazing performance under the quarterback leadership of Eli Manning to beat the New England Cheaters Patriots against all odds, 17-14 in Superbowl XLII!

All of which meaning that the Patriots end the season with a record of 18-1 — not perfect — and the Giants are Superbowl Champions!

Here’s the amazing catch by David Tyree in the Giants final touchdown drive that made it possible to end the Patriots unbeaten season:

Unbelievable! How Eli Manning escaped getting sacked is beyond me. But I remember turning to my friend Joey right after the Patriots scored to take the lead with 2:42 left in the 4th quarter and said, “There’s still time!” And somehow, against all odds, Manning put together that drive and made it happen!

The New York Giants are Superbowl Champions!

The NFL has fined New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick a record high $500,000 and the team $250,000 for cheating against the Jets in Sunday’s game. They also will lose a draft pick in the NFL commissioner’s ruling.

So should the Patriots change their name to the New England Cheaters, as a sort of modern day scarlet letter?

While the fines are unprecedented, some people, like Mercury News sports columnist Tim Kawakami, are saying that only a suspension of Bill Belichick would make the point… and stop the cheating.

And, as if this whole mishap isn’t bad enough for the NFL’s image, members of the Eagles say they suspect the Patriots of cheating in the Super Bowl and Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward suspected the Patriots of having some inside information in an AFC Championship game.

Cheating in professional sports? *GASP* Cheating by one of the best teams in the NFL? Now that’s a story.

Here’s the Superbowl XL commercials recap, live blogged:

Burger King - Whopperettes, Whopperettes.com

Sierra Mist - Security guard at airport does wand sound
Bud Light - Secret revolvolving wall full of beer becomes “magic fridge” to apartment next door
16 Blocks - movie trailer

Hybrid Camry - Daughter asks about hybrid car
FedEx- Caveman sends package, but a T-Rex eats it and he gets fired
Bud Light - Two friends encounter wild bear in woods, one remembers old football moves to outrun it, other guy gets mauled

V is for Vendetta - movie trailer, featuring head-shaved Natalie Portman
Diet Pepsi - Diddy signs Diet pepsi can to recording contract, can performs music video for “Brown and Bubbly,” which gets to number 1 on Billboard charts
Jimmy Kimmel Live - live special show after the game
Good Morning America - short commercial
Aleeve - Leonard Nimoy takes Aleeve to do the “Live long and prosper” symbol at a Star Trek convention
Ameriquest - Doctor uses cardiac defibrillator to kill fly in hospital room, then says “That killed him” when patient’s wife and daughter enter the room
Bud Light - Husbands do chores for wives on the roof, cleaning the gutters but really having beer roof parties, one guy falls through roof
Lost - New episode of ABC drama Wednesday

Diet Pepsi - Short reminder spot of “Brown and Bubbly” commercial
Cars - animated movie trailer
Dancing with the Stars - “Wardrobe Malfunction? You wish!”, reference to Janet Jackson
Acura TL - boring, typical car driving down road

Bud Light - Dancing goat in middle of farm
Mobile ESPN - “Welcome to Sports Heaven”, sporting events all over the street as guy walks with phone
Grey’s Anatomy - “Code Black”, bomb episode after the game

CareerBuilder.com - Monkeys running office
Mercedes - Car and people emerge from liquid silver
United Way - NFL players help the community
Mission Impossible III - trailer starring Tom Cruise
Dove - Little girls’ self-image, for Dove Self-Esteem Fund
The Evidence - new ABC drama

Disney’s Shaggy Dog - movie trailer, starring Time Allen, done in play-by-play format by ESPN’s Chris Berman
Ford Escape Hybrid - Kermit sings “It’s not easy being green, oh i guess it is
Michelob Ultra Amber - “World of light beer just got darker,” woman gets tackled at touch football game, tackles the guy back in bar
Desperate Housewives - Shaq discusses the show

GoDaddy.com - parody of getting last year’s commercial approved

Poseidon - movie trailer
Gillette Fusion - 5 blades! battery-powered
Desperate Housewives - Hugh Hefner, Shaq talk about the show

Overstock.com - Make the “O” part of your life

Walt Disney World - Kelsey Grammer voiceover for 50th anniversary

Sprint - live TV on Sprint phone, also used for protection, guy throws phone at other golfer’s face
NFL Network - 40th anniversary, “Tonight we’re all connected by the game”
Desperate Housewives - Shaq, Tony Hawk are fans of the show
Toyota Rav 4 - flipping seats
Prudential Financial - sleeping animals

Grey’s Anatomy - “Code Black”, bomb episode after the game
Sons & Daughters - new ABC comedy
Lost - Might as well face it, we’re “Addicted to Lost”, funny

Halftime show with the Rolling Stones

The Evidence - new ABC drama
Cirque Du Soleil - news show
1050 ESPN Radio - “Watchout for the rocket”, guy squirts grapefruit juice
WABC 7 - HD newscopter
Commerce Bank - time and temperature
Grey’s Anatomy - “Code Black”, bomb episode after the game

Walt Disney World - “I’m going to Disney World”, football players practice
saying it
NFL - Superbowl portraits promo

Ameriquest - “Don’t judge too quickly”, on a plane, woman tries to get past guy in next seat, but turbulence causes her to fall on his lap in compromising position
Moto PEBL - erosion, PEBL phone in riverbed
Sharpie Retractable - pirate mascot talks about difficulty in taking caps off pens, gets a pen stuck up his nose, pops a balloon with his hook
Lost - ABC drama

Budweiser - Baby Clydesdale horse pulls the Budweiser wagon… with a little help
Nationwide - Parody, Fabio shampoo, gondoleer turns out to be old guy with Fabio hair
NFL Mobile - George’s boss from Seinfeld and football player-type in supermarket, tells the guy he used to check scores the old-fashioned way: via the Internet

Hummer - “It’s a little monster”, monster and robot terrorize city and have a baby: a Hummer
PS, the new clean - Whole neighborhood wears bio-hazard suits to prevent spread of germs, easier way: use PS soap/cleaner
Sons and Daughters - new ABC comedy

CareerBuilder.com - monkey office meets office of jackasses
Taco Bell - fall in love with the Crunchwrap Supreme
SlimFast - Optima diet line
Sons and Daughters - new ABC comedy
NFL - Superbowl portraits commercial

Gillette Fusion - 5 blades! battery-powered
The World’s Fastest Indian - movie trailer, starring Anthony Hopkins
Ford Tacoma - Footage of Tacoma at “Bird Cove”, shows truck getting tossed around in the surf as guy goes kayaking, when he returns truck is back where he left it, “Invincible”

Sprint Wireless Downloads - Benny Hill parody, couch on fire, people running around
ESPN - Monday Night Football
Ford Explorer - Eddie Bauer edition
American Airlines - guy gets droipped off at airport
??? - skiing

Degree - professional stuntmen
Emerald Nuts - Eagle-eyed… M E Recogize A L D, some guy under the stars doing taxes or something and some swordsmen cutting a plant, weird
Fidelity Mortgage - Paul McCartney’s life
Boston Legal - Tom Selleck, Michael J. Fox to guest star upcoming episodes

Budweiser - stadium “pours” beer into glass by flipping placards
Pirates of the Carribbean: The Black Pearl - movie trailer starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley
Mastercard - MacGyver uses inexpensive things to get out of old factory, priceless commercial
Dancing with the Stars - new episode this week

Mobile ESPN - “Welcome to Sports Heaven”, shorter second version, guy sits on bench as sports stars play around him on street
Honda Ridgeline - hot silver woman silhoutte, Yosemite Sam, on mudflap, even those familiar with trucks are impressed
Budweiser - “Cheers!”in multiple languages,
Jimmy Kimmel Live - “Most honest ad you’ll see tonight”, Kimmel huddles with guests/staff, “Let’s be honest, it won’t be that good.”

World Baseball Classic - players with
GoDaddy.com - parody of getting last year’s commercial approved
ESPN - Monday Night Football
Toyota Rav 4 - bigger, flipping seats

Running Scared - movie trailer, with Paul Walker
Outback - they have boomerangs, guy rips boomberang off the wall, keeps coming back
Westin - first non-smoking hotel chain
Grey’s Anatomy - “Code Black”, bomb episode after the game
NFL Pro Bowl - guys hug, last chance to order pizza this football season
NFL - players’ portraits, trophy

Pittsburgh Steelers beat Seattle Seahawks, 21 - 10

Blockbuster Online - free in-store movie with at-home subscription
TGI Friday’s - “Get more Friday’s for less”
Allstate - slow motion car crash, as Allstate guy narrates and walks in regular time
Expedia.com - “Enjoy the countdown” to your vacation, with thick red marker

Lost - New episode of ABC drama Wednesday
Saab - Born from jets
American Airlines - old commercial, “We know why you fly”
Land Rover - Range Rover Sport

Thanks for joining me for another year of live Superbowl commercial blogging. I hope you had as much fun as I did!

We didn’t see quite as many blockbuster commercial extravaganzas this year, but the bunch that were true Superbowl commercials were pretty good. Again this year, Budweiser wins for most original commercial spots. No question there.

CityCynic.com will present Live Superbowl Commercial Blogging again this year.

Throughout the telecast of Superbowl XL in Detroit, I will be liveblogging the commercials, offering highlights and commentary along the way.

So between watching the game, drinking beer, and figuring out who won the football pool, visit CityCynic.com for my liveblogging commercial extravaganza!

Wow, I’m once again excited about the Superbowl this year!

I just watched what had to be one of the most exciting football games I have ever seen — the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indiana Colts. The Steelers won 21-18 after more twists, turns, and fourth-down conversions than the world’s loopiest rollercoaster!

And Jerome Bettis’ only fumble of the year almost cost the team the season!

I have to tell you, I was really feeling down after the Giants collapsed in their first-round playoff matchup, but after watching a game like this, there’s no way I can’t be excited! Superbowl XXXL, here we come!

Just watching the Giants-Raiders game before the New Year’s Eve shows come on and Tiki Barber just ran back a 95-yard touchdown return!

What a nice way to close out 2005. A Giants win on their way to the playoffs would make it extra nice!

Hopefully 2006 will bring even more winning New York sports teams… (Are you listening, Mets?)

UPDATE: And now (9:12pm) Burress just caught a 78-yard TD reception. LETS GO GIANTS, LETS GO!

I love watching the Superbowl (even if the Jets didn’t make it all the way there). But equally exciting is watching each of the $2.4 million commercial spots! I’ll be blogging the commercials live during the game right here!

***Feel free to mention your favorite commercial(s) of the night in the comments section!***

DirectTV = tv throughout your life GOOD!
Ford trucks — vs. motorcycle gang FORD TOUGH. GOOD!
McDonald’s — french fry like abe lincoln on yahoo auctions? www.lincolnfry.com
Real California Cheese — happy cows
Verizon — monkeys on banana ‘phones’
Blockbuster Online — 2x drive to mailbox
Pizzahut — Muppets
Ford convertible — frozen introduced in winter
Budweiser — pilot skydives for six pack
Diet Pepsi — P. Diddy soda truck, Eva Longoria, Xzibit, party truck, Carson Daly monster truck
Bubbilicious — LeBron James lemonade gum
Olympus M-robe — New iPod competitor, www.olympusgroove.com

Patriots coach Belichick went to Eagles bench by accident! Whoops!

FedEx Kinkos — 10 things for a successful superbowl commercial, Burt Reynolds and the Dancing Bear GOOD!
Budweiser — Bernie Mac fantasy
Volvo — rocketship with bumpersticker: “My other cars a Volvo.”
diet pepsi — bee gees
GoDaddy.com — wardrobe commercial Broadcast Decency hearings FUNNY
Budweiser — your bud your apt your gf
Visa Check Card — marvel superheroes and underdog
Ameriquest — don’t judge too quickly Guy on hands-free cellphone: “You’re getting robbed” c-store clerks get him with pepper spray/bat/taser
Budweiser - farm animals try out for horses
Lays - 72 impala, mc hammer (threw him back)
Subway — two guys in a car eating subs… cop walks up to foggy windows
pepsi/itunes — song bottles

Mama’s Boy doll – ??? Anyone get what that was about?
Cadillac V-Series — car shoots like a bullet out of the chamber of a gun
CareerBuilder — Its just that I work with a bunch of monkeys
Bud Light — talking cockatiel
Batman Begins — Batman prequel with Katie Holmes!
Microban — I am Diana Pearl, lots of celebrities, and Dennis Rodman
Michelob Amber Bach – Rich but not smooth. Guy in electronics store, etc.
Daytona 500 –Jeff Gordon as a pirate
Heineken — Brad Pitt paparazzi. He dodges them to buy a six pack.
Toyota Camry — talking dog 199 camry ‘leash’

NFL Network — tomorrow song with Steve Young and other quarterbacks
American Airlines — a good face-liking, dog on couch
Tabasco — tabasco hot bikini girl burned under bathing suit
Robots — movie
Anheuser-Busch –Thank the troops, standing ovation walking through airport
Napster to Go — shirtless fat men painted it on their stomachs… $10,000 to fill ipod, $15/mo. for Napster
Staples — easy button
Ameriquest — “Don’t judge too quickly”: sauce, knife and cat, guy looks bad when wife comes home
Careerbuilder — guy working with monkeys, whoopee cushions
War of the Worlds movie — Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning

Cialis — blah.
Verizon V-Cast — Miniature Kid Rock (Fan: “I thought he’d be taller in person.”) and Christina Aguilera (blowdried off the makeup table) and Shaq (Heat teammate: “We’re dead.”) and Deion Sanders (with a super bling necklace!). Broadband video on your phone. (Cool!) FUNNY!
Miller Lite — boring, scrolling text message.
Ford — “I’ve got the power” song
Toyota — talking dog commercial again. same ‘199 camry leash’ joke
Miller Lite — boring, scrolling text message AGAIN!
Toyota Prius — Gas/electrichybrid Prius, people walking in place and cars driving in place effect. “Transportation has advanced, but hasn’t moved forward.”
Budweiser — Introducing Budweiser Select
Mastercard — Getting everyone together: Priceless. Cartoon character spokespeople get together for dinner.
Emerald Nuts — Unicorns, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny. GOOD!

Budweiser — Cedric the Entertainer. Designate a Driver.
CareerBuilder.com — Monkey office, Part III. Bad idea to name a product the ‘Titanic’
The Simple Life: Interns — Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie work at an airport. (Hijinks ensue.)
NFL Network — “Where the Football Season Never Ends.”

[2:00 warning.]

Sahara — movie with Penelope Cruz
Diet Pepsi — (Repeat of the P. Diddy Perpsi truck commercial.)

Patriots beat Eagles, 24-21.

Las Vegas — Coach asks dazed boxer if he’s okay. “Remember what I did last night? No. Okay, he’s fine.” What Happens Here Stays Here.
Cadillac XLR — Runaway daughter takes family car to boyfriend’s house to elope. Dad meets them there: “It’s okay. Just take your mom’s car.”
Napster To Go — Cartoon western stuff.
Verizon — Poisonous cottonmouth. “I can’t hear you. Besides, I’m playing with my snake.”
Subway — Repeat of the “couple of lovebirds” commercial.

Trophy presentation.

Well, that was fun liveblogging. 5 really funny and interesting commercials. Several funny ones. The rest wasted pretty much wasted their money. Congrats to the New England Patriots!

RELATED: Apparently, FoxSports did this, too. Copy cats!