Ewing Theory. Coined by sportswriter Bill Simmons, the theory explains how Patrick Ewing's Georgetown and Knicks teams performed better when he was injured or missed extended time. The concept is simple: When the superstar is absent, the rest of the team steps up and allows the squad to reach its fullest potential. Simmons has done a good job documenting quite a few observations in support of this theory, including the Virginia men's basketball team's return to the Final Four in 1984 after Ralph Sampson's departure to the NBA and the start of the Yankees dynasty in 1996 after Donnie Baseball's retirement at the end of the previous season. What Simmons has failed to do is continue writing about his theory throughout the 2000s.
This sports fan, though, has had the pleasure of watching his two favorite teams benefit from the Ewing Theory. I will start with the 2007 New York Giants. In 2006, they ended a mediocre season at 8-8 and managed to squeak into the playoffs after Virginia's own Tiki Barber set a franchise record with 234 rushing yards during his last regular season game as a Giant, a victory against the Washington Redskins. The following week, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Giants on a last-second field goal in the wild card playoff round. Eli Manning was left with a 0-2 career postseason record, and the Giants failed to "win one for Tiki" as the Pittsburgh Steelers had done the previous year for the retiring Jerome Bettis. The following spring, the Barber-less Giants strategized for a draft that eventually won them the Superbowl. After drafting cornerback Aaron Ross, wide receiver Steve Smith, defensive tackle Jay Alford
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