That's pretty silly. It is easy to manipulate stats to make an argument sound good. But to argue that clutch doesn't exist? Some people simply perform at a higher level under pressure. It's not just dumb luck or 'variance' as you put it. Think Michael Jordan got 'lucky' all those years he won 6 championships or that Ortiz just got extra lucky when the game was on the line? Think that Tiger Wood's inner competitive drive is all a trick of variance, when it is clear he almost NEVER gives up the lead once he is up on Sundays? No I call that competitive drive and yes 'clutchness'.
Variance does litlte to explain the innate human ability to 'raise their game' to another level when it is all on the line. Some humans are simply BETTER at increasing their performance and concentration levels when they 'sense' big situations. Take whatever scientific explanation you will, for example when humans get into highly stressful situations, their endorphine levels pump up which increases their energy and allows them to reach higher performance levels than normally possible. Whatever the reason, humans can raise to another level, and people can see tangible results in highly competitive events like professional sports. You label AV's winning playoff kicks as 'variance', I see it as the skill to concentrate under tremendous pressure.
You cite 'variance' as the reason why the Pats can't go 16-0, and I say to you that is a poor excuse based on a mathematical indulgence that has little bearing to the overall talent level, intelligence, preperation, coaching, and will to win of the 2007 Patriots. Go ahead and join the John Claytons of this world in picking against the Pats perfect season because the odds favor you and you want to make yourself sound smart. But the fact is that there are many more factors in play here than mere odds. Buy into the media's lies and spout your so called stats. If you've SEEN the Patriots play with your own eyes, you would not doubt that this team is truly capable of something special this year.
