New England Hatriots
Pats do it, 16-0. Come from behind, 38-35 with over NY Giants who made they fight for it.
They’re calling them the Hatriots now, in case you missed that, because just about everyone else hates how good they are.
Last night, just as both Sox World Series, offered one of the great lessons of professional sports. That was Tom Brady’s face on the sidelines as the game began, and later, when it was going against the Pats. The look of focus and determination that just got set harder. The knowledge that you can never coast, never take your skill or your good fortune for granted, and never accept defeat.
I never gave a damn about team sports growing up, and only took part in athletic activity that didn’t involve mass hysteria or require cooperation with my fellow man. My kid, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of who was which round draft pick in what year and all that kind of thing, has instructed me in the many pleasures and intricacies of professional team sports. Chief among them, something we’ve been able to wallow in here in Boston in recent years, the pleasure of watching something done well by masters, who play with heart and have never been allowed to forget they have to fight every inch of the way.
There’s always a lot of talk about whether these guys are heroes, who the real heroes are, whether they are role models or should be. I just love the way they show my kid, on the field, how to play.
Game highlights, stats here.
They knocked down four records last night. Most regular season wins, most points scored. For Brady and Randy Moss, most TD passes thrown and received. They already had most touchdowns scored in a regular season and just added to that last night. Now we get to watch another of the best teams ever assembled and led fight for a fourth championship. Several games this season have demonstrated there’s nothing easy about it, and it can go badly at any time. It has been their ability to regroup and maintain under pressure. A thing of beauty. Thanks Pats, thanks Sox.
Welcome Pajamas, etal, always good to see you. Like fairytales? This one’s from the family Grim. You know what they say. It’s not the effup, its the coverup. Where the heck are we, anyway? What, bring the troops home?
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:56 am on Sunday, December 30, 2007
8 Responses to “New England Hatriots”
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December 30th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Jules,
Yes indeed. I have been a Pats fan since 1972. I blame them and my kids for my grey hair. It’s sometimes hard to accept all the good things that have happened to them these past few years. I well remember the 2-14, the 1-15 seasons of the past. The parade of coachs and players. The great reams and the forgetable ones.
Still and all, a fan is for life. It’s like marriage, in a way.
Last night I dusted the altar of patriots stiff, set out the spread and prepared the drinks. It’s almost a religious ceremony. The church of the Holy Uprights, with a pew on the 50 yard line. I settled down, and watched, winced and wailed, but again they came through.
These New England Patriots have made history, and may well make even more in the post-season. That’s still in the future, a future where anything can happen and, for all but one team, disappointment will be the final emotion of their season. However, I get the feeling of destiny winning out, of this team taking it all and setting a standard that might well be equaled some day, but will never be broken.
Thanks Pats, for a great year!
December 30th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
What a trauma. One minute I found myself wanting the Pats to come from behind like conquering heroes. The next minute I’m wanting the under dog Giants to slay the bullies. The next minute I’m wanting the Pats not to have to live with the idea that they almost did it but, in the end failed. The next minute I’m wanting the Giants to show the world that the Pats are not gods. And so it went. Right now, I wish I had not watched the game. I will be glad that I watched it years from now. I will never be able to decide who I wanted to win. Maybe that’s the way it should be.
Heroes won and heroes lost. It was really good football.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Like the slave riding in the Imperator’s chariot in a Roman Triumph*, I must whisper in your ear: “All glory is fleeting. This, too, shall pass.”
*or a Cleveland sports fan, which is what I, like Surber, am.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:52 am
I’m a California kid and I’ve been a Pats fan for about the same amount of time as AW1.
For years and years it was simply a matter of stubborn pride. I will not change teams simply to side with the current trendy populars! Now, it’s a matter of pride that I’m a fan of the team that is doing something to bring back the meaning of team to professional team sports.
Them winning is nice and everything, but it doesn’t get me extra days off or a bigger paycheck. The reason I’ve stuck with the Pats after giving up on professional sports in all other areas is because of the attitude exhibited for the last few years.
Hard work. Work hard. Then work harder. No matter how good you did last game, you could have done better and you better get better. If you’re not willing to do what the team needs, then go away and let someone else get it done.
No one is perfect and no one should expect an ego driven profession to be free of ego. But, what the Pats have accomplished in bringing back the ideals of teamship in the age of prima donna ultra egos is just short of amazing.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:18 am
interesting story about the owner of the Patriots
http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2007/12/israels-football-team.html
i live in LA: our pro team is USC………… %-)
December 31st, 2007 at 8:35 am
A great game, and well-earned by NE.
As a Giant’s fan, however, I’m still not sure who our quarterback was; this was not the same Eli we’ve been “treated” to for the past couple of years! I *hope* he remembers all the good things he did in this game.
December 31st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I am a fan of New England Patriots. I learned to enjoy American football during my studies in New Hampshire. Here is my take on the situation:
http://egoist.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-england-patriots.html
including a link to an article with the title, Perfect scoundrels: why the US just loves to hate the New England Patriots.
All the Best,
Martin Lindeskog - American in Spirit.
Gothenburg, Sweden.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
[...] And the scrappy, hard-charging underdog takes it from what they were calling the best team in NFL history. Congrats, Giants. You did it. Took down the New England Hatriots. [...]