Chris Whalen’s Random Life

First of all I would like to congratulate the New York Giants. They flat out played better than the Patriots and deserved the win. Their standard 4 man rush had too much speed both on the outside and the inside for the Patriots line to handle, and that is what ultimately kept them from being able to execute their offense and win the game.

This is more about the way the rest of the country feels about the Patriots. Those of us who live in New England have a difficult time understanding why it seems the entire rest of the country hates the Patriots so much. And I can tell you from personal experience this is not imagined. The part of the country that may have the healthiest hatred I believe is Pennsylvania and of course, Indianapolis. The level of vitriol there is more than just palatable.

The Patriots have gone from the lovable underdogs in 2001 to the loathed juggernaut in 2007. Any team with sustained success will develop a level of dislike from everyone else. Add in the Belichick personality, the lack of personality on the team as they seemingly dispassionately destroy everyone and then just for fun mix in some Spygate and you have the recipe for a team that may be more despised than the Yankees of the 1990s, Raiders of the late 70s and early 80s, and the Cowboys and Steelers of the 70s. From my travels there seems to be no depth to the level of hatred for the Pats despite the general level of like for Tom Brady…although that too is slipping.

The Patriots are about to go through some monumental changes. There are several key free agents, players who might retire (see my post from last week), and the possible suspension of the coach (ESPN is right in reporting that is Commissioner Goodell finds there is more Spygate evidence than that will be the outcome for sure). That is something we as fans can not control, we can only react to. And hope that it does not diminish the level of joy those Superbowls brought us at the time.

The problem is that in New England we are spoiled. We have been so fortunate as to see the Red Sox win two World Series in recent years, the Patriots win 3 Superbowls that we forget what is was like in the early 90s when the Patriots were going 1-15 (I was at every home game that year), the crowed were unruly at best and the fans were merely hoping for a .500 season, a playoff berth was unthinkable but the ultimate goal. We never let us think about the Superbowl. That was a bad memory from the ‘85 Bears…

The truth is most US Cities’ sports teams hope for the playoffs and try to get hot at the right time. It is the nature of most of professional sports. College as well. Every city is hoping for that magical run that brings a deep playoff run and just maybe a shot at a championship. We have become too spoiled here in New England. We have become like hte Yankee fans of the 90s, the Steeler fans of the 70s, the LSU fans every year, that somehow we are OWED a berth in the championship, as ridiculous as that sounds to someone NOT a fans of those teams. That is just the product of living in an area that is enjoying unprecedented success in it’s sports teams. We need to just enjoy what we have and enjoy each year individually.  We may never live through something like this again!

So embrace the hate Pats fans! The hate is just because everyone else wishes they could experience what you are experiencing. Nevermind what might happen with Sen. Spector, or Matt Walsh, or not getting Johann Santana, we have enjoyed 3 Superbowls and are in position to contend for more for many years thanks to a stable coaching staff and ownership, #12, and BTW the #7 pick in the NFL draft this year.

Would you rather be living in Kansas City or Atlanta or Buffalo???? I didn’t think so….  

Here’s to a return trip to the big game!!!!!