A New Beginning

I feel like I should at least make mention of the Patriots since I know many of you aren’t just Red Sox fans but Pats fans as well.

While definitely a fan of them, football is not that sport that grips me and owns my heart.  I remember when they lost to the Giants LAST time that I was actually surprised at how upset I was because I can usually just enjoy the game and not obsess too much on the outcome…but that game really stung.  I think the connection with other fans and with opposing fans thanks to the Internet makes these kind of losses even more difficult…no one wants to deal with the opposing fans gloating over your pain…but now that pretty much comes with the territory.  So I will admit fully to dropping an f-bomb or two last night and to being disappointed with the loss.  But I have a really tough time being mad or even terribly upset.

We’re fortunate to live in a region where recently professional sports has been very good to us so I can’t fault the Patriots for showing us they’re human.  (But for the love of Pete did it have to be Eli Manning again?)  I grew up in an era where the local papers referred to the Patriots as the “Patsies” on a daily basis and, I promise you, what we’re going through now is infinitely better than what sports fans went through back then.  Maybe I’m doing this for me but I think others will benefit from it as well.  Let’s remember how good we really do have it in New England:

New England Patriots Super Bowl Titles:  2001, 2003, 2004

Boston Red Sox World Series Titles:  1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007

Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Titles:  1928–29, 1938–39, 1940–41,1969–70, 1971–72, 2010–11

Boston Celtics Championships: 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008

Since the beginning of this Millennium alone, our teams have collectively won seven titles.  In my lifetime they’ve won 15.  The idea that any New England sports fan should hang their head is ridiculous.  We have a lot to appreciate and a lot more to look forward to, so don’t let anyone make you think differently.

For all of you suffering this morning, I offer sincere condolences and I feel you pain.  I know for me when the Red Sox season ended so terribly every time someone said to me  “At least there’s the Celtics/Bruins/Patriots” my response was “As much as I like other sports, they don’t replace the loss of baseball for me” and that’s true.  So while I lament how the season ended for Patriots fans I offer two glimmers of hope, one football-related and one not:  Our team got to the Super Bowl which is more than the majority of football fans can say this year.  That’s a lot to be proud of regardless of the final score.  And this…Truck Day is this Saturday or, as so many of my friends with young children would say, five sleeps and a wake up and Truck Day is upon us!

The best thing about baseball is that we get 162 games to lead us into the playoffs.  The football season goes by so fast that the way it ends (unless your team wins the Super Bowl) is always a kick in the stomach.  As baseball fans we get to enjoy the slow burn and we get to hold on to hope for a lot longer than most other sports fans.  That definitely is something worth looking forward to, isn’t it?