This is Boston.
Posted by Evan Brunell on February 4, 2008
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| Tom Brady sacked in Week 14 photo: Evan Brunell (MVN) |
Everyone’s life is filled with trials and tribulations, and mine is no exception. That’s what was so endearing about watching the Patriots rip off 18 straight wins and put themselves in position to go undefeated over the course of an entire NFL calendar. No one’s life is perfect. But for one small window in time in one small facet of my life, I was perfect because I was cheering for a perfect team.
Sure, we have the longest undefeated regular season streak. Sure, we started the season 18-0, something that has never been done. But we weren’t perfect until the very end.
And that, I think, is what I will be taking away from the game most. Not that Tom Brady was clearly hampered by his ankle. Not that the offensive line broke down at the worst time. Not that Junior Seau lost his chance at “ever” (although that does get me).
The Patriots have won three Super Bowls in my lifetime already and will forever and always be in the discussion for greatest football dynasty of all time. I have been rewarded enough that this loss doesn’t sting for the loss inasmuch as it stings for Seau and the loss of perfection.
Throughout SpyGate, throughout calls that we were running up the score… there was one thing no one could take from the Patriots — from us. And that was the zero in the loss column.
I am not a football fan. I follow it out of convenience. I am a Patriots fan, born and raised in Massachusetts. I watch their games, but I don’t particularly let them affect my mood like I will allow the Red Sox to do so. But I let the Patriots sucker me into investing my time into them. I don’t particularly enjoy watching football games (Psst: the Super Bowl last night bored me to tears. How about you score and stop showing so many commercials?), but this season was different.
Another thing that this loss gives me is a sense of Boston. Boston is the sports city of pain, of loss. The Red Sox won two World Series, the Patriots won three. [EDIT: Even though I clearly mention earlier in this article that the Patriots won three Super Bowls, people (anti-Boston fans, for what its worth) are demanding that I correct this, so here you go: The Red Sox won two World Series, the Patriots won three Super Bowls.] And yet, when I sat down to watch the Super Bowl, I felt uneasy. Why did I? We were perfect and Boston was on an incredible sports roll. I just couldn’t forget about the past. Just because Boston was (and still is) the sports capital of the world in the 21st century doesn’t mean the 20th century [Edit: Brain fart, I referred to the 20 and 21st centuries as decades.] just dissapears. Part of me will always live with that impending sense of doom that every Boston fan has experienced at least once.
For those who lost that feeling over the last seven years, welcome back.
This loss brings back the Boston mentality. You are never safe.
Never.
I was a Patriots fan, and I was perfect.
I’m not perfect, and neither are the Patriots.
Andrew Farrar said
Brady hampered by his ankle – codswallop. Brady was hampered by his complacency. If I’d have been Belichick he’d have been pulled mid-way through the second half. If I’m going to lose, I’ll lose with people who are trying.
mellyh said
Well said. Born and bred a Pats fan and that will never ever change, but so very true.
Evan Brunell said
I don’t think I’d go that far, Andrew. That pass rush was insane. Do you have any basis for believing Brady was complacent?
azibuck said
This SB is being called the greatest of all time by some, one of the greatest by many, and it bored you to tears?
Evan Brunell said
Yup.
gibbzilla said
Philadelphia would like to take exception with your assessment of Boston as the “sports city of pain, of loss.”
You’ve got five rings since ‘02. I think the rest of the sports world – the ones who actually follow SPORTS, and not just the pathetic and trendy BoSox – will join me in saying “bite me.”
Boston Sucks said
Gibbidiot – Three of those are very tainted, so add the famous * to that.
Let Spygate 2 and 3 and 4 run their course, and then we’ll talk about who has what.
spencer said
“The Red Sox won two World Series, the Patriots won three.”
The Pats won 3 World Series?
“I just couldn’t forget about the past. Just because Boston was (and still is) the sports capital of the world in the 21st decade doesn’t mean the 20th decade just dissapears.”
Dumbass.
This is why the rest of the country loved seeing you lose. It has nothing to do with the teams, it has to do with the fan base’s putrid whining and proclamations that they invented the sport itself. Bored to tears during the one of the most thrilling Super Bowls ever? Why even write about the Pats then if you don’t like football? I understand that Boston is a baseball town, which makes the Pats run that much more excruciating…Boston fans couldn’t understand how special it was.
Since you’ve probably only been following the Pats since Brady came on board and you started winning Super Bowls, let me give you a piece of advice. Humility, or lack thereof, is the reason the rest of the country is still savoring this loss a week later. Had you and your self-indulgent fan base actually shown a bit of it instead of acting like a bunch of assholes, maybe we would’ve been sad to see the Pats miss out on history. Maybe we would’ve saved our viritol for the equally unlikable Giants and New York fans. But, by your continued pompous behavior, highlighted incredibly well by the above article, you have turned New York into a savior, an UNDERDOG.
Boston sports fans have nothing to be proud of. You didn’t contribute to the Pats run, and by showing such a disregard for things like respect towards others and class and decency, you have forever marked yourselves as the nation’s prime example of a spoiled, ignorant, self-indulgent fan base. The best part is, the Pats went from being considered among the best teams of all time, yet now can’t even legitimately claim to be the best 18-1 team. Will the season be lost? No, it’ll be remembered alongside Buckner’s boot and Dent’s home-run as massive choke jobs by a Boston team.
The fans are pathetic. Look at how many Celtic fans have oozed out of the woodwork as opposed to last year. How many Pats fans were there before 2001? To consider yourselves the elite of the sports world is a slap in the face to truly dedicated fan bases who don’t abandon their teams when they’re losing. The world was galvanized behind you during the Sox’ 2004 run, and somehow you tainted those feelings of goodwill with your incessant whining and bitching about how great you are. Please.
Let this be a lesson in the future. Don’t act like a bunch of assholes, and maybe the rest of the country’s sports watching community won’t despise you. It’s not out of jealousy, it’s the same reason we hated NY fans. So, basically, go f-ck yourself.
Boston Sucks said
BURN!!
New Yorker said
ok so new york fans aren’t the greatest in the world. but i think boston fans are worse with their pompous attitudes (though that is more a recent thing) and philly fans. i’ve seen a picture with SEVEN flyer fans beating the crap out of ONE devil fan. one of the flyer fans has the devil guy in a headlock and the poor man is turning blue while another flyer fan is in the motion of punching the devil guy in the stomach. not to mention they put santa in the hospital. plus there are always instances where eagle games are put on hold because of fans throwing stuff on the field.
Mr. Pinto said
Strange. Usually girls are the ones who decide to start rooting for teams when they are winning, even though they don’t care about the sport. But I’ve come to expect little else from New England/Boston fans, crawling out from the sewers as their teams start winning. Going to school here the past 4 years, it’s literally hard to comprehend just how obnoxious Boston fans are. I know as well as anyone how pompous NY fans can be, especially Yankees supporters. Still, the level these assclowns take it to is astonishing. Little brother gets a couple championships and thinks not only can he take big brother, but that these are the greatest dynasties of all time and Boston is the greatest sports city in the nation. Please.
Not only was the Giants win one of the most spectacular of all-time in one of the most thrilling games ever (obvious to someone who understands football), it ended this nonsense about a team that was consistently overrated by virtue of running up the score, playing in the weakest division in the NFL, and the Ravens getting utterly screwed by the officials. 18-1 baby. Maybe you should go buy the 19-0 book by the Boston Globe, it’ll help you keep feeling good about a team you have no personal investment in. I’ve rooted for a consistently mediocre-to-abysmal G-Men team as long as I can remember. The difference is that when my team wins a title, it actually means something genuine to me.
S said
Brady wasnt bothered by his ankle. His offensive line couldnt give him 5-6 seconds to throw the ball like early in the season. Brady doesnt know how to throw accurately with people in his face. At least we didnt see Brady go whining to the officials every time he got hit by a defensive lineman. I’ll give him that. But over the facts are: Brady and company GOT BEAT. And getting beat by 3 points is especially great since Brady won three SBs by three point each. Now lets parse that!!
Evan Brunell said
First: I love how the worst fans are in Boston and New York. The fact is that everyone liked Boston fans until the Patriots and Red Sox started winning. Everyone hated New York in the 20th century because all their teams did was win.
You don’t hate the fans, you hate the region that consistently wins. When the teams of the commenters that are so vitriolic above start winning consistently, they WILL hear from other fans how much their fanbase sucks.
It’s so sad.
And by the way, I never said that I “start[ed] rooting for teams when they are winning” so please don’t put words in my mouth. Thanks.
I am a diehard Red Sox fan. Period. I follow the other sports, like I said, out of convenience — win or lose.
Evan Brunell said
Gibbzilla:
Point taken, very valid. How about I amend it to Boston “USED” to be that city? Life was pretty tough (sans Celtics) for Sox fans in the 21st century.
This loss just reminded us of those times, you know?
Best of luck in ‘08 — I’m a Phillie fan, and I love the potential that team has.
Evan Brunell said
And by the way, that Super Bowl bored me to tears. Period. I’M NOT A FOOTBALL FAN! Okay?
Just like a non-baseball fan wouldn’t like a 1-0 game, I don’t like low scoring games. That’s it!
Evan Brunell said
“Boston sports fans have nothing to be proud of. You didn’t contribute to the Pats run”
Neither did the Giants fans…
pete said
Why are you posting as a representative of Patriots fans? This is why we get a bad name. ‘Bored to tears by the Super Bowl” Post somewhere else. Your opinions are irrelevant.
Evan Brunell said
Two flaws with this, Pete.
One: Not posting as a representative of Patriots fans. Posting as a representative of MYSELF.
Two: Considering this blog is named EvanBrunell.com and is written by Evan Brunell on topics that Evan Brunell wants to write about, I’m not really sure where else I could post…
Jennifer said
As a girl I find it offensive that we only start following a team when they start winning. I have been following sports my whole life, my children love it and they are involved also. As far as Boston and New York fans go the Pats fans are to full of themselves and see what happens when you think you can’t lose, and I am a huge Giant and Met fan the only rude fans in New York are Yankee fans. I happen to love baseball, I watch almost every Met game and will follow how the yankees do because they have a good team but I can’t stomach listening to yankee fans so I always say lets go Red Sox when they play the Yankees.
spencer said
no, it’s jealousy. it’s not that the rest of the country hates winners. it’s that you, as a fan base, are insufferable when you win.
im not a giants fan. im not from NY. the reason we were behind the Sox in 2004 was because it was great seeing a fan base stick with a team through the dark times finally get rewarded. it was the following months that alienated the rest of the country. the constant crowing and bullshit that the fans spewed tainted the good-feelings. you, as a fan base, shoved that victory down our throats. and, yet, you expect us to start feeling bad after forcing the sox and pats down our throats for years? please.
again, you’re not a Pats fan and you don’t like football. but we’re supposed to feel bad for you because a team you’re not really interested in, yet you claim allegiance to staunchly, lost in a horrible manner? that about sums up boston fans in a nutshell: apathy unless there’s success, and if there’s success, they’ll remind you about it while simultaneously condescending.
Evan Brunell said
Spencer:
There’s two flaws with this. The first is that we didn’t shove it down anyone’s throats. We bought apparel, we celebrated — just like every team did. Your beef is with the media. The media constantly wrote stories and wouldn’t shut up about it. Fans have no control over that.
Secondly, I never asked you to feel bad about me and the Patriots.
Mike said
Greatness is measured in championships, not perfect seasons. Greatness is measured in ability to win not all games, but most importantly THE BIG GAME. The Pats lost and they should never ever be mentioned in the same breath as some of the greatest teams of all time because that wouldn’t be fair to all those teams who did win championships. It wouldn’t be fair to Joe Montana or Terry Bradshaw or even John Elway for that matter.
Does anyone talk about the 98 Vikings despite going 15-1 and lost in the title game?
You can have all the pride you want but everyone knows that the 07 Pats couldn’t win the big game when it mattered most. That offensive line got toasted all day long and you saw the so called greatest QB of all time become average.
Boston Sucks said
Evan — You haven’t?
http://mvn.com/outsider/2008/02/04/whats-the-bigger-choke/
And how about the Pats fans selling 19-0 shirts before the Super Bowl?
Are you in denial?
Evan Brunell said
#23 BS-
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Are you talking about my media contention?
If you are, I just want to remind you that the MVN part of my job is the media. This site is my personal life, so I differentiate between the two.
There’s Evan the fan, then Evan the media guy.
As for the shirts, I didn’t hear about that. If true, that was incredibly stupid on their part.
Stillers said
No, it’s obviously not jealousy. Did people hate the 49ers of the 80’s like they hate the Pats? How about the 70’s Steelers? Do hockey fans hate the Red Wings? Outside of these teams’ rivals, nobody really hated them. However, with the Pats, EVERYBODY hates them. It’s because Boston fans have this “woe is me! I’m a Boston sports fan!” attitude that is so strong that they feel the need to jump all the way to the other end of the spectrum when they win, crowing “Look how good we are! We’re the best ever! We’re the sports capital of the world! You all suck compared to us!”
That’s one of the main factors in why everyone hates the Pats. Another is the way that Boston sports fans do come out of the woodwork when one of their teams is suddenly relevant. Boston is a baseball town, first and only. Every other team is abandoned during the hard times, and then the bandwagon fills back up with a vengeance during the good times. I would guess that about 50% of Patriots fans didn’t give a damn about the team until 1996, and a large chunk of those bandwagon fans didn’t care until 2001. Celtics? Who knew the Celtics had fans until this year? And then there’s the Bruins. I’ve heard a number of Boston fans say that they no longer care about the Bruins, or that the B’s are dead to them. What a joke. Just because they haven’t made the playoffs in a few years, and haven’t won a championship in 20 some years? Try being a Pirates fan, where we haven’t even gone .500 for 15 years! And yet somehow they still get pretty decent attendance at PNC Park.
The third factor is the Pats themselves. Belichick is such a classless person. Brady always has that little smirk that says “You’re inferior to me, so there’s no way you’ll figure out that this smile and my facade of humility are both fake.” Rodney Harrison is a dirty piece of shit, who jokes about his fines. The whole team searches for even the slightest disrespect, pretends it’s not a big deal to them before the game, and then waits until they win, when they’ll be free to harp on that disrespect, real or percieved, with impunity. It’s disgusting. The New England Patriots are the most disingenuous team I have ever seen. And all of that disrespect crap makes it so very very hilarious that Boston was planning a parade (just like Philly did, which the Pats considered disrespect) and the Globe was writing, and accepting pre-orders for, the 19-0 book. And Kraft’s ownership group tried to trademark 19-0. The irony is just so delicious! And even Brady, who in his typical condescending way thought it was ridiculous that Plaxico Burress would only give the Pats credit for 17 points, only to fall short of even Plax’s prediction.
Perhaps the greatest poetic justice was seeing Justin TUCK strip Brady in a scene so very similar to the one in the snow in 2001 against the Raiders, the TUCK rule game. Only this time there was no obscure, never used rule to save the Pats, no way for New England to get yet another lucky break that it’s fans would gloss over while bragging about their superiority. There was just an upset of epic proportions in one of the most exciting Super Bowls in history. (Oh sorry, I forgot, you’re not a football fan, you’re just a Patriots fan. Which pretty much describes the majority of your fanbase)
18-1. History was made, but the truly great teams of the NFL, like the Steelers and the other great Dynasties, and the 72 Dolphins, have no need to fear. For the history that was written by the New York Giants is not one of Patriots perfection, but of the greatest choke job in NFL history, and perhaps, the collapse of a dynasty upon the empty bragging of it’s insufferable fans.
The 2007 New England Patriots Season Thread - Page 4 - Football Boards said
[...] hey, what can you expect from fans who say they love their team at 18-0 and then claim they were bored to tears during the greatest Super Bowl of all time? Heres the link for the petition. A request for the NFL [...]
Jerry said
This had to be the stupidest column i’ve read in a long time. For a man of some intelligence, you sure have a way of making yourself sound like an idiot. Brady is a true champion,yes and to call the game a game that bored you,man,what were you watching??? This was to all of us true fans,both Giant and Patriot fans, a game to never be forgotten. Please,if you do not truly care for the sport,than write about something else,maybe Bocce is your thing,but leave the true fans to not have to read such dribble.
Evan Brunell said
I’m going to choose what to write about, but you are certainly welcome not to read it. Just because I’m not a “true fan” doesn’t mean I have no insight about the game.
Question: aside from me not liking the game (which you cannot change my mind about, we have our likes and dislikes) was there ANYTHING in that article that was horrible? I know a few Patriots/Giants/other NFL fans read it and privately told me it was a good article with good insight into how I felt.
It seems like the only issue people are having is with that comment, and I’m sorry, but I have every right not to like the game. Just like I have every right to say that and you have every right not to read it.
Time Lord said
The 20th century began in 2000. You will not live to see the 21st century. Are you Nostradmus? How do you know that The Boston teams are the best of the 21st century? Somebody needs a little math practice.
Paul said
Psst…Time Lord. You really need to change your name dude. We just came out of the twentieth century. How did you miss that for one hundred years? Were you out of town? Oversleep?
imafreak said
While I dislike Boston teams for reasons that go beyond the winning, I won’t go into that because that Super Bowl loss was a tough pill to swallow. In sports circles I suspect a lot of the vitriol is made worse by Bill Simmons. The way he gleefully antagonizes his national audience with incessant homerism makes it very hard to like Boston teams.
John said
Man Time Lord, you need to head back to school and get your dates straight. the 1st century was from 1 C.E. to 100 C.E. which means the 20th century was the 1900’s and the 21st century did start, but not in 2000…it was 2001.
http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/mil2000.html
matt swanson said
That is rediculous that you call Boston the city “sports city of pain, of loss.” Even Philly cannot call themselves that. I live in Buffalo and neither Boston or Philly can compare to how much loss that the Bills and Sabres have cost this city. Obviously you did not think before you wrote this piece. Now go drown in your tears over one damn super bowl loss. You patriot fans still have two more Super Bowl losses to go until you can even consider yourselves a “sports city of pain, of loss”.
imafreak said
One of my issues with Boston fans is even now when they are the big bad wolf winning all the time and (as far as the Sox) crushing everyone with their monster pay roll, they still feel sorry for themselves. All these wins and ACccck, so great have been our travails that we are still wracked with doubt and angst. 5 championships in baseball and football still haven’t conquered the demons luring in the closet our enternal curse!!! Woe is thy middle name o great blood stained Boston! I guess I’m agreeing with this post but yeah, get over it and enjoy winning. You can’t be the big bad wolf and the loveable loser underdog all at the same time. If Paris Hilton could write lucidly, I imagine she could make a post about how hard it is to be so rich and famous and maybe it is but that doesn’t make it any less irritating.
At least Yankee fans (irritating as they are) know their place. They win, we hate them, everyone gets it.