Life and Stuff

Do you want to know how I'm feeling right now? Look at the subtitle of the column, there's really no other way I can put it. For those of you who don't live in New England, you'd probably tell me to get over it, and you'd have a right to. After all, if you take a look at some of my back columns, I was gloating about how good this team was practically all season. I even had the guts to proclaim the Patriots Super Bowl champions as early as week 3. That is an act I now deeply regret as I'm writing this column. Both myself and my fellow Patriot fans honestly felt that there was not a team in the NFL that could beat them except themselves. I sit here at this computer desk today stunned, shocked, and appalled. A team beat us all right, and to add to the sour taste in all Patriots fan's mouths, it was a team from New York, albeit the tolerable New York football team. Why did they beat us? I believe that they beat us simply because the intensity they played with led me to believe that they wanted it more. The intensity was evident is the constant rushing of Tom Brady by the Giants defense. They were the first team all season that forced Brady to think quickly on his feet. It was a task that Mr. Brady simply could not perform. The Brilliant play of people like Justin Tuck and Osi Uminyura continually disrupted any rhythm the Patriots offense might have had. By the time they hit their stride, it was too late. The fact that the Patriots lost doesn't pain me so much as the fact that this team will now be a footnote in NFL history. It also stinks that the idiot known as Mercury Morris will just come up with another lame rap to tout the fact that the 1972 Dolphins are the greatest team in NFL history. While the latter fact may be true, let all you Patriot haters be mindful of the fact that the Miami Dolphins only had to win 16 games for perfection while the Patriots had to win 19 games. The Dolphins also played in an era that was devoid of million dollar contracts, inflated egos, and guys who wanted to play the game just because. What this team accomplished in the modern era is nothing short of remarkable. While I as a Patriots fan am willing to admit that the 1972 Dolphins are still the greatest team in the history of the game, I'd ask all you haters to at least respect the fact that this team almost did the impossible within the modern era. That in itself is an incredible achievement. Having said that, I'd like to prove to you now that I believe that Patriots were jinxed because of three things.

• Number one, after all those games in which he wore a gray pullover on the sidelines, the almighty Belichick decided to wear a red pullover on the sidelines. Why would he mess with success, not to mention the fact that he looked like a giant Elmo doll.

• Number two, Gisele was watching her man from the luxury of a private box. Didn't Brady learn anything from Tony Romo? It's bad luck to bring your chick to the game.

• Number three, my future sister-in-law was wearing a t-shirt that said perfection in Patriots lettering. When I mentioned to her that it could be bad luck, she said she was wearing it because there was no way they were going to lose. Thankfully, she agreed to burn the shirt once they lost. If you're driving through Coventry Rhode Island and you see a t-shirt on fire, don't be alarmed.

• To me, the first half was as dull as the old "Universe of Energy" ride at Disney World. If you remember that ride, you know what I'm talking about.

• Memo to Paula Abdul, the song stunk. Stick to dancing and telling no talents that they're actually good singers.

• Randy Jackson's bass playing looked phonier than a Chinese redhead.

• Jordin Sparks did a nice job with the anthem, However, I still believe the beat rendition of all time is Marvin Gaye's version before the 1983 NBA All-Star game. It's on YouTube if you want to check it out.

• Astute football fans will no doubt remember that Sparks's Father once played for the Giants. Perhaps that was another harbinger of bad luck for the Pats.

• What will be remembered most in the minds of Patriots fans for years to come was the inability of the Pats defense to sack Eli Manning on the final drive. Manning was able to complete a 30 yard pass play that set up the winning score.

• Asante Samuel should have picked off that pass about two or three plays later. He would have if he had jumped high enough. By the way, look for the sequel to "White Men Can't Jump" entitled "Asante Can't Jump" coming soon to a theater near you.

• The Patriots should have run the ball more on the final drive. They left too much time for Eli. and he was able to do to the Patriots exactly what Tom Brady did to the Rams in 2002.

• Shame on Belichick for leaving the field with one second left. If there's anyone who I would expect to know the rulebook inside and out it's him. He should have sucked it up like a man.
  

• Those of you who know me, might be wondering how I took the loss. I admit that I took it pretty hard at first because I didn't think they would lose. I watched the game at my step-brother Scott's house. Once the Giants started celebrating I buried my hands in my face and starting moaning, that's when the dog came in. Apparently she sensed that I was upset and came over to comfort me. She kissed me a few times and I honestly felt better. Maybe I should get a dog, they're good stress relievers. Nah, who am I kidding, too much work.

• And so, we have come to the end of a long football journey. It also marks the end of this column. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank some very special people for their love and support of the project.

• To my boy Jadd Naamani, thanks for your support and your constant plugging on the radio and Facebook. We'll be big someday dude, I promise you that.
  

• To Travis Libman, I may not be as well known as Bill Simmons, but you're right I kill him in every way.

• To Bass Fishing Bob and his crew at Southern Union Gas, thanks for your support.

• To Bobby the Cheesehead, you taught me most of what I know. Sorry about the Pack, but they'll be back.

• To Terry Banyard, thanks for reading. I hope you got the web address so you can bookmark it.

• To Don Coyne at ABC 6, your professional opinion meant a lot to me. I will keep knocking on doors because I know that I'm that good.

• To my brother Devin, thanks for reading, and hail to the Redskins.

• To Ed Pieroni, I glad you enjoyed my opinions and your efforts to persuade me that hockey stinks were greatly appreciated.
  

• To Dr. Sanford Kaye for believing in my talents as a sportswriter before I did.
  

• To my Mother, thank you for your love and support in every endeavor that I conquer.

• Last but not least, thanks Dad, Father, Padre. Your comments told me what to work on to make this column better. I really appreciate the fact that you were willing to share this blog because you were that proud of me. You are truly my biggest fan. And Maggie good for you that you watched the Super Bowl.

• Please check back often for general sports columns when I have the time and when something strikes me enough to write about it. Until next fall, goodbye and Godspeed.
  

10 years! It's been ten long and frustrating years since the Boston Bruins have won a playoff series. Within that time, he have witnessed numerous coaching catches, talented players squandered for stiffs, and team executives that are more than someone can't find Waldo when he's staring him right in the face. It's has been enough to deplete a once proud fan base whose paradigm nows consists will we finish the season with a winning record. It didn't used to be this way.

The paradigm used to be that of how far are we going to go in the playoffs? For you see, the Bruins made the playoffs every year from 1969-1996. At the time of it's completion, it was the longest continuous streak in NHL history. It pains me to say that at the time, we took all those appearances for granted. If we knew then what we know now, we would have appreciated even the teams that were one and done. Nowadays, the Bruins are the least popular sports team in an area in which they were at the top, at least in the early seventies anyway. Now, we are left with a far from perfect team with a miserly owner, a clueless GM, and the owner's soon who had the audacity to stage a meeting with what few season ticket holders were left, telling them that they were committed to putting a winning product on the ice. To me, that's like a generic soda brand telling consumers that their soda is better tasting than Coke or Pepsi. As expected the team was reneged on their promise, and has continued to swim in a sea of mediocrity.

Do they care, no! As long as Mr Jacobs and friends make a profit off the team, they're content. So how do we solve this problem. It may be more simple than you think. The best way to solve it is i two ways, stop attending the games, and call into the talk shows demanding change. However, simple solutions are not always easily executed. The Bruins still draw reasonably large crowds and I haven't heard a Bruins fan call into WEEI since the Stone Age. I am imploring those people to wake up and smell the foul stench of your hockey team. Aa long as the Bruins are in the black, they will continue to be mediocre. If you're mad as hell and you're now gonna take it anymore, write letters, stop watching the games, stop going to the games, and start using sports radio as a soundboard. The Celtics got the message. It's time for the Bruins to as well.