Like any American worth their salt, I absolutely despise the New York Yankees. But I've been a little confused as of late to hear some people likening their New England Patriot hatred to anti-Yankee sentiment. Now, if Tom Brady nailed your wife or something like that - that's one thing. But the Patriots are a pretty solid example of winning well.
Some people simply choose to hate whichever team is dominant at a particular time. I sympathize with this position and must admit sometimes doing so myself. It's a noble thing to root for the little guy - which makes voting in an American presidential election such a conundrum. But if you're going to base your opinion on anything other than a hatred of success, it will be difficult to build an argument against the Pats.
First and foremost, the Patriots have built a dynasty essentially without star players. Tom Brady is only a "star" because he has won two Super Bowls. And really, his name only dominates the headlines when the playoffs come around, and winning actually overshadows showmanship. The rest of the team is made up of guys willing to play a role, regardless of if it garners them an endorsement deal. The Pats even have a player, Troy Brown, who goes both ways. How old school is that?
I don't buy into all that bloated "team" shit that is often used to justify the importance of sports. The truth is that most of the time, from the pros down to the Little League, everyone is more interested in individual performances than anything else. But the Patriots are rare examples to the contrary. Along with a few teams, like last year's Pistons squad, perhaps they will actually put the t-e-a-m back in team, making the games better to watch in the process. Who knows? If this team spirit really sweeps the nation, maybe I'll even be able to watch Rudy without vomiting. But I doubt it.
Mr. Godar's pick for the Super Bowl is for the Patriots to beat the 7 point spread.
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