I was probably in the minority for the Super Bowl on Sunday as I cheered for the Patriots. I didn’t start out the game cheering for New England, I found myself mostly cheering for who was on offense, but by the fourth quarter it was clear who I wanted to win.
I have had a love-hate-appreciate relationship with New England. When Tom Brady first got to the team and took over the starting job, I started paying attention. I knew that Brady had been at Michigan and as a Big Ten school, previously and maybe still my second favorite Big Ten schools but Harbaugh is making it hard. I wanted him to succeed on the next level.
There was also the fact that he is pretty good looking and was fiery on the field making Brady fun to watch.
I can remember the first Super Bowl I watched that the Patriots were in I wasn’t cheering for them because they were playing the Rams who had recently selected the future Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner at the helm. It wasn’t until the next run at the championship I got behind the team a little more and started to see the greatness in Brady.
From there, came the hate portion of the relationship where the Patriots where I started liking Peyton Manning and therefore got my hopes crushed often by in important games, usually by New England’s kicker Adam Vinatieri. Brady also started to take on an image I didn’t identify with and, honestly wasn’t a huge fan of.
I also met my husband around that time and took on the privilege or curse of becoming a Chicago Bears fan. You would think, as a Bears fan, Manning wouldn’t trump Brady since the Colts, led by Manning, beat the Bears in their first Super Bowl appearance in more than 20 years, but there were a hefty amount of Hawkeyes on the Colts that year, and I just really like Manning.
Following the Patriots first three Super Bowls, they remained a force to be reckoned with but started a decline along with a scandal or two. I was definitely in the camp cheering on the Giants as they became the thorn in the Patriots side, curtailing their perfect season and giving Peyton’s brother Eli two rings.
When they made their way back to the big game two years ago, I really didn’t care. They won with a lot of help from poor play calling by Seattle, but nonetheless had four championships.
It wasn’t until the past couple of years I started to appreciate the Patriots and how they have stayed relevant and more-so pretty great with a different team at the start of almost every season. As more of a fan of college football, I get to keep most of the same team around for three to four years, in the pros that just isn’t the case.
Also, with different people, Brady and his coach Bill Belichick have made greatness from not always the most talent. That was what brought me to pull for the team from the east during the game instead of the fan favorite Falcons who had never won a Super Bowl.
I wouldn’t have been upset of Atlanta won. It is a neat story and a deserving team. But to witness a greatness that has not been seen and cement the key figures in the organizations as G.O.A.T.s (which I think is the worst acronym ever when talking about greatness,) I couldn’t help cheer against the underdogs.
My husband said it best when he said “I wouldn’t feel bad if the Patriots lost, but I would feel bad for Atlanta.” He was right, and the point was driven home even more with the 25 point lead lost and an overtime comeback needed to win the game. But that is how you become the greatest ever, for now.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson
at jpierson@newtondailynews.com