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dtbrks

That was a pretty good article on it.

Va_Pats_Fan

Pretty much hit the nail on the head I think. I have to agree with him.

Fogbuster

I don't know what is meant by "contrived controversy", but I have done some soul-searching the past 24 hours and my conclusion is that if anybody had come to Gilette and beaten the Pats in a super-charged playoff game where the Pats were the over-whelming favorites, and THEN that team who defeated the Pats would whoop it up on the Pats' team logo at mid-field, I'd want somebody to go and knock down those offending mocking triumphalists. I'd be damned pissed to see that.

So, if I'm feeling that way about the Pats I can understand how LT would feel about the Pats who war-danced on the Bolts' sig in their house. We shouldn't have done that. No matter what the Chargers did or did not do last time they came to Foxboro and beat up on us, they did NOT dance on our logo. Even if they did, we should not do it to them.

It *is* disrespectful to their team and the people who support them. It *is* insensitive to the fact that they were so hopeful that THIS was their year. Again, I can imagine if Brady had a career year, both Dillon and Maroney made the Pro-Bowl, along with Troy Brown, Chad Jax, Mankins, Light (bear with me), Bruschi, Sey, Wilfork, Samuel, and Jarvis Green, and then a team with only one Pro-Bowler came and knocked us off, then DANCED on the Pats' logo, I'm sure there would be some serious fireworks.

The guys who did that dance should write a letter of apology to the Chargers, and should congratulate them on being such worthy opponents. After all, it was the Bolts' worthiness that makes this victory so sweet. We should not spoil that by being disrespectful of them after we beat them. Winners must be gracious and humble. Otherwise they become resented and hated.

upstater1

Sometimes people exaggerate things. Initially, the Chargers complained because of the mock Merriman dance (which I'm fine with) but a day after LT humiliated himself by his Belichick comments, the charge had suddenly been trumped upward to stomping on the logo and what not.

BEFORE the game ended, the cameras focused on LT on the sideline after the Kaeding field goal. The Patriots still had to come out after the try. LT was already pissed as he watched the Patriots celebrating across the field. As a matter of fact, he even said he took offense that they celebrated after a missed field goal.

Now, I agree that someone like Hobbs should be reprimanded if he's stomping on a logo or what not, but if he's only imitating Merriman's dance after a hugely emotional win, I can't see the harm. Hobbs already said he didn't mean any disrespect.

SVN

not to mention LT saying what example it sets for the kids ..that was hypocritical

Jacky Roberts

Awful piece. As usual, King "agrees with everybody".

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"Spirituality, Faith, and Democracy are the cornerstones of our country. We are all Patriots, and tonight the Patriots are World Champions."
-Robert Kraft, 2/3/2002




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Brownfan80

Different situations, Fogbuster. You feel that way because you're a fan of the Patriots.

We don't have a steroid abusing loudmouth picking against the opposition and leading a rally chant of "Opposing QB SUCKS!!!" prior to the game. Our players don't invent self promoting little dances to mock their opponents.

(well, I guess Ty Law did have his little ground sweep thing, and Milloy did have his Fist Pump, and Tedy does have his Crawl-slide thing... but still)

The Chargers were overconfident, ****y, and were celebrating on the sideline while the game was still going on and still in doubt.

I think that if the Patriots had shown such behaviour that you'd have a hard time backing them up with your support.

Just remember, you have to flip the WHOLE SITUATION to truly make the judgement call, and for that you have to imagine that you were a fan of a team with players that had shown disrespect during the game and prior to the game. It's hard for us to imagine that, but you gotta be fair to yourself.

Fogbuster

OK, so as long as there was no ill-intent by the Pats. Since I didn't see any of this except on TV (the CBS feed) with LT suddenly running across the field, a very quick hand-shake with Kevin, then a bee-line to I guess Hawkins, and then somebody says, "You're better than that". I couldn't tell if it came from Hobbs or LT, but LT was clearly bent and kept it as he quickly exited the field. Others were trying to comfort him but he would have none of it.

So, if in fact the Pats did NOT diss the Bolts' logo, then no harm done. That's all I'm concerned about, whether we rubbed their faces in it, because that stuff ALWAYS comes back to bite you in the sit-down. You can take that to the bank.

Only dissing that freaky Merriman dance is no crime in my book. Good God, that is strange. Sorry, LT. You had a great year, one of the best, but you got beat by a greater team.

Fogbuster

Good points all. Thanks for bringing them up.

The point I'm trying to make is that no matter how disrespectful the other team acts, we have got to stand above that. Got to. If Hobbs and the rest who celebrated say they meant no disrespect to the Chargers, the city or their fans, I'm good with that.

The problem is that it may not be good enough for the Charger crowd. The trick is to make them feel *good* about losing!! Make 'em say: "Well, we just got beat by a better team. We thought we had 'em out-gunned but they kept their cool and did what they do, and they just out-did us. End of story."

Then, you know you've won. (And it will be easier to beat them next time!)