PromisedLand

I have been greatly disturbed by the incident earlier this week, and have been struggling to understand my feelings and sort out the reactions of others, fans and foes alike, being expressed on this web site and in the media. I think I have made some progress.

I can’t speak for everybody, but I am a dyed in the wool Patriot fan. I first started rooting for them when I was 10 years old, back in 1960 when they became the first post-war professional football team in New England.

Years passed, I grew up and got older, and for various reasons my interest in the Patriots intensified. I was proud of my team; yet, there was always that feeling of inferiority when speaking with fans of other teams – 49ers fans, Broncos fans, Steelers fans, Dolphins fans, even Jets fans. For those teams had won Super Bowls.

Sure, our team had come close a couple of times – in 1985 they became the first team to win 3 road games to reach the big game, only to be crushed by the Bears. After that, the news broke that several key players on our Super Bowl team had been busted for cocaine use.

We reached the final game again in 1996, but this time it was our head coach, our latest hope for glory, who embarrassed us by allowing news to leak out (via his Globe buddy Will McDonough) that he was leaving the team right after the Super Bowl because he was unhappy with the owner.

These incidents were not the only embarrassments in our history – far from it. We can all name many, such as consecutive 1-15 and 2-14 seasons in the early 90s, the Lisa Olsen affaire and Victor Kiam’s reaction to it, Irving Fyar’s halftime exploits, etc.

We were truly one of the sorriest franchises in the NFL for our first four decades of existence, being a source of embarrassment far more often than a source of pride. And every time it seemed like that was about to change, Cruel Fate seemed to reach in and set things back to the way they always were and the way they always would be. Or at least that was how it seemed.

Finally, in 2001 things began to change. We won a Super Bowl, although many claimed it was tainted by (a) luck and (b) the tuck rule call. But after winning 3 in 4 years by 2004, no one could laugh at us anymore. We had become the model for how to run a professional sports franchise, and furthermore, it was said, we had won the right way – by bringing in smart, team-oriented, dedicated players.

Finally, we Pats fans could talk to fans of any other team with pride. Finally, we were the ones everyone envied. No longer was it embarrassing to even admit you were a Patriots fan to fans of other teams.

But now, suddenly, it seems Cruel Fate has not changed her mind at all, she has only been setting us up again for an even crueler reversal of fortune. With this incident, once again we are embarrassed, and worse, it now appears that even our glory may have been gained not by virtue but by vice.

I understand the reactions of many of us. Many of us, me included, have been denying the seriousness of this offense (see my sig). Of course we are, because to admit how bad it was is to acknowledge that our one source of pride as Pats fans may be illegitimate. But the damage has been done. Now all the doubters have the weapons they need. Always they will be able to dismiss our successes by saying we cheated. No matter how incidental and trivial the effect of any information gained by the videos may have been, the perception will always be there that it may have made the difference. So we defend BB and thank him for bringing us so much success – but whether we agree or not, their will always be those who doubt that our success was honestly come by and that in and of itself diminishes it the joy it brought us.

Bill Belichick, the man who gave us reason to be proud, has now robbed us of it and embarrassed us once again.

Sure, I still want him to be our coach and I will still support him, but I will always wonder, "Why, Bill, did you have to do this to us, your long-suffering fans, to your team, and most of all to yourself?"

__________________
It's so simple, even a Jets fan could do it.ä
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upstater1

Why can't you speak for yourself? What is this "us" you're referring to? I'm a Patriot fan. But you don't speak for me. I entirely disagree with you.

AndyJohnson

Do what?
Why are you jumping on the media bandwagon, and assuming the rumored facts to be true? No one directly involved has commented.

You have moved past judge, jury and wondering how you should feel as the executioner.

As I said in a another thread, wouldn't it be a cruel irony if there was not even any film inside that camera, and BB just sent the guy out there with it to screw with the Jets.
Not sure how likely that is, but I would be certain that the collaraborative 'facts' that have put out there, upon which you are relying, by people with no first hand knowledge of the episode, are far from 100% accurate.

MiChargers

Then you should acquaint yourself with the facts. One of which is there WAS an actual tape taken and it WAS sent to the league office for review.

patsgo

crap happens, people are human, people make mistakes, get over it this will all die down, if you let other people bother you by what they say, there are mental health doctors to help you

DaBruinz

OH WOE IS YOU. BOO HOO... Man, your priorities are seriously messed up if this is how you feel.

Bill Belichick did not harm anyone physically. Nor mentally. If you feel harmed, emotionally, by a man you have never met (more than likely) about a situation that you clearly do not have all the facts on, then you are the one with the issue.

Seriously, the fans haven't been hurt and you are seriously blowing this out of proportion.

PonyExpress

I'm not hurt at all. I enjoy a good fight, especially when right is on my side.

DaBruinz

And you should re-acquaint yourself with the facts s well because its not been announced WHAT was on that tape, if there was anything at all. Heck, no one is even sure it was a TAPE. It could have been a DVD for all we know.

AndyJohnson

OK, genius. First, what person INVOLVED in the episode has said that. I am not talking about the media because they have been wrong on many parts of this so far. (If the media said goddell reached a decision and he hasn't, how do we believe anything they report)
Secondly, what is no the tape.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO CREDIBLE SOURCE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS ON THAT TAPE THAT HAS SAID IT INVOLVED TAPING JETS COACHES.
Was he taping the game? The cheerleaders? Getting video for Patriots.com? Who knows.

You want to execute without then benefit of a judge, jury or any fact.

Don't allow yourself to be so ignorant to the world ot believe that if the media says it, its true.

mdhprime

You fail to grasp just about every single relevant fact about this whole affair. This is not about cheating. This is not about being embarrased. If you've been a fan for as long as you claim, you should know that there are common practices outside of the rules which every team uses. This is about an opportunity to blemish a team which the rest of the league views in a jealous and envious way. If the attention were turned on their practices which go on outside the lines, would the story be any different? Of course it would, because they are not the Patriots. It would have lasted half a day. If anything the attention paid to this minor affair is flattering and proves that NE fans are no longer the, "long suffering fans" you claim them to be. They are the envy of every other team's fans. Do not presume to speak for all of us.