REACHED HOME

Firstly a very big hello and greetings to all my friends here.

Really don't know where to start, about the journey to Phoenix and back. I still have these wonderful memories everyday as I go about my daily life here in Bahrain. My whole Family, cousins and friends are so happy for me and the Pats. Every Friday I play six a side Soccer with a group of close friends and 2 cousins, so when I joined them this last Friday after being away so long wearing 87, they all gave me a standing ovation !! which made me so happy I don't remember smiling so much. You see I left Phoenix 4 days after the Super Bowl and decided to break my journey via London to visit my sister there than Dubai for a short break.

Winning made me feel on top of the World and the New England Patriots were the talk of the Town. The NFL has become big here because of the huge Cable TV Networks here in the Middle East. Don't forget also the US NAVY 5th Fleet is based here.

I was blessed to go and witness a great event Live and although I went alone, and I met a lot of new friends. I really liked Phoenix, especially the Scottsdale area. Downtown was great also packed with fans and you won't guess who I met at the revolving restaurant on top of the Hyatt at dinner 2 nights before the Game !!

None other than Coach Brian Billick ! Spoke briefly , very tall and nice person; told me that he predicted on tv earlier that the Seattle would win although wishing me and the Patriots good luck.

There were so many Seattle fans, they must have outnumbered us 4-1 !! Lucky that I managed to buy my sons their T Shirts, but found them expensive around 150 Dollars with the names printed.

Bought them the home Blue Navy ones with Gronk and Edelman, but couldn't find the White shirts.

Walking outside the Stadium after the Game was really special because it just felt so unreal and while you saw smiling Pats fans, felt kinda sorry for the shocked faces I saw walking past me !!

I walked like as if I was 'floating'. giving high-5s to strangers every now and than . It took me nearly an hour to find my driver parked near the Rennaisance Hotel and as I got near a Group of Pats fans made me laugh from hearing them shout "Sea Whattt ,,,Sea Whattt" !!! All week I had to put up with Seattle fans screaming Sea Hawkss.

In short I had the time of my life. Before I go I have one question to anyone here that's been on my mind since the Game. You see when Kearse made that Tyree catch at the end, why did Harmon hurdle him ? Why didn't he try to hit him and the ball while it was bouncing all over his body ? Would it have been called a foul if he tried to hit as he lay there on the ground and the ball was still bouncing ?

I know we won, and wow what a moment but that bothers me to see Harmon not make a play and not knowing why !! Thank you in advance for explaining why .

Lastly but not least -- want to Congratulate you all here my friends and to say take care wherever you are.

Best wishes, love you all and greetings from the Kingdom of Bahrain. Salam

P.S. Going to be in San Francisco to watch Tommy get number 5 ........INSHALLAH.

Awesome post - love to read stuff like this.

One thing I like to think about a lot is that you, me, all pats fans now have this amazing moment that will be remembered for decades. Whenever we see Butler's interception we'll all always smile - for the rest of our lives. We'll smile.

A guy catching a football in Arizona has given millions of us a connection that we would have never had otherwise. I think that's what makes sports so special.

Great awesome post ....

from the Super Bowl to the beautiful beaches and warm weather of Dubai .... La dolce vita ....

Awesome story! Glad you had/are having such a good time.

Harmon thought it was incomplete and jumped him to avoid a late hit obviously not realizing it was still bouncing around.

You most definitely can hit him if the ball is still live however with the way they protect defenseless receivers this type of thing is pretty common. And an annoying side effect of the protection rules due to the razor thin timing between the ball being live and it being a late hit especially if its not tipped at all you see guys pulling up from contact or in this case leaping it.

Sign baby got it right. It's easy for us to watch with 20-20 hindsight and criticize Harmon for not taking Kearse out while the ball was still in the air. However once he saw the ball tipped, he immediately shifted into avoidance mode to avoid getting a flag.

Still when they watch the film next season, I wouldn't be surprised if BB doesn't use this play as teaching tool, not to give up on plays too early, but I doubt he criticizes Harmon personally for what happened.

BTW- that was an awesome post as many have said, Abdul. Great that you had a chance to see it, and even better that you got to share the experience with your sons. But Brother, Bahrain, to Pheonix, then back to London, a little Dubai on the side, before returning to Bahrain. NICE TRIP. Good to know where to go when I need a loan. .

Have you ever been to Gillette for a game. Do is there any American Football in Bahrain.....even flag football? If you ever come, let us know.

abdul7 said:

I joined them this last Friday after being away so long wearing 87, they all gave me a standing ovation !! which made me so happy I don't remember smiling so much.

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Your smiles are our smiles--so that's just wonderful to read. Really, I think that's just awesome! Glad you had such a great time!

abdul7 said:

Firstly a very big hello and greetings to all my friends here.

Really don't know where to start, about the journey to Phoenix and back. I still have these wonderful memories everyday as I go about my daily life here in Bahrain. My whole Family, cousins and friends are so happy for me and the Pats. Every Friday I play six a side Soccer with a group of close friends and 2 cousins, so when I joined them this last Friday after being away so long wearing 87, they all gave me a standing ovation !! which made me so happy I don't remember smiling so much. You see I left Phoenix 4 days after the Super Bowl and decided to break my journey via London to visit my sister there than Dubai for a short break.

Winning made me feel on top of the World and the New England Patriots were the talk of the Town. The NFL has become big here because of the huge Cable TV Networks here in the Middle East. Don't forget also the US NAVY 5th Fleet is based here.

I was blessed to go and witness a great event Live and although I went alone, and I met a lot of new friends. I really liked Phoenix, especially the Scottsdale area. Downtown was great also packed with fans and you won't guess who I met at the revolving restaurant on top of the Hyatt at dinner 2 nights before the Game !!

None other than Coach Brian Billick ! Spoke briefly , very tall and nice person; told me that he predicted on tv earlier that the Seattle would win although wishing me and the Patriots good luck.

There were so many Seattle fans, they must have outnumbered us 4-1 !! Lucky that I managed to buy my sons their T Shirts, but found them expensive around 150 Dollars with the names printed.

Bought them the home Blue Navy ones with Gronk and Edelman, but couldn't find the White shirts.

Walking outside the Stadium after the Game was really special because it just felt so unreal and while you saw smiling Pats fans, felt kinda sorry for the shocked faces I saw walking past me !!

I walked like as if I was 'floating'. giving high-5s to strangers every now and than . It took me nearly an hour to find my driver parked near the Rennaisance Hotel and as I got near a Group of Pats fans made me laugh from hearing them shout "Sea Whattt ,,,Sea Whattt" !!! All week I had to put up with Seattle fans screaming Sea Hawkss.

In short I had the time of my life. Before I go I have one question to anyone here that's been on my mind since the Game. You see when Kearse made that Tyree catch at the end, why did Harmon hurdle him ? Why didn't he try to hit him and the ball while it was bouncing all over his body ? Would it have been called a foul if he tried to hit as he lay there on the ground and the ball was still bouncing ?

I know we won, and wow what a moment but that bothers me to see Harmon not make a play and not knowing why !! Thank you in advance for explaining why .

Lastly but not least -- want to Congratulate you all here my friends and to say take care wherever you are.

Best wishes, love you all and greetings from the Kingdom of Bahrain. Salam

P.S. Going to be in San Francisco to watch Tommy get number 5 ........INSHALLAH.

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What a difference one play makes........we were the downtrodden leaving that stadium a few years back -- so happy fortunes reversed and you were there to take it all in!!

As PFK mentioned.......when you make your way to Foxboro, be sure to let us all know.

A most enjoyable part of your post was reading the Patriot fans post game chants of "SEA WHATS"???

Love it!

Cool story. Glad you and your family enjoyed yourselves!

Yeah, thanks for that nice post. Glad you and your sons had a wonderful and safe trip. These are the sort of memories that will last a lifetime, and make the bond between you even closer when you recall those happy times.

Glad I logged on today to see your post! It's always a good read when someone posts a travel story from the New England. But to read one from the other side of the world is utterly amazing! I'm so happy that you enjoyed your journey (the win and extraordinary finish may have helped). If this was your first trip to America, then I say "Welcome to America". You are truly a die-hard Patriots fan! Please, post again and often. Thanks for the read.

Thanks to all and one thing i missed out on my post was my reaction when the Final whistle was blown ! I sank in my seat looked up at the clear sky and said a prayer of thanks,,and without really knowing what came into me i cried hiding my face. You see i knew my 2 boys were watching it Live back home,,i didn't bring them as some here thought ,,so i knew their reaction and wished i could hug them at that moment.
No matter what i do in my life ,,nothing will be more sweeter than that moment on Sunday evening the 1st of Feb. 2015 around 7.45 pm Phoenix time. Grown man do cry my friends and i am not ashamed to say it.
Thankyou all for your kind words ,,and to answer a few,,,Hey Patfanken love all your posts and yes i have been to Number 1 Patriot Place,,but NOT to a game,,this was my first time watching the Pats Live. Also yes there is flag football here in few places in Bahrain,,my son one plays it.Also down at the Naval Base i believe they play it. To fgssands thanks and sure would tell you and PFK if i was to visit Foxboro.
Thankyou signbaby for explaining about the Harmon play,,still thought he should have gone after the live ball and intercept it while it was bouncing around !!
We all wanted this one badly but i see the haters are still out there ,,guess number 5 will shut them up for good !! What do u all say ?
Lastly the best Tshirt i saw in Phoenix was the one that said " they hate us because they aint us "
Salam and blessings to all ,,and enjoy post season and the Draft. Special Salam to my brother shmessy and connecticut. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Abdul. GO PATS

On your question about Harmon, a flag could have easily been thrown if he hit the receiver on the ground:
https://twitter.com/footballzebras/status/563164097714192384
https://twitter.com/footballzebras/status/563166043065962497

That was fun reading your post; I always like learning of other people's experiences, especially Pats fans!

Here's to number 5!