I feel spoiled as not only a Pats fan but a Boston sports fan in general.
What Schilling did with the Diamondbacks in 2001 gave me goosebumps and I secretly hoped one day he'd wear a Red Sox uniform. I'll never forget that 2004 season. Every start of his was like seeing your favorite band live. He'd walk off to standing ovation after standing ovation.
Ray Allen was always my favorite basketball player not named Paul Pierce...then you not only get him, but another hall of famer to bring home arguably the most unexpected (before the trades) championship in Boston history considering the way the Celtics had played in previous seasons.
Then the Patriots. I didn't buy into the Joe Montana/Tom Brady hype until his 3rd season. I had some personal issues in 2002 and was disinterested in watching sports in general, let alone the Pats, but tuned in for opening day 2003 when they got crushed against the Bills. I remember watching the Denver game...the intentional safety game, when Brady threw the game-winner to Givens, and thinking "We're lucky to have this guy."
Like someone else said, 2004 was "ok we're winning the Super Bowl, let's just enjoy the ride." I never doubted for a second, even when ESPN was hyping the Colts and Steelers in the playoffs, that we wouldn't win the trophy.
2005 was more of a Brady season than a Pats season. The team just flat-out wasn't that good. He carried them on his back to a 10 win season (would have been 11 if Belichick didn't have Cassel throw the 2-pt conversion away.) I was just happy they beat Jacksonville.
2006...I'll admit, I got greedy. I didn't expect them to beat the Chargers, but when they did, and how they did, I thought they were a team of destiny. The loss to the Colts (given that we would have crushed the Bears, we lost in comeback fashion to the Colts and Manning and Dungy of all people, and it allowed them to win their one and only ring) stung. I was depressed for a couple weeks, over the game and the fact that they won a Super Bowl.
2007...even when they came out flat in the first half of the Super Bowl, I said "this reminds me a lot of the Eagles Super Bowl. Belichick will outcoach Coughlin in the second half." I didn't have a good feeling, even with Eli being Eli, when there were still 2 minutes on the clock.
2008...I can't remember ever looking forward to any season so much, other than maybe the 2004 Red Sox. Then I remember Brady going down, going for a walk on the Cape Cod Canal after and like I typed in here last year feeling like I was dating Catherine Bell and she went into a coma and wouldn't be out for at least a year. I was spoiled, and I realized it.
I feel the same way most of you do...I feel the Pats need at least one more super bowl to really put the cherry on the top of the sundae that has been Patriots football in the early 21st century. It will cement that Brady is the one of the top 2 QBs of all time, if he isn't already, and will also allow a Brady/Montana debate for years to come.
