seems like one of those things you only get mad at if you're on the wrong end of
How do you figure that? I can't think of anybody that has done something like this before, and if there has been a case I'm guessing they quickly backpedaled and apologized. There's never been a similar situation like this to compare it to.
Did anybody pull something like this when Peyton threw the pick 6 against the Saints? No. Can you imagine what the public reaction would have been? They would have been skewered, and rightfully so.
But since it's the Patriots, all rules of decency and public decorum that apply to everyone else are irrelevant; it's a completely hypocritical double standard. Even other 'hated' teams like the Lakers, Yankees or Red Sox have never had something like this. Heck, even a pariah like Mike Tyson never had to put up with something like this after a loss.
The biggest issue is that Pandora's Box has been opened. Going forward someone else will try to one-up these jerks with a bigger publicity stunt after the NBA Finals, the World Series, the next Super Bowl, etc.
Is that something that we as sports fans, and we as a society really want to see happen? Fans and the media are constantly talking about the effect player's off the field actions, especially to kids that look up to them. What does this action tell them - especially when they see other adults laughing and considering it to be not only acceptable, but great.
Sorry, but this stunt is completely wrong on multiple levels. For the public outside of New England to act like it is okay simply because they don't like the Patriots is short-sighted, and sends a horribly misguided message to both the nation's youth as well as to those who may in the future be seeking free publicity for their company.
