Crap.

So yesterday the Patriots blew an 18 point lead and lost to the friggen Colts in the AFC championship game.

Three minutes into the game Peyton Manning looked like he was screwed. His team was down, and it appeared they were out. However, they found a way to come back, and 11 minutes into the second half, they had tied the game at 21 a piece.

Eventually, they'd go on to take a four point lead with exactly one minute left, setting Tom Brady up for another fourth quarter post season miracle.

But it wasn't to be. Not this time. The Colts picked Brady off and were on their way to the Super Bowl. To play the Bears...

When the Patriots started winning Super Bowls, I made it abundantly clear that I wanted them to play the Packers and the Bears. The two teams that had beaten the Patriots in Super Bowls past. And when the Bears made it through the NFC title game yesterday, the stars were aligning. And when that last pass was intercepted, my brother and I looked at each other and realized we were waiting for it to happen. We were waiting for the other foot to drop.

And that's when I realized something beyond awful.

I forgot what it was like to be a Boston Sports fan.

The past 5 years had spoiled me. Ever since 2001, the Patriots were the most dominant post season team in sports. They could come from any deficit to win a game in the playoffs. Behind Tom Brady (the best big game quarterback in 20 years) and Bill Bellichick (one of the top 7 head coaches in NFL history) the Patriots seemed invincible as soon as they got to the playoffs.

Not to mention, in 2004 the Red Sox won the World Series. Are you fucking serious? THE RED SOX? It's been over two years and I still can't believe that happened. I've watched those games at least 100 times, and I am still in denial of it. My business was being a Boston Fan, and since 2001 business was good.

But here's my point. Any Boston fan or Philadelphia fan knows the feeling. Watching your team in an important game, it's close, your team is staying competitive, but you KNOW that something is going to happen, you're waiting for that other foot to drop, and you know when it does it's going to be devastating.

1997, The Patriots lose to the Packers in the Super Bowl because of Desmond Howard returning kicks.

1999, The Red Sox lose in the ALCS to the Yankees after defeating the Indians in an amazing AL Divisional Series. During the Indians series, Pedro Martinez had what many still consider the performance of his life, giving all of us hope that it might be the year they did it. Alas, the Yankees shut that door again.

2003, ALCS. Game Seven. THE SOX PUSHED A GAME SEVEN against the Yankees. Hell, game 7 went to extra innings. And after blowing a 5 run lead in the earlier part of the game, the Sox lost the Championship Series again, this time off of the bat of Aaron Boone. Who sent a walk-off series ending home run over the left field wall in Yankee Stadium.

Now allbeit, by this time, Football was secured for me. The Patriots had defeated the Rams in the Super Bowl in 2001. And two years later took the Panthers in the Superbowl.

But what is really terrible about the above examples of tough times, is that it is just in my life time. And that's only a few of them. We left the Celtics out of it, and the years of my Bruins fandom before abandoning to go to the Flyers (who are ATROCIOUS THIS YEAR).

The Patriots and the Red Sox had both broken my heart for so long. But 2004 came along. That magical year. It started with the Patriots beating the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Which was sweet because during the game I was surrounded with obnoxious freakin' Eagles fans. So that felt good, especially since I was in a wheelchair at the time, I needed that.

And when that feel good feeling was about to wear off. October of 2004 rolled around. The ALCS. Red Sox vs. Yankees.

The Yankees went up 3 games to 0. One more, and another tragic collapse of Boston is complete.

But Boston won game 4 in amazing walk off fashion.
Then they won game 5.
And game 6. Holy SHIT they forced game 7 again.

And this time they would not be denied. They blew the Yankees out in game 7, and would play the Cardinals in the World Series, and on October 27th, 2004 they completed the four game sweep.

Anyway. Point is, I've been spoiled. And it's especially clear that you've been spoiled when you live around Philadelphia fans, who have been tortured since 1983.

But that feeling came back yesterday. And that is a terrible feeling to have. With the exception of the Gotwols family, every Philadelphia fan I know goes diving face first into any possible good sports scenario, and don't even imagine what it would be like to lose.

There's the difference.

Boston fans always expect the absolute worst. They expect to snatch defeat from the clutches of victory.

But that feeling had gone away. And with one minute left in the game yesterday, my brother, father and I were all waiting for that other foot to drop.

And we all knew it when we felt it, and we all knew that as soon as you start to feel it, there's not stopping it from happening.

It's over now, though. I have to root for the COLTS in the friggen Super Bowl. I enjoy Peyton Manning, I like Tony Dungy, Gary Brackett is a great defensive player. Other than that, I pretty much can't stand the Colts.

But that being said...

I hate those Bears.

Love,
Chris

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