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Cliff, a friend and colleague of mine doesn’t understand why several of us in the office, especially me, have been so wrapped up in talk of football this past week.  His GTALK status message read

 “Eff football”

after a conversation based on football consumed the majority of a lunchtime discussion on Wednesday. After the Pats win over the Chargers last weekend, can you blame me? 

Cliff states: 

“It doesn’t make any sense, when the players are not even from the area of the teams they play for and will sign with whoever gives them the most money.  There is no loyalty amongst the players, it is just a business to them”

Interestingly enough, Tebucky Jones is the only current New England Patriot who was born in New England - New Britain, Conn. to be exact.  I didn’t even know that Tebucky Jones was on the team still, until I looked at the Roster on the Pat’s website.  Dan Koppen did go to BC, but he was not born in New England.

So how can we be so loyal or patriotic (pun intended), to a team or a sport that is really just a money making business where none of the players are actually New England natives?  To be honest, whether they are New England natives or not, doesn’t really matter to me much.  I guess I care more about the make-up of the team and less about their place of origin. 

I like to watch football because it is an athletically and a technically difficult game.  However, the real reason I enjoy watching New England sports so much, is because it is how I grew up and I find it comforting.  It was a way for me to bond with my Dad, brothers, my uncles, friends, boyfriends, and now with my husband. 

I didn’t play sports as a kid. I only shot the occasional hoop in the backyard with my brothers and my Dad after dinner.  However Boston sporting events, including Celts Bs, Sox and Pats games were big events in my home.  Holiday dinners and get-togethers were planned around game times.  It was fun, just chilling with my family and watching the games.  I learned to love watching sports and that love has not died. 

Admittedly, my interest in basketball and hockey has feigned a bit.  I’m still trying to regain my interest in the Boston Bruins, but I haven’t forgiven the NHL yet for the year on strike.  Honestly hockey hasn’t held the same allure for me since the Cam Neely days.  The same for the Celtics, not since Larry Bird days have I been as interested in basketball. So maybe I’m not as loyal to sports and to Boston/New England area teams as I should be. 

For some reason winning or losing, I have always loved football and watching the NFL.  There is nothing better than hanging in with friends and family on a Sunday; lighting a fire; mixing up a batch of mudslides in the blender; heating up a plate of nachos; making a big pot of chili; and WATCHING FOOTBALL. 

 

 

 

 

tags: new england patriots are not new england natives, no real loyalty in professional sports, professional sports is a business, tebucky jones is the only new england patriot from new england, why football rocks, i will never give out my mudslide recipe