tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post6844644274951922033..comments2023-10-31T06:31:41.395-04:00Comments on Bottom of the Barrel: The Anatomy of an Apology of SortsBengoodfellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-20055465174328796022012-02-17T09:05:19.620-05:002012-02-17T09:05:19.620-05:00Eric, I think the same way. I'm not always the...Eric, I think the same way. I'm not always the best fan at remembering the good times and having realistic expectations for my teams. Still, I wouldn't consider making the championship game a failure in any way. I think it just happens over time you become a little spoiled and used to being great.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-51502321080513534582012-02-16T16:40:56.286-05:002012-02-16T16:40:56.286-05:00I don't know how old this Wilbur guy is but I ...I don't know how old this Wilbur guy is but I lived in Boston from 1989-1994 and I remember the Pats then as one of the most pathetic teams in NFL history and in one year they were arguably (dispite one win) a worse team than the 2008 Lions. For a city that ostensibly has a long sports memory this attitude of Wilbur is puzzling. They should be grateful for having a team that, within living memory, was once so terrible reach the heights it did on the 2000s.Ericbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-34960939961836727062012-02-16T08:29:27.594-05:002012-02-16T08:29:27.594-05:00Rich, the defense won't get blamed for not mak...Rich, the defense won't get blamed for not making a stop when they needed one b/c it is understood Brady and the offense are expected to carry the team. At least that's what I think. Otherwise, I don't see why the Pats defense or the other drops from the Pats receivers don't get more focus. <br /><br />I don't live in the Boston area, but going into the game I think it is assumed the Patriots will win the game, so there is nowhere to go but down. The Pats lose, the Giants stole the trophy that was rightfully New England's. The Pats win, well that was expected. It is a bit of arrogance. <br /><br />On that safety call, it should have been intentional grounding, but I think it was clear what Brady was trying to do. He wanted to throw it far enough before he got hit to not get intercepted, but he just threw it too far. There was plenty of time to recover from the safety regardless. <br /><br />I am with you on that. There's no way after a night of sleep Wilbur goes on the radio and says it was a serious piece, but the next day says it was satire. He essentially backed the story and then he tried to play it off as a satire of Patriots fans' feelings about the loss. Of course, this doesn't explain why the entire column was directed at Brady when Pats fans would probably have anger directed other places as well. <br /><br />Murray, that is annoying. I don't know what would make a person try to get his name in the national conversation, but it worked. It does seem like many articles I read are hostile to the team, but then they also acknowledge how good the team is when they win. It's very weird. It is like they treasure the losses and treasure the wins as well. You did a better job of explaining it. <br /><br />I don't know if I prefer that type of coverage or the half-assed coverage we have her in NC of the Panthers.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-4082502517291110052012-02-16T07:44:28.483-05:002012-02-16T07:44:28.483-05:00That's the state of the Boston media at this p...That's the state of the Boston media at this point. They openly root against the Patriots and are downright hostile toward the fanbaseMurraynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-9015705964518317682012-02-15T16:12:18.009-05:002012-02-15T16:12:18.009-05:00Wilbur states he was trying to mirror the emotions...<i>Wilbur states he was trying to mirror the emotions of a Patriots fan in writing this.</i><br /><br />If you're going with the stereotypical Bill Simmons clone, then a stupid, pedantic article is perfect.<br /><br />If you're going with the reasonable, understands the sport fan... no.<br /><br /><b>How embarrassing for your coach, your teammates, and your fans.</b><br /><br />Brady broke the NFL record for consecutive completions and still they were winning despite key drops in the second half by Hernandez, Welker and Branch (two).<br /><br />Blame the defense for letting the Giants roll down the field with ease if you're going after someone.<br /><br /><b>So now the Giants have taken Lombardi from you twice</b><br /><br />Arrogance at its finest. The Giants didn't take the trophy away from the Patriots because the Patriots didn't have the trophy to begin with. Especially considering this SB the pundits were actually picking the Giants to win.<br /><br /><b>even worse, they're now turning into the Buffalo Bills</b><br /><br />Buffalo had 4 Super Bowl appearances in a row and lost all four.<br /><br />The Patriots have had 5 appearances over a decade and won 3... <br /><br />So they're not like the Bills at all.<br /><br /><b>But when you begin the game with such a boneheaded play, then proceed to make random mistakes, sorry, Tom, game is on you.</b><br /><br />The safety call was the right one, but if you listen to the audio he told O'Brien that he threw it over the receiver to not throw a pick, which is actually a smart decision, just poorly executed.<br /><br />And the safety didn't really matter all that much considering they had a 9 point lead after their first drive of the second half.<br /><br /><b>You denied your coach No. 4. You let down your teammates.</b><br /><br />Belicheck already has four rings. He got one with the Giants as an assistant.<br /><br />And how many rings does Belicheck have without Brady? <br /><br /><b>The safety killed the Patriots. Killed them.</b><br /><br />Except for the fact the Patriots were winning at half-time until the 1 minute mark of the fourth and ended up losing by 4. <br /><br />But he's right, that safety killed them.<br /><br /><b>Even Montana handed off to Mallett at some point, right?</b><br /><br />Montana was never replaced, but was traded and led the Chiefs to the playoffs twice and to the <i>AFC Championship game</i>. <br /><br />So basically this comparison works to prove that Brady is actually really good.<br /><br /><i>The biggest problem I find with this excuse is that nowhere in the article did Wilbur talk about Patriots fans or any of their feelings after the loss.</i><br /><br />When you combine this with the fact that he stood behind it the next day shows how full of it he is.<br /><br />You don't write a satire piece, then back it as a serious piece the next day and then flop and say it was satire. If it was truly meant the way he said it was, then he would have said that the first time and not the second.richnoreply@blogger.com