THE PATS ARE DONE!

[Eric Perry]

...Along similar lines, what really gets my respect is the loser that is big enough to seek out the winner for sincere congratulations!

I very much agree.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I don't see how Belicheck's being a jerk has anything to do with his or his team's coaching or playing ability. I'd be glad to tell you that he's an ass, but he's also a great coach and that's why we like and respect him around here. I do not believe that kindness is an important virtue in a good NFL coach. One may argue that players should be kind, classy, whatever to be good "role models" for young children, but what child seriously looks up to Dungy or Lovie Smith and says "Wow they're such nice coaches; I hope to be that nice when I grow up."
If you ask me, asking for a kind football coach is like asking for a smart prostitute. It may be nice at first, but in the end, what does it really matter?
-Alex

No offense, but this kind of thinking... extreme versions of it, anyway... is why so many people detest sports and the jock mentality. I don't want to put words in your mouth, PatsFan, so I'll refer to the extreme versions as Jock World. Too many in Jock World actually believe that "Nice guys finish last", and "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing". Arrogant "bad boys" are celebrated just because they win: "McEnroe can be abrasive at times, but gee whiz, that's just his intense competitive nature!" A 95 mph fastball and consecutive 20 win seasons is enough to excuse all sorts of bad behavior in Jock World.

OTOH, many of us (including many sports fans) believe that civilized behavior matters. Being both a good winner and a good loser matters. Of course I respect Belichik's ability to win football games... that's a given. But that does NOT mean he deserves my respect as a human being. There are plenty of classy guys who know how to win, and I'll always root for them even when they're not on my team.

I would not want a no-class jerk like Belichek or Terrell Owens on my team even if I knew that my team would win more games if they were there. I'd rather lose with class than win without. In Jock World, this makes me a "wussy" (or a word that rhymes with it). And that's fine, I want no part of the Jock World mentality anyway. I set my sights higher.



Props to kserg and mimaz who expressed similar sentiments more concisely...

 

[Spector_Ray]

The Colts organization is a class act from the owner down to the ball guy and I'm glad they made it. I have a bit of a dilemma in who to root for though. I like Manning and the Colts, but I'm a Texas Longhorn fan and I'd love to see Cedric Benson and Nathan Vasher with a ring.

Man I wish my 'Boys were in there

 

[Adam Barkley]

No offense, but this kind of thinking... extreme versions of it, anyway... is why so many people detest sports and the jock mentality. I don't want to put words in your mouth, PatsFan, so I'll refer to the extreme versions as Jock World. Too many in Jock World actually believe that "Nice guys finish last", and "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing". Arrogant "bad boys" are celebrated just because they win: "McEnroe can be abrasive at times, but gee whiz, that's just his intense competitive nature!" A 95 mph fastball and consecutive 20 win seasons is enough to excuse all sorts of bad behavior in Jock World.

OTOH, many of us (including many sports fans) believe that civilized behavior matters. Being both a good winner and a good loser matters. Of course I respect Belichik's ability to win football games... that's a given. But that does NOT mean he deserves my respect as a human being. There are plenty of classy guys who know how to win, and I'll always root for them even when they're not on my team.

I would not want a no-class jerk like Belichek or Terrell Owens on my team even if I knew that my team would win more games if they were there. I'd rather lose with class than win without. In Jock World, this makes me a "wussy" (or a word that rhymes with it). And that's fine, I want no part of the Jock World mentality anyway. I set my sights higher.

Props to kserg and mimaz who expressed similar sentiments more concisely...

That's pretty much how I feel as well. I think it's fine to get excited when a big play happens; when you are hiring a coreographer for your sack dance or endzone celebration you went too far. Plus it makes me think of Base-ket-ball when the whole team starts doing Riverdance in the endzone.

 

[Adam Barkley]

The Colts organization is a class act from the owner down to the ball guy and I'm glad they made it. I have a bit of a dilemma in who to root for though. I like Manning and the Colts, but I'm a Texas Longhorn fan and I'd love to see Cedric Benson and Nathan Vasher with a ring.

Man I wish my 'Boys were in there

That is one of the main reasons why I root for the Colts. I love how they play as well, but I can rest assured that even if Marvin gets a 80 yd td catch (a la Reggie Bush) that the most celebration you'll see will be a spiked ball in the endzone followed by picking up the ball and getting back to the bench. No looking back and pointing, no front-flip, no cell phone, no sharpie, no wiping the ball's imaginary ass, no heimlech manuever, no BS.

The only celebration I like other than that is something like the Lambaeu Leap because it gets the crowd pumped by giving to the fans and not stroking an athlete's ego.

 

[dangnewt]

Regarding winners seeking losers, as long as the approach is SINCERE, I see no problem. If it's an excuse to rub it in, then I think we can both agree who the REAL loser is. Along similar lines, what really gets my respect is the loser that is big enough to seek out the winner for sincere congratulations!

Cool, something we can agree on!
I'd like to see a bit more sincerety in the world these days.


Regarding Brady - if this link still works for non-Globe subscribers, it would give you the gist of the book (which was a little too much Brady even for me)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]