I may live in Brooklyn, but during the college semester I head to Boston three days a week to teach at Boston University, and today is a day of mourning in this city. The Patriots' Perfect Season hopes were dashed last night when the Giants pulled out an end-of-game touchdown, beating the Pats 17-14.
But there's something I don't get about the way Boston practices sports spectating. Boston fans are inconsistent.
I am a superstitious girl, I believe in jinxes and I knock on wood at least once a day. Webster's defines jinx as something "that brings bad luck" and a "state of spell of bad luck" brought on by a jinx. When it comes to sporting events, I grew up with that "It's not over until the fat lady sings" mantra and therefore I knock as much as possible and fear saying something out loud that will change the ways of the sporting universe.
You may laugh, but I don't care. It's how I grew up. In this sense, Boston is one of those places that boasts wonderfully hilarious superstitious fans (so I am in good company)--when it comes to their Red Sox. Lately, all that superstition has worked pretty well in the baseball department.
The Patriots, for this city, is another story.
Boston planned its Superbowl/Perfect Season victory parade before the Patriots even made it to the Superbowl! The mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino, was even quoted in the Globe saying he didn't "want to jinx the Patriots by talking about a celebration before it is warranted, but he said a victory parade would probably start on Dartmouth Street near Columbus Avenue in the South End." Um, jinx anyone?
Then there were all the people, colleagues, family, friends, who talked on and on about the "inevitable" Patriots Perfect Season Victory, who I kept telling to be careful but they just laughed. Alas....
I think Boston is hanging its head today, and people are eating their words. But I am definitely not going to say "I told you so." I feel to sad for all my friends. Besides, I don't want anyone to hit me.
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If I'm not mistaken, Randy, Miami's perfect season ran for fewer games than the Patriots played this season. My feeling, like Theon, is to be proud of 18 winning games this season .... every regular season game and every playoff game except the Super Bowl. With that said, I am very happy for the Giamts and their fans. Had the Patriots not been playing, I would have been rooting for New York. I am so happy to have only heard gracious comments by the Giants full of real sportsmanship along the lines of "the Patriots are a great team and we are thrilled to have won this game." How refreshing not to have to hear the "in your face" type remarks.
Superstitious? Not me ... but maybe I should have worn my Patriots shirt during the game instead of on Saturday .......
Hey VickiB,
You are right, Miami's season only ran for 17 games, but they won them all and the Super Bowl. In 1972, the seasons were shorter but they played harder. They were not penalized for some of the dangerous plays that they are now. As far as I am concerned, the Dolphins still hold the record because they were undefeated through the whole season because they WON the Super Bowl.
The Pats and their coach are a bunch of cheaters, which made the NY victory that much sweeter. Go Giants!
The Miami Dolphins didn't play one team over .500 during their entire undefeated regular season.
hi donna,
I'm the champion jinx of all time. I'm 61 and live in northeast Ohio. I'm tired of hearing chicago and Boston fans whine abut their teams when they have had hockey, basketball, and football champions many times. Cleveland has the Indians, Browns, and the Cavs (who can't win with the greatest player on earth-he'll be gone soon just like all the rest of our temps that we prepare to be stars for other cities. I've never won a coin toss in my life. I decided to test my powers this year by rooting for Tiger Woods (although I switched to Rocco Mediate in the Open playoff(he's Italian ,like me). In the past year, I've had heart surgery, a stroke, a prostate biopsy, two seizures, a torn rotator cuff, was blinded by LASIK surgery, and was fired from an educational grant that I obtained myself . When I played Monopoly a a kid, I spent the entire game in jail;I've never passed "Go" and collected $200. When I foolishly play slot machines, all I ever get is blank,blank,blank.I was in 2 fantasy football leagues last year and all my players got injured except my kickers. I'd like to find out if Vegas actually hires "Coolers" like in the movie. I need the job.
Bill Carli
Alliance Ohio
ps. I'm campaigning for Obama (jinxed Gore and Kerry already)
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