Paying Attention

Herein be random ruminations on politics, history, ideas, spirituality, religion, education, media, life, relationships, culture... and Boston sports when I really want to vent.

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." (ubiquitous)

"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and never will." (Frederick Douglass)

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." (Susan B. Anthony)

"Clearly the trick in life is to die young as late as possible." (William Sloane Coffin)

February 5, 2012 9:58 am

NEW ENGLAND PSYCHE (Dialogue in my head)

As the hours wind down towards the Super Bowl kickoff, New England fans are waiting for it with both excitement and anxiety.  With long-time fans of Boston teams it’s always psychological.  Like the following dialogue I’ve been hearing in my head...

ME 1: Everyone’s picking the Giants.

ME 2: So what? I remember when every pundit and Jesus himself (according to Curt Warner) picked the Rams over us ten years ago.

ME !: Yeah, but the Giants beat us earlier this year… in Foxborough.

ME 2: And we beat the Giants the year they beat us in the Super Bowl.

ME 1: Speaking of which, that kind of freaky loss can haunt a Boston team for decades.  

ME 2: We don’t think like that any more.  Not since 2004. 

ME 1: But we had a perfect season going. 

ME 2: It would have been nice, but if you’re a Boston fan you know that some sort of ancient Calvinist karma hangs over everything.  Everyone outside of New England would have hung an asterisk on our perfect season because of Spygate.  Better we win without that kind of cloud.   

ME 1: Well, Eli’s a better quarterback than he was last time, and our defense is suspect.  Hell, even Joe Flacco looked good against us.

 ME 2: Yeah, but in the last few weeks, the Pats’ defense has begun to look like Pats’ defenses of old.  Somehow they make a stop when they need to.

ME !: Then we have to worry about their front four getting to Brady.

ME 2: Matt LIght and the boys are no slouches.

ME 1: I’m still worried.

ME 2: Of course you are.  You’re a Boston Fan.  Worry is what we do.

ME 1: Will you be able to enjoy the game?

ME 2: It’s psychological, dude.  You prepare for the worst and hope for the best. 

ME 1: Sounds like a good plan.

ME 2: Not just for this game, but for life.

MED 1: We still need The Gronk.

ME 2: Yeah, we do.

  1. arewepayingattention posted this