Can the Giants Save Us?

Eli vs Goliath

It's a typical scene. Someone has decided to host a child's birthday party during the conference championships. So huddled near a couch or kitchen island, there's a group of males not so avertly watching the games and offering commentary that is as least as entertaining as what the network is offering. The one thing you learn in that huddle is that no one outside of Boston likes the Patriots.

There's a host of standard reasons that can be cited -- Belichick is a jerk, their uniforms are disco, "I wish I was Tom Brady," etc. The real reason though is that 18-0 record. America hates the front runner. I suppose it applies in other countries as well -- the universal disdain for a team or athlete that dominates. Here in the USA we were founded on the concept that "all men are created equally,*" so fans may bristle as the mighty Patriots kick around say ... a Dolphin's team that should not even be allowed to utter the digits one, nine, seven and two in any sequence.

So as Super Bowl XLII rolls out the media machine, NFL fans will jump onto the Giants bandwagon. The Patriots can rest easy though. The '72 Dolphins terrorized the NFL and were surely just as hated for their disco uniforms. Time heals all wounds though and history remembers them fondly. Seize the day Pats, but everyone is rooting against you.

*Subtle MLK day reference