also: America's feelings on the eliteness of Joe Flacco!
January 30, 2017 1:25 PM Subscribe
Americans are divided about a lot of things these days, but there's
one thing our new national poll finds they can come together on: wanting the
Patriots to lose the Super Bowl. We find that among football fans nationwide,
53% are rooting for the Falcons to win on Sunday, compared to only 27% who are
pulling for the Patriots. Republicans (58/23), Democrats (54/27), and
independents (47/31) all give their support to the Falcons in pretty similar
numbers. Public Policy Polling, for immediate release: Americans Come Together On Hating The Patriots
They hate us 'cause they ain't us.
posted by yhbc at 1:32 PM on January 30, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 1:32 PM on January 30, 2017 [6 favorites]
> Hell, I hate football, and I'm hoping the Patriots lose the Super Bowl.
Same here!
posted by languagehat at 1:41 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Same here!
posted by languagehat at 1:41 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
haters gonna haaaaaaate
posted by praemunire at 1:42 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 1:42 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Call me back when you graduate to Red Sox hate; the purest kind of Boston Sports hate.
posted by selfnoise at 1:45 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by selfnoise at 1:45 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Why all the hate for the Pats?
I can understand a dislike for their over the top fans.
But the players and coaches?
I'm saving my hate for Trump voters.
posted by notreally at 1:49 PM on January 30, 2017
I can understand a dislike for their over the top fans.
But the players and coaches?
I'm saving my hate for Trump voters.
posted by notreally at 1:49 PM on January 30, 2017
But the players and coaches?
yes them and their spouses, children, pets, etc
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:51 PM on January 30, 2017 [7 favorites]
yes them and their spouses, children, pets, etc
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:51 PM on January 30, 2017 [7 favorites]
Well good news! Tom Brady is a big Trump fan, along with Belechick and Kraft.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 1:51 PM on January 30, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Elementary Penguin at 1:51 PM on January 30, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's not like the Falcons are America's Team, either, though. So these margins really say something about how much people dislike the Pats.
I don't even really know why I do. I mean, yeah, Tom Brady, but that seems petty. Belichick is actually kind of a genius. And the way they develop WRs and RBs is pretty impressive. But I don't like them.
posted by kevinbelt at 2:02 PM on January 30, 2017
I don't even really know why I do. I mean, yeah, Tom Brady, but that seems petty. Belichick is actually kind of a genius. And the way they develop WRs and RBs is pretty impressive. But I don't like them.
posted by kevinbelt at 2:02 PM on January 30, 2017
Why don't people like Tom McTantrumsalot and Bill Belicheater?
I can't imagine.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:12 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
I can't imagine.
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:12 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Patriots could start both Rudy Ruettiger and the reanimated corpse of Corey Haim as Lucas, and I still wouldn't root for their cheaterhead organization. And I regularly spent my entire allowance on Bop and Tiger Beat for Sean and Corey pinups to plaster my bedroom and locker with.
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:17 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:17 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
No one likes cheaters.
posted by Beholder at 2:19 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Beholder at 2:19 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Patriots could start both Rudy Ruettiger and the reanimated corpse of Corey Haim as Lucas, and I still wouldn't root for their cheaterhead organization.
Sure, you say this now....
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:22 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sure, you say this now....
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:22 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
When Roger Goodell has to give Tom Brady the MVP trophy, I hope Tom carefully takes it from him and gives it a little squeeze to make sure it is properly inflated.
I'm also hoping tom comes in and gives him a big hug.
Side note: The hatred for a QB and team being as successful at being consistently marginally better than all the other teams - and extremely heavily by Republicans - totally baffles me, because Tom Brady is a big R... I mean, you all have to remember that Tom Brady was the back up QB... I mean, he was young, and Bledsoe got hurt... and - I mean - realistically, if you are all suffering from embarrassed sportsfan syndrome where your QB is supposed to be as good... I mean... its the case... lets face it...
Now onward with the merrits of the case, once again - you all are defacto arguing that Goodell has a right to blindly arbitrate every case from his own side, and adopt retaliatory tactics to the League's Employees effectively emphasizing that the player's Union has no rights...
From the Well's Report: Wells reported that the Colts and the NFL had setup a premeditated sting operation on the Patriots which allowed the league time to test all 11 of the Patriots game footballs at halftime, but only left enough time to test 4 of the Colts balls. Interesting enough, one official found that 3 out of 4 of the Colts footballs were also underinflated to an illegal PSI, even though they had known about the sting beforehand.
In the same game - the Colts had 3 of their 4 balls also underinflated.
Going on: On September 3, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman issued a ruling that overturned the NFL’s four game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady. Berman's decision was premised upon several significant legal deficiencies in the NFL's case, including (A) inadequate notice to Brady of both his potential discipline (four-game suspension) and his alleged misconduct; (B) denial of the opportunity for Brady to examine one of two lead investigators, namely NFL Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Pash; and (C) denial of equal access to investigative files, including witness interview notes.
And just to finish this off
After the release of Tom Brady's appeal transcript on August 4, 2015 and Judge Berman's ruling on September 3, 2015, it became clearly that the NFL simply lied, twisted, misrepresented and leveraged its profound ignorance to try to smear the reputation of one of its all-time great players for a yet-undisclosed reason. There is no evidence of cheating by Brady or the Patriots. There is, however, numerous examples of disgusting behavior by Goodell and the league office.
Source: YourTeamCheats: (New England) - They have a score of 25 which makes them 'Below Average Cheaters'
To be fair about the upcoming match up, The Falcons have won: (Atlanta) - They have a score of 29 which makes them 'Average Cheaters'
The pinnacle of cheaters of course is the (Denver) Broncos with a score of 53
In time of course, what we'll find out is that the least cheaty team, the (Arizona) Cardinals was actually just very good at hiding it.
So go ahead and hate the Patriots. Call Tom Brady a Cheater, but lets be sure to know where your favorite team stacks up!
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:38 PM on January 30, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm also hoping tom comes in and gives him a big hug.
Side note: The hatred for a QB and team being as successful at being consistently marginally better than all the other teams - and extremely heavily by Republicans - totally baffles me, because Tom Brady is a big R... I mean, you all have to remember that Tom Brady was the back up QB... I mean, he was young, and Bledsoe got hurt... and - I mean - realistically, if you are all suffering from embarrassed sportsfan syndrome where your QB is supposed to be as good... I mean... its the case... lets face it...
Now onward with the merrits of the case, once again - you all are defacto arguing that Goodell has a right to blindly arbitrate every case from his own side, and adopt retaliatory tactics to the League's Employees effectively emphasizing that the player's Union has no rights...
From the Well's Report: Wells reported that the Colts and the NFL had setup a premeditated sting operation on the Patriots which allowed the league time to test all 11 of the Patriots game footballs at halftime, but only left enough time to test 4 of the Colts balls. Interesting enough, one official found that 3 out of 4 of the Colts footballs were also underinflated to an illegal PSI, even though they had known about the sting beforehand.
In the same game - the Colts had 3 of their 4 balls also underinflated.
Going on: On September 3, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman issued a ruling that overturned the NFL’s four game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady. Berman's decision was premised upon several significant legal deficiencies in the NFL's case, including (A) inadequate notice to Brady of both his potential discipline (four-game suspension) and his alleged misconduct; (B) denial of the opportunity for Brady to examine one of two lead investigators, namely NFL Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Pash; and (C) denial of equal access to investigative files, including witness interview notes.
And just to finish this off
After the release of Tom Brady's appeal transcript on August 4, 2015 and Judge Berman's ruling on September 3, 2015, it became clearly that the NFL simply lied, twisted, misrepresented and leveraged its profound ignorance to try to smear the reputation of one of its all-time great players for a yet-undisclosed reason. There is no evidence of cheating by Brady or the Patriots. There is, however, numerous examples of disgusting behavior by Goodell and the league office.
Source: YourTeamCheats: (New England) - They have a score of 25 which makes them 'Below Average Cheaters'
To be fair about the upcoming match up, The Falcons have won: (Atlanta) - They have a score of 29 which makes them 'Average Cheaters'
The pinnacle of cheaters of course is the (Denver) Broncos with a score of 53
In time of course, what we'll find out is that the least cheaty team, the (Arizona) Cardinals was actually just very good at hiding it.
So go ahead and hate the Patriots. Call Tom Brady a Cheater, but lets be sure to know where your favorite team stacks up!
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:38 PM on January 30, 2017 [9 favorites]
I love watching the Patriots because they play incredibly excellent football consistently.
I get stuck watching mostly the Bears because I live in Chicago and don't have cable so I really need the Patriots in my life as a chaser.
posted by srboisvert at 2:39 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
I get stuck watching mostly the Bears because I live in Chicago and don't have cable so I really need the Patriots in my life as a chaser.
posted by srboisvert at 2:39 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
Try not to make your comments to hard on Brady or a ref might throw a flag.
posted by drezdn at 2:56 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by drezdn at 2:56 PM on January 30, 2017
As for the "eliteness of Joe Flacco", he was my fantasy QB this year*. He is not elite. Side note about fantasy football: this is the first year I have not drafted Matt Ryan. So, if there's a MeFi fantasy league and you guys want an easy win, invite me next year.
*Dude, I know. It was a 16-team league, and he was supposed to be my backup, but my starter was Teddy Bridgewater.
posted by kevinbelt at 2:59 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
*Dude, I know. It was a 16-team league, and he was supposed to be my backup, but my starter was Teddy Bridgewater.
posted by kevinbelt at 2:59 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's a thin line between paper and hate
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 3:02 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 3:02 PM on January 30, 2017
I'm surprised it's not more; New England's only 5% of the US population. The Pats have reached the AFC championship 11 times in 16 years, the Super Bowl 7. If you were a fan of any other team I can't see why you'd root for them. People must hate Roger Goodell. I mean, that's what I'm rooting for, really. Getting to see the look on his face when he hands Brady the trophy. When you're watching your team's seventh Super Bowl, you begin to appreciate the little things.
You know, Matt Ryan is a former BC eagle, so Boston sports fans win either way, really.
posted by Diablevert at 3:10 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
You know, Matt Ryan is a former BC eagle, so Boston sports fans win either way, really.
posted by Diablevert at 3:10 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
I live in Vancouver and really got into the Seahawks over the last half decade or so........
That is all.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 3:39 PM on January 30, 2017
That is all.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 3:39 PM on January 30, 2017
Oldies but goodies!
(1)
(2)
(3)
Oh, and just to drive it home: Every completed pass in 2016/2017... (Sorry it takes 37:52 - but look to the bright side - he only completed 291 passes this season - with his suspension.... 2015/2016 was 402... That video was loooooonger...)
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:42 PM on January 30, 2017
(1)
(2)
(3)
Oh, and just to drive it home: Every completed pass in 2016/2017... (Sorry it takes 37:52 - but look to the bright side - he only completed 291 passes this season - with his suspension.... 2015/2016 was 402... That video was loooooonger...)
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:42 PM on January 30, 2017
I hate the Pats because they are habitual cheaters and their top people supported the PEE-OTUS. They are cheat even when they would have won anyway.
posted by Megafly at 3:43 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Megafly at 3:43 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
> Getting to see the look on his face when he hands Brady the trophy.
He's probably got some sort of contingency plan to avoid this, the way David Stern did when he was supposed to hand the NBA trophy to Mark Cuban.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:46 PM on January 30, 2017
He's probably got some sort of contingency plan to avoid this, the way David Stern did when he was supposed to hand the NBA trophy to Mark Cuban.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:46 PM on January 30, 2017
So go ahead and hate the Patriots. Call Tom Brady a Cheater, but lets be sure to know where your favorite team stacks up!
2-0 when it counts.
posted by JPD at 4:05 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
Giants fan here. Boy are the Pats lucky they don't play Big Blue. Seem to have an issue with us. Just like Dallas. Anyway, I am rooting for Matty Ice and the Falcons, but I take solace in the fact that if NE wins, the trophy presentation should be one huge awkward mess! I am hoping that the Pats players all turn their backs on Goodell. Just Kraft, in his drunken stupor (like last week at the AFC Championship game ceremony) accepts the trophy while the rest have their backs to the camera with their arms folded. When Goodell steps away, they can then all turn and celebrate.
As a Yankee fan, I respect the Patriots. Say what you want, but they are winners. They plug in new players every year and just win. Belechick is a master. Brady may be a whiner and complainer, but he is a consistently winning one. That is what he gets paid for and what he does better than anyone else.
posted by AugustWest at 4:10 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
As a Yankee fan, I respect the Patriots. Say what you want, but they are winners. They plug in new players every year and just win. Belechick is a master. Brady may be a whiner and complainer, but he is a consistently winning one. That is what he gets paid for and what he does better than anyone else.
posted by AugustWest at 4:10 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
But the players and coaches?
I'm saving my hate for Trump voters.
Tom Brady doesn't understand why his friendship with Donald Trump is 'such a big deal'
Patriots owner Bob Kraft explains the reason behind his loyalty to Donald Trump
It Looks Like Bill Belichick Really Did Endorse Donald Trump
Boston-area resident here. There's no excuse for being a Patriots fan. Maybe some of the other players on the team deserve not to be cast into the same bottomless pit as Brady, Belichick, and Kraft, but those three are deplorable.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:31 PM on January 30, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm saving my hate for Trump voters.
Tom Brady doesn't understand why his friendship with Donald Trump is 'such a big deal'
Patriots owner Bob Kraft explains the reason behind his loyalty to Donald Trump
It Looks Like Bill Belichick Really Did Endorse Donald Trump
Boston-area resident here. There's no excuse for being a Patriots fan. Maybe some of the other players on the team deserve not to be cast into the same bottomless pit as Brady, Belichick, and Kraft, but those three are deplorable.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:31 PM on January 30, 2017 [5 favorites]
So everyone just hates them for being the best ever? Sounds like sour grapes to me. But I guess everyone hated the Yankees, etc. but I don't really see what the "story" is here.
posted by lubujackson at 4:38 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by lubujackson at 4:38 PM on January 30, 2017
I don't understand disliking Brady/Belichek because of their politics, unless your just throwing out the NFL in general (a fine choice!). Your Favorite NFL Team is chock full of MAGA-hat wearing bigots, too.
I enjoy high quality football, I like seeing probably the best QB ever and the best coach ever play. Won't be sad for a minute if they lose, but just like I looooved watching Michael Jordan even though he is a really, really horrible person, I have no qualms enjoying Brady.
Also, DeflateGate is/was/will always be bullshit. The other cheating thing was legit, admittedly. Too bad they don't punish off-the-field cheating that seriously in the NFL. Holding, pass interference, etc. are part of the game. PEDs, fake crowd noise, and the like should incur huge penalties.
posted by skewed at 4:47 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
I enjoy high quality football, I like seeing probably the best QB ever and the best coach ever play. Won't be sad for a minute if they lose, but just like I looooved watching Michael Jordan even though he is a really, really horrible person, I have no qualms enjoying Brady.
Also, DeflateGate is/was/will always be bullshit. The other cheating thing was legit, admittedly. Too bad they don't punish off-the-field cheating that seriously in the NFL. Holding, pass interference, etc. are part of the game. PEDs, fake crowd noise, and the like should incur huge penalties.
posted by skewed at 4:47 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
> As a Yankee fan, I respect the Patriots. Say what you want, but they are winners.
I rest my case.
/Mets fan
posted by languagehat at 5:25 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
I rest my case.
/Mets fan
posted by languagehat at 5:25 PM on January 30, 2017 [3 favorites]
I want the Patriots to win. I'm a fan. I'm really, really over the "ew just EVERYONE hates the Patriots" stuff.
posted by zutalors! at 5:38 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by zutalors! at 5:38 PM on January 30, 2017
Btw. Apropos of the flacco question I would love to see metafilters casual fans and football haters tackle the pft commenter "phenomenon"
posted by JPD at 6:42 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by JPD at 6:42 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
I get up at 6:30 AM on Superbowl Monday to go to a bar full of expats drinking their breakfast, who mostly can't tell one end of an American football from the other and yet who are united in their hatred of the Patriots. It's international... I don't think I can stomach it this year, not even for #199.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:40 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:40 PM on January 30, 2017
The only thing lower than being a Patriots fan is cheering for the Cowboys.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 8:05 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 8:05 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, and just to drive it home: Every completed pass in 2016/2017
That vid drives home how much of an elite tight-end Bennet is. Yes, Gronkowski is ethereally good, the single most gifted human to play the position, and his YAC (Yards after Catch) runs are almost as good as his blocking.
Bennet gets open more often (because the entire backfield is trying to cover Gronk and Edelman), catches the ball, and goes down smart and easy while the clock keeps ticking. He's also an educated and quick and strong blocker, and you know Tom likes him because he's usually free and can haul in any sort of throw sent his way.
This is in the Age of Parity - the notion is, you can't have a parity of coaching. Football is athletic brilliance, yes, but also strategy and tactics and how they are taught to the right player in the right position.
So, now twice, the League has stripped draft picks, and then suspended arguably the best player for four games. To give coaching parity. To deny Belichick and Patricia and McDaniels key pieces.
As has been noted above thread, the Hawks were caught pumping in fake "crowd noise" during the visiting team's snaps to confuse and overwhelm verbal communication.
How many first rounder picks stripped? None? OK, then.
Taping the opposing sideline from an unapproved spot - note bene taping the sideline is a totes legit thing in the NFL for all teams, and they do - MILLION DOLLAR FINE! ALL UR FURST ROUND DRAFT PICKS ARE BELONG TO US!
There may have been a kerfluffle between The Giants and the Steelers over ball pressure just this year. Glossed over. Nothing to see. Move on. We were promised pressure readings all year for every game! Where are they?
I remember when it was Sheaffer Stadium, and the Pats would always have a very good to great QB, and hot garbarge on the rest of the roster (Ben Coates, not looking at you.)
We were the sad-sack perennial never-weres. Drew Bledsoe never had the tools nor protection nor coaching Tom did, and he came into the NFL at his peak, where Brady came in as a compentent game manager and improved and... and did you see that fucking video of his every completion this year? Christfuck, it's like if Ortiz and Pedro fell in love and adopted Kevin Garnet.
In short, you either root for the Pats because you were born here, or because you really like getting into physical brawls in barrooms.
You can also root for them because they play incredibly good football, just don't tell your friends.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:41 PM on January 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
That vid drives home how much of an elite tight-end Bennet is. Yes, Gronkowski is ethereally good, the single most gifted human to play the position, and his YAC (Yards after Catch) runs are almost as good as his blocking.
Bennet gets open more often (because the entire backfield is trying to cover Gronk and Edelman), catches the ball, and goes down smart and easy while the clock keeps ticking. He's also an educated and quick and strong blocker, and you know Tom likes him because he's usually free and can haul in any sort of throw sent his way.
This is in the Age of Parity - the notion is, you can't have a parity of coaching. Football is athletic brilliance, yes, but also strategy and tactics and how they are taught to the right player in the right position.
So, now twice, the League has stripped draft picks, and then suspended arguably the best player for four games. To give coaching parity. To deny Belichick and Patricia and McDaniels key pieces.
As has been noted above thread, the Hawks were caught pumping in fake "crowd noise" during the visiting team's snaps to confuse and overwhelm verbal communication.
How many first rounder picks stripped? None? OK, then.
Taping the opposing sideline from an unapproved spot - note bene taping the sideline is a totes legit thing in the NFL for all teams, and they do - MILLION DOLLAR FINE! ALL UR FURST ROUND DRAFT PICKS ARE BELONG TO US!
There may have been a kerfluffle between The Giants and the Steelers over ball pressure just this year. Glossed over. Nothing to see. Move on. We were promised pressure readings all year for every game! Where are they?
I remember when it was Sheaffer Stadium, and the Pats would always have a very good to great QB, and hot garbarge on the rest of the roster (Ben Coates, not looking at you.)
We were the sad-sack perennial never-weres. Drew Bledsoe never had the tools nor protection nor coaching Tom did, and he came into the NFL at his peak, where Brady came in as a compentent game manager and improved and... and did you see that fucking video of his every completion this year? Christfuck, it's like if Ortiz and Pedro fell in love and adopted Kevin Garnet.
In short, you either root for the Pats because you were born here, or because you really like getting into physical brawls in barrooms.
You can also root for them because they play incredibly good football, just don't tell your friends.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:41 PM on January 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm a Packers fan and don't really care that much who wins if we can just get a second good game out of this awful postseason. But one particular point in the Pats' favor is the chance is to see a probably never-to-be-equaled feat of Brady and Belichick winning a fifth, and of Brady winning it at 39 while playing basically as well as he ever has (as opposed to being dragged to a victory by his defense, like Manning last year). It's like Roger Federer and Serena Williams winning this weekend, only the future is a lot more likely to hold 35-year-old tennis champs than 39-year-old championship QBs.
posted by aaronetc at 9:17 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by aaronetc at 9:17 PM on January 30, 2017
Oh, and another thing, Brady may be a Trump supporter, but in a loathsome person contest against the other greats of his generation, he does pretty well. Manning, Favre, Roethlisburger(!) all leave him in the dust.
posted by skewed at 9:41 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by skewed at 9:41 PM on January 30, 2017 [2 favorites]
do the mods know there's Pats fans on this site
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:09 PM on January 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:09 PM on January 30, 2017 [4 favorites]
Wow, I did a ctrl-F for the "Tuck rule" and no one has brought up the number one reason to hate on Tom Brady. I'm normally not one to get riled up, but it was a fumble, damnit, and Brady knew it, and smugly said he was trying to pass. /endrant
posted by Drumhellz at 10:38 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by Drumhellz at 10:38 PM on January 30, 2017
Go Falcons! Have actually watched this team alternatingly fail catastrophically and inch toward success since 2009, and I have to say it's pretty fun to watch them get to the big game in style. I hope they pull it off.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 11:45 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 11:45 PM on January 30, 2017
Why can't they both lose? Confederates vs Trump fans. Ugh.
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 4:23 AM on January 31, 2017
posted by nothing.especially.clever at 4:23 AM on January 31, 2017
Oh, and another thing, Brady may be a Trump supporter, but in a loathsome person contest against the other greats of his generation, he does pretty well. Manning, Favre, Roethlisburger(!) all leave him in the dust.
How can you really compare the personal failings of real flesh-and-blood human beings against those of a robot, though?
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:17 AM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
How can you really compare the personal failings of real flesh-and-blood human beings against those of a robot, though?
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:17 AM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
>Your Favorite NFL Team is chock full of MAGA-hat wearing bigots, too.
The owner of the Jets is now an "ambassador" to the UK.
He also was a long-time contributor to the Republican party.
I should stop watching sports altogether. Nearly every owner is right wing.
posted by 81818181818181818181 at 7:06 AM on January 31, 2017
The owner of the Jets is now an "ambassador" to the UK.
He also was a long-time contributor to the Republican party.
I should stop watching sports altogether. Nearly every owner is right wing.
posted by 81818181818181818181 at 7:06 AM on January 31, 2017
Lifelong Pats fan here, stretching back to the days of the Sullivans, so take this as you will. Whenever this comes up I like to mention a few things:
1. Every. Team. Cheats. All of them. If you really want to split hairs about what kind of cheating is the worst, and how your team of choice stacks up to the Patriots, fine, we can do that, but don't come at me with lazy "The Cheatriots" crap. They all cheat. It is part of the game.
2. Brady, Belichick and Kraft seem like pretty unpleasant people on a personal level. I would not want to hang out with them. If you want to discuss the specific deplorability level of your team of choice and how they stack up to the Patriots, I guess we can do that, but it will not be a great discussion and will touch on things like illegal drug use, racism, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Every team has cool guys to catch a hang with and shitty human beings I would not want to associate with for a minute.
3. The more you hate them, the more it makes me remember the 2001 season, when the Patriots were scrappy underdogs whose marquee quarterback almost died from a late hit, and were led to the Super Bowl by a sixth-round draft pick nobody had ever heard of. Instead of the team being introduced individually, as every Super Bowl team had done previously, the Patriots were introduced as a team. They won what was at that point the most exciting Super Bowl of all time, and were being called the new "America's Team".
Look, I hate the Yankees too, I get it. But now I also get why Yankees fans seem to relish the hate. Bring it on.
Patriots 37
Falcons 25
posted by Rock Steady at 7:31 AM on January 31, 2017 [9 favorites]
1. Every. Team. Cheats. All of them. If you really want to split hairs about what kind of cheating is the worst, and how your team of choice stacks up to the Patriots, fine, we can do that, but don't come at me with lazy "The Cheatriots" crap. They all cheat. It is part of the game.
2. Brady, Belichick and Kraft seem like pretty unpleasant people on a personal level. I would not want to hang out with them. If you want to discuss the specific deplorability level of your team of choice and how they stack up to the Patriots, I guess we can do that, but it will not be a great discussion and will touch on things like illegal drug use, racism, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Every team has cool guys to catch a hang with and shitty human beings I would not want to associate with for a minute.
3. The more you hate them, the more it makes me remember the 2001 season, when the Patriots were scrappy underdogs whose marquee quarterback almost died from a late hit, and were led to the Super Bowl by a sixth-round draft pick nobody had ever heard of. Instead of the team being introduced individually, as every Super Bowl team had done previously, the Patriots were introduced as a team. They won what was at that point the most exciting Super Bowl of all time, and were being called the new "America's Team".
Look, I hate the Yankees too, I get it. But now I also get why Yankees fans seem to relish the hate. Bring it on.
Patriots 37
Falcons 25
posted by Rock Steady at 7:31 AM on January 31, 2017 [9 favorites]
Boston Sports Fans = England Supporters
I'll let you parse the rest of that out.
posted by JPD at 7:53 AM on January 31, 2017
I'll let you parse the rest of that out.
posted by JPD at 7:53 AM on January 31, 2017
You're saying Pats fans are some sort of new England?
posted by Huffy Puffy at 8:28 AM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 8:28 AM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, guys, if you're going to dislike the Pats based on the Trump support, I completely respect that, but then for consistency you're going to have to give up on the NFL entirely (honestly, a possibility I keep revisiting year after year). It is ground zero for pathological masculinity, and that means a full swamp of Trump supporters.
Also, complaints about purity of gameplay make me giggle. The Pats are hated for being more systematic and effective cheaters than other teams. I assure you, your team cheats, too. Would I rather have an NFL which polices itself better? Yes, actually. But, until then, I just can't take people seriously getting all morally het up about one team or another.
Hmm...my Patriots support seems largely to rest on my general lack of respect for the NFL. Perhaps I am not a good poster child. But they are still an astoundingly accomplished team.
posted by praemunire at 9:22 AM on January 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, complaints about purity of gameplay make me giggle. The Pats are hated for being more systematic and effective cheaters than other teams. I assure you, your team cheats, too. Would I rather have an NFL which polices itself better? Yes, actually. But, until then, I just can't take people seriously getting all morally het up about one team or another.
Hmm...my Patriots support seems largely to rest on my general lack of respect for the NFL. Perhaps I am not a good poster child. But they are still an astoundingly accomplished team.
posted by praemunire at 9:22 AM on January 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
I hate the Patriots because I'm from Buffalo. That's all there is to it.
No appeals to rationality or logic are going to matter. Choosing a team or teams to hate is part of the fun of following sports. It's why I also enjoy pro wrestling. It feels GOOD to hate someone or a team for no rational reason in the context of sports, even if you know in your heart of hearts they are good at what they do. To have a good guy, you gotta have a bad guy. To me, the bad guys are and will forever be the Patriots and the Cowboys (and, surprisingly, not the Giants.)
To be honest, I don't watch football anymore due to how the league handles the off the field issues with certain players, and CTE. I can't remove myself from the real world context enough to enjoy the kayfabe, to put it in wrestling terms. So I'm not really rooting for or against anyone. But still. Heels and babyfaces are FUN even if the reasons for categorizing teams as such are flimsy at best.
posted by misskaz at 10:10 AM on January 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
No appeals to rationality or logic are going to matter. Choosing a team or teams to hate is part of the fun of following sports. It's why I also enjoy pro wrestling. It feels GOOD to hate someone or a team for no rational reason in the context of sports, even if you know in your heart of hearts they are good at what they do. To have a good guy, you gotta have a bad guy. To me, the bad guys are and will forever be the Patriots and the Cowboys (and, surprisingly, not the Giants.)
To be honest, I don't watch football anymore due to how the league handles the off the field issues with certain players, and CTE. I can't remove myself from the real world context enough to enjoy the kayfabe, to put it in wrestling terms. So I'm not really rooting for or against anyone. But still. Heels and babyfaces are FUN even if the reasons for categorizing teams as such are flimsy at best.
posted by misskaz at 10:10 AM on January 31, 2017 [4 favorites]
Deflategate never made any fucking sense to me. If you want to strictly police the pressure of the game ball, have it under the control of the refs, not the players, not the staff.
It was something that was implicitly accepted for years, and then suddenly was the scandal of the century just as new stories about CTE were breaking. Funny, that.
posted by explosion at 10:44 AM on January 31, 2017 [3 favorites]
It was something that was implicitly accepted for years, and then suddenly was the scandal of the century just as new stories about CTE were breaking. Funny, that.
posted by explosion at 10:44 AM on January 31, 2017 [3 favorites]
Your Favorite NFL Team is chock full of MAGA-hat wearing bigots, too.
Would you like to talk about the ownership of the Chicago Cubs?
#nevertrump backtracker now deputy commerce secretary.
posted by srboisvert at 1:06 PM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Would you like to talk about the ownership of the Chicago Cubs?
#nevertrump backtracker now deputy commerce secretary.
posted by srboisvert at 1:06 PM on January 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Boston Sports Fans = England Supporters
Boston's won something this century.
posted by aaronetc at 2:01 PM on January 31, 2017 [3 favorites]
Boston's won something this century.
posted by aaronetc at 2:01 PM on January 31, 2017 [3 favorites]
All the championships of the four biggest professional sports, I believe. Celtics and Bruins once, Red Sox three times, Pats four.
It's bit weird for a kid who grew up when the Celtics were good, the Pats a dumpster fire, the Bruins on and off again, and the Red Sox the kings of heartbreak. Nice, but weird. I can't quite bring myself to apologize for enjoying it.
posted by Diablevert at 3:51 PM on January 31, 2017
It's bit weird for a kid who grew up when the Celtics were good, the Pats a dumpster fire, the Bruins on and off again, and the Red Sox the kings of heartbreak. Nice, but weird. I can't quite bring myself to apologize for enjoying it.
posted by Diablevert at 3:51 PM on January 31, 2017
NBA players, coaches still not shying away from Trump talk ... unlike NFL
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:34 PM on January 31, 2017
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:34 PM on January 31, 2017
In another interesting parallel to Trump and the current republican mob, Pats fans seem like very sore winners, huh?
At least on evidence presented in this thread.
posted by ominous_paws at 12:35 PM on February 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
At least on evidence presented in this thread.
posted by ominous_paws at 12:35 PM on February 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
NBA players, coaches still not shying away from Trump talk ... unlike NFL
It's maybe worth noting that while I don't believe any current NFL players are from countries covered in the immigration ban, two active NBA players are: Luol Deng and Thon Maker, both born in what was then Sudan (now South Sudan, but good luck explaining all that given the actions of CPB recently). Luckily for them, I think their teams have already played their last game of the season against the Toronto Raptors, so they won't have to skip a game to avoid crossing a border, although obviously there are tons of problems for them and their families even then.
Between that and the generally more international scope of the NBA (hell, Steve Kerr was born in Lebanon so if they get hardcore about revoking stuff, he could end up on a list, too), I'm not shocked that they've been more vocal about it, but it's really nice to see.
posted by Copronymus at 1:03 PM on February 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's maybe worth noting that while I don't believe any current NFL players are from countries covered in the immigration ban, two active NBA players are: Luol Deng and Thon Maker, both born in what was then Sudan (now South Sudan, but good luck explaining all that given the actions of CPB recently). Luckily for them, I think their teams have already played their last game of the season against the Toronto Raptors, so they won't have to skip a game to avoid crossing a border, although obviously there are tons of problems for them and their families even then.
Between that and the generally more international scope of the NBA (hell, Steve Kerr was born in Lebanon so if they get hardcore about revoking stuff, he could end up on a list, too), I'm not shocked that they've been more vocal about it, but it's really nice to see.
posted by Copronymus at 1:03 PM on February 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Woke Guide to the Super Bowl: If You're Rooting for The Patriots, You're Rooting for Trump.
posted by misskaz at 7:16 AM on February 5, 2017
posted by misskaz at 7:16 AM on February 5, 2017
rly fucked up that the team full of trump supporters won instead of the other 31 teams full of trump supporters - @ConorTripler
posted by Rock Steady at 9:18 PM on February 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 9:18 PM on February 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
« Older Dogs never die. They are sleeping in your heart. | Team of Revileds Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by brennen at 1:29 PM on January 30, 2017 [8 favorites]