CALL ME SNAKE

For the last couple of weeks, I tried to stay optimistic about the Patriots’ chances in the Super Bowl, not allowing any doubt to creep into my public utterances, despite the questions raised by many of my friends and family members. They’d pull it off, I said, as they’ve pulled it off all year, even though some of their wins lately had been a bit ugly. Last night, it looked like they’d done it again, managing to pull off a victory despite substellar play. Then, with half a minute left, it all came crashing down. The other team did what the Patriots were supposed to do, pulling a rabbit out of the hat in the final minute.

I thought I’d feel terrible about the Patriots’ loss, if and when it came, but I didn’t feel so bad when the game was over and don’t feel so bad now, a day later. As my father said on the phone, “Worse things can happen.” (Spoken like a true Chicago Bears fan.) And he’s right.

It’s disappointing after 18 straight victories for the Patriots to come up short in the final minute. I thought that would vitiate the whole season. But I have to say it was still an exhiliarating ride–right up until the final 30 seconds. But putting things in perspective, 30 bad seconds out of an entire season isn’t so bad at all.

Besides, Super Sunday is soon to be followed by Super Tuesday–a bigger, even more important contest that will further take our minds off the sting of the Patriots’ defeat. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself…