Being a Closet Fan in Patriots Territory

I have been a long time Cowboys fan but living in New England for the past 10 years, I have been pressured and cahoodled (yes, I know it’s not a word) into becoming a Patriots fan. Recently I finally gave in and became a Patriots fan while being a “closet fan” of the Dallas Cowboys. How can you not become a fan when they won their first Superbowl in 2001 with sixth-round draft pick quarterback named Tom Brady who started the last 14 games of the season when their start quarterback Drew Bledsoe (yes, we have almost forgotten who he is) sustained an injury that kept him out for the rest of the season, or at least that’s what the fans were led to believe. Or when they subsequently won another two Superbowls that labeled the team as a “dynasty”.

It just makes life simpler although I have to tuck away my Cowboys sweatshirt and rain jacket in a box marked “Miscellaneous” hidden way back in the closet. OK, actually it’s hanging in the closet, I just refrain from touching them – you know “look but don’t touch.” Unlike an ex-boyfriend whose photos you would burn and trash rather than keeping them in a memory box, my few Cowboys paraphernalia needs to be kept to remind me of the good times we had back in 1992, 1993 and 1995 (they had prior wins but since I’ve been a fan).

When watching games, I have to endure hollers and whooping sounds of fellow Patriots fans and have to interject my own, “Yay, go Patriots. Damn, I love that Tom Brady! You are a McDreamie”. Or “Oh Bili(chick), I dreamed of you at night scribbling plays on my back. You give love a bad name.” Yes, I have to pretend I’m part of this craziness, part of the obsession Bostonians have with the Patriots because for most of the year, there is nothing else to do in this forsaken land of freezing weather and snow. Maybe I’m just exaggerating, the winter doesn’t take up nine months of the year, just eight.

As a new Patriots fan, I have to resort to owning a Patriots t-shirt, sweatshirt and baseball cap. And to prevent a slip of the tongue, I practice saying “Go Patriots, go Patriots, go Patriots” every night before I sleep. Maybe if I do it long enough it will be embedded in my brain and will eventually come as second nature. Then and only then, will I have fallen prey to the cult-like sports environment of Boston. Where if you didn’t know, New England has some of the nation’s most loyal and fanatic sports fans. Especially in recent years with the Red Sox winning two World Series and the Celtics World Championship win in 2007.

I think I will have to accept this new life. It’s time for change. This should make me a stronger and better fan, rooting for a winning team. Perhaps there are others out there like me. Perhaps.