I posted this on another thread, but it seems it belongs here. So there.
My dad was an avid Cowboys fan, so when I first was introduced to the sport, I was supposed to be a Cowboys fan. But I never really cared for them even when they were winning championships.
In 1992, I remember he bought me this sports preview magazine guide thingy. That had the preview of the upcoming season and it had info about all the teams. For some reason the logo caught my attention, but I didn't put much to it.
The season ended and that was that. In 1993, my dad bought me another of those guides, and I saw the Patriots had changed their logo. I fell in love with the logo; I thought it was so innovative. But since I was here in Texas and they were awful, I never got to see them play much. I would watch them on the sports reviews and highlights, and would keep an eye out for them.
Then I noticed they had this really tall, and strong armed QB named Drew Bledsoe. Even though he seemed erratic and really prone committing turnovers, I loved how he flicked the ball so effortlessly. Then the year after; the actually broad casted the game against the Vikings where he went apeshit on them and broke passing records. I had found my team.
I have fond memories of how it was to root for the underdog team while I'd get made fun of because to people it was impossible to understand how a kid from Texas liked the Patriots. But the team eventually got better, and now they seem to say the opposite.
I still remember when Bledsoe lead the Pats to the Super Bowl, I was so excited I couldn't sleep. Then the Pack just ran all over us. I was distraught. I actually hated Favre for a while.
Then when I also remember when Bledsoe led the Pats to back to back last play wins. And how the Bills actually refused to go out for the extra point. That was so awesome.
Of course, then the 2000 season where all looked lost, and there was the rise of this lanky kid from Michigan named Tom Brady. It's much easier to root for the Patriots now, but I won't forger the older times, even though there weren't as many as now, there are a few gems to remember. And that's why I follow this team so religiously.