Honest Post to New England fans:

[anti_shrub]

There's going to be a lot of shit-talking going on in the next couple days (I won't lie, I'll probably be doing some too) but on behalf of football fans everywhere I wanted to give the Pats some props for not only being the closest thing to a dynasty since, well, the Steelers, but for being good sports as well.

I've always respected the Pats for doing what they do without having anyone sporting the ME ME ME superstar attitude so common in sports these days. You won't see anyone on that team pretending to wipe their ass on the goal posts at Heinz this weekend, because they show that you can win and not be bad sports. Hell, the Pats are such a good example of working as a team I remember when they won the Super Bowl in 2001 Rush tried to use them as an example of the media pushing socialism (they were intro'd as a team instead of individually). No team that pisses him off can be all bad.

So in closing, before the hype gets too out of hand, let me just say for being one of the few bastions of sportsmanship in a me-first world the New England Patriots deserve everyone's respect.




That's right, they earned the RESPEK KNUCKLES from a Steelers fan.

[russian33]

1. That's beautiful!

I want to shake your hand!

As a life-long Pats fan (and a Yankees fan...I know, I'm weird), I'm looking forward to Sunday's game. Of course I want the Pats to win, but I think it's going to be helluva game!

[Xipe Totec]

2. No argument from me!

Thanks for the post!

[Old and In the Way]

3. What a classy post.

You're right about the teamwork thing. If there's one aspect of football that really stands out, it's the team with the best team ethic usually wins. And I just loved all the press Peyton Manning got last week while that quiet kid, whatshisname, just keeps on winning the big ones.

That said, I think it's going to be a heck of a game. I'll enjoy it, no matter who wins. Of course, I'll be enjoying it a little more if it happens to be NE.

:-)

[joeybee12]

4. Good for you! Both teams are very good this year, and it will be

a great game.

Also, whoever wins the game will probably win the Super Bowl--there's just too much disparity between the powerful AFC and the lowly NFC this year.

Geesh--and a few years ago I would have been saying just the opposite!

[LiberalVoice]

5. Great Post!

Now while I have been one of th ebiggest shit talkers in the sports forum the last few days I will say that its all in good fun and i'm sure the game will be amazing. I'll be terribly depressed if we lose but heres to a great season! :toast:

[anti_shrub]

6. I want to win too

...but if I'd have to pick another team to represent the AFC it would be New England.

At least we know whoever wins this weekend will be the Super Bowl champs!

[Arkana]

7. Class from a Steelers fan!

I never thought I'd see the day. Excellent post.

[nolabels]

8. Yea, no respect, okay

New England shut down the most prolific offense last week and this week it's about Defense.

Football, Basketball, Baseball or whatever, if you can keep your opponent from scoring you can win. It might seem ugly and boring but that what wins


The Steelers want to prove Oct. 31 win was no fluke

Thursday, January 20, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tedy Bruschi stands large and menacing on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week in full Patriots helmet and uniform, hands on his hips and the word DEFENSE stenciled across his chest.

New England's defense flexed its muscles Sunday against Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts and looks as dominant as ever as it defends its Super Bowl championship. And if all that attention bothered those on the defense that actually dominated the NFL all season, the Steelers weren't offering a peep of protest.

"I mean, they are the champs," linebacker Clark Haggans said. "They've established themselves as a dynasty-type team and franchise. It's just their time, they've arrived, and I guess they're getting the attention they deserve."

In virtually every defensive category, the Steelers ranked higher than the Patriots through the 2004 season: Total yards (Steelers 1st/Patriots 9th), rushing (1st/6th), passing (4th/17th), sacks per pass (6th/10th), third-down efficiency (6th/21st), points allowed (1st/2nd tie) and more
(snip)
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05020/445261.stm
http://www.mcmillenandwife.com/
http://www.steelerconnection.com/

[Ravenseye]

9. I agree

Another Steelers fan here. I've been getting nothing but grief from my friends in Boston. I respect the New England Patriots as a team. I think there is no question the best 2 teams from the AFC are in the AFC Championship, and we'll find out Sunday night who the best is.

What kills me is when Patriots fans act like they are the classiest fans in the universe and everyone else is a classless rude fan. I've had people call me up to do nothing but essentially mock the Steelers and tell me how the Patriots are going to wipe them off the field.

That's not cool.

We sent out a picture of our daughter wearing a steelers outfit and the people in Boston (friends, former co-workers) actually made fun of her. She's three months old. Come on. That's not cool.

I was in Boston for the last AFC championship game between the two teams and was at the Sports Depot with over 150 other Steelers fans surrounded by Patriots fans. After the game, which the Patriots won, a number of the Steelers fans there were physically assaulted by Patriots fans, and they did other things like steal and destroy people's terrible towels, and tear down a couple posters people had put up. That's not cool.

In closing, both teams are good and deserve respect.

Fans on both sides can be nasty, and to act like your side has 'class' while the other doesn't....well that's just ignorant.

Can't we all just get along?

[underpants]

10. Nice post but *ahem* IF the Pats win the Super Bowl this year....

they will be a par with the Cowboys team of the early 90's 3 Super Bowls in 4 years (one with Barry Switzer as coach mind you). I'm not saying they were a dynasty but I think the same can be said (in a way) for the 49'ers of the 80's

[Darknyte7]

11. No doubt...

I ratify & endorse the sentiments expressed in the original post of this thread. In fact, I just had this conversation with one of my boys that's a Pats fan last night.

IF the Steelers lose, hell, they will have lost to the Champs.

:toast:

[ohkay]

12. Hey Thanks!

It's gonna be a good game, I know that much.
May the best team win!

:toast:

[sparky_in_ma]

13. Thank You

The Steelers are a tough blue-collar team also, it's going to be a great game.:toast:

[Fla Dem]

14. Great post and it's gonna be a great game.

I of course want the Pats to win. It's been wonderful the last few years having a football team who are true champions. Have been following them since they were first formed, in fact I was in my high school band when we played at half time at I believe BU Field. To me they'll always be the Boston Patriots, and hated all the years they were known as the Boston Patsies.

Anyway, I too think the 2 best teams in the AFC will be meeting tomorrow. The Steelers have had one heck of a season and if they lose, have nothing to be ashamed of. If the Pats lose, I'm just proud of them that they didn't fold like a cheap suit as many Super Bowl teams do in the the following years.

Live near Jacksonville now, so will be doubly thrilled if they are in the Super Bowl. Will have to try to get tix.

Good luck to all the teams playing tomorrow. They wouldn't be playing if they didn't earn it.

[Baclava]

15. ...enough of this nicey, nicey crap....

The Steelers game plan should be simple.
Line up and punch them in the throat over and over and over again.

[nolabels]

16. And they didn't,

I could of told you who the winner was going to be for that fact on it's own. N.E. played another finesse game and it looks like a lot of people took the bait. The Coach, Cowher said to man up on em, but they didn't. The couching was also reactive instead of pro-active. When you try not to loose, you do.

To beat a team like N.E. you have to two,three or more moves ahead of them. They might of been and had them a couple times, but picked up that conservative crap still being down 21 points at many times.

If you had confidence in your team you would have never played the game like that.

[WilliamPitt]

17. Whoops

Looks like they didn't get the memo.

[Baclava]

18. I was wrong

Brady IS a GOD.
The guy is money, plain and simple.