Not everyone is going to want to read this but personally it’s an article I had to type. It’s almost like seeing a psychologist- it’s basically therapy for me. If I have any chance of jumping back into the C’s and Sox anytime soon- I’ll need to cleanse myself and a get the following off my Irish chest…

In this very space, I penned the following last year on January 23^rd:

“All in all, it was a great year. This team, in my opinion, overachieved and overcame a ton of adversity, especially the defense. Hey Rodney, if you’re listening- we’d love to have you back for another season. Hopefully, in the off-season, we can get Brady some more weapons and truthfully, I don’t see why we can’t be right back here next year. Our foundation of core players is that strong. Indy deserved it. Peyton deserved it. I’m not sure about that roughing the passer call, but as Berman would say, “Hats off to Peyton Manning and the Colts!” I wasn’t one of those people who could hit the hotel bar after the loss. Not me, I needed some alone time back in the room in front of the tube to fully debrief. I needed a controlled environment in which I could guarantee silence and be assured that I wouldn’t cross paths with any more Colts fans. Seeing Brady speak after the game was devastating. I mean he just looked so lost and hurt. He looked completely spent and just mentally and physically drained. I must say the fans were gracious for the most part even after the win as we dodged trouble left and right trying to find a cab back to the hotel. I can’t say that about some of the other places I’ve been to see big games and wound up being on the losing end.”

As I was waiting for my connecting flight to board in Atlanta on Saturday morning en route to Tucson, I heard a Giant fan cackle at the sight of me carrying one of my replica Vince Lombardi trophies. “That’s a bit presumptuous, wouldn’t you say?” he said in front of the boarding crowd.

“Not really,’ I responded. “Look at the trophy,” I shot back. “It doesn’t have a final score etched on it quite yet. That’s what this sharpie is for.” I pulled a black sharpie from the front pocket of my jeans. “When the game is over, I’m gonna take the sharpie out like this (mimicking my post-game move) and inscribe this thing accordingly. It will probably read something like 42-17 the next time you see it.”

Most of the crowd laughed but one gentleman in the back, wearing an NFC Champs t-shirt yelled, “Whoever gets the ball last will win!” To which I responded, “Yeah and then you woke up from your dream and your pants were wet!”

Little did I know the guy was right- he was dead-on!

As I sit here at my hotel desk typing away on my laptop, I can’t help but ponder what the final score will be after the most important 60 minutes of the season come to an end. You have to admit, as much as we all “know” that the Patriots will win their fourth Super Bowl, you can’t help but wonder about the unknown.

Listen, I don’t want to plague you guys with my guesses and personal turmoil, but a 19-0 campaign must come to fruition, or the most eventful and dominant season in the history of the National Football League by one team will be nothing more than the average snowflake in a New England Nor’easter. This year’s New England Patriots aren’t average, and they have one more game to prove that.

As we enter the final days of waiting across the country, media day passed with its usual excitement and almost predictable quirkiness. But one thing that stuck out in my mind today was New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress prematurely predicting that the Giants will beat the Patriots 23-17. Wow, people just don’t learn, bulletin board material is what the Patriots feast on for meals before big games.