If you or a loved one have ever experienced an addiction, you surely know and perhaps have experienced the total feeling of helplessness that accompanies the fits of anxiety in anticipation of a forthcoming event.
After ill-advisably viewing this evening a replay of last year’s championship game, I must admit a double-shot of Crown Royal on the rocks has in no way settled my nerves that I might retire for the evening.
Looking back, I can still remember the 1959 draft when each AFL team had "territorial rights" to players from its general region for a first draft selection, so that teams could sign players who were known to their fans. These were not "picked" as such, but agreed on by consensus. The first territorial or "bonus" pick for the Patriots was Gerhard Schwedes out of Syracuse.
In the regular draft that followed, the Patriots first pick was All American running back Ron Burton who played under Ara Parseghian’s Northwestern Wildcats.
And who can forget, those stalwart members of the inaugural team, Butch Songin, Dick Cristy, Larry Garron, Jimmy Colclough, Gino Cappellatti, Walt Cudzick, Ross O’Hanley, Bob Dee, Jim Hunt, Oscar Lofton, and Billy Wells. Their record may only have been 5-9 and their 286 points placed them 8th of 8 teams in the AFL, but they were still ‘my’ team.
And thus it began, that seemingly everlasting love affair with the Patriots.
So hear I sit, 53 years later, in my twilight years, finally recognizing and accepting that I am hooked. So before I have one last shot of Crown on the rocks before bed, let me just say, to the guys on Sunday, make us proud.
GO PATS.
Ever faithful
Dustcover
