Boston vs. New York

Whenever anyone screams about the media's love affair with Boston vs. New York, I nod in acknowledgement. I agree. It's true. It's all true.

But I don't feel their angst. I like Boston. I've enjoyed my visits there. My brother used to live there. I have family from there. My family has an allegiance to a sports team from there that goes all the way back to before World War II.

So, no, when Boston vs. New York pops up on the TV again, I don't foam at the mouth. It gets a little tired, but before I know it, I'm rooting for the Red Sox to give those Yankees exactly what they deserve.

It will always be that way. The Red Sox will have a place in my heart. The Yankees (and to a lesser extent, the Mets) never will.

For me to experience what everyone else outside of Boston and New York is experiencing when the media fawns all over those two markets, I have to go to football.

Back when I really followed football, there were a select few teams that must be despised. Every Bills fan knew the ritual:

1. The Dolphins, without question, were slime.
2. The Jets, when they were good, were vile and disgusting.
3. The Patriots and Giants were just mean, full of mean people and simply unlikable.
4. The Cowboys needed to go away for a long time.

As the years went on, and I cared less and less about the NFL, I didn't care that much about the Bills or their enemies. I'll always hate the Dolphins, and Dan Marino will always be an object of derision. The Jets? I just can't get myself worked up. Same with the Cowboys.

But the Patriots and the Giants? I never want them to do well.

I'll never forgive the Giants for Super Bowl XXV, the only Super Bowl the Bills had a real chance of winning. And the Patriots have delivered numerous humiliating losses on the Bills over the years. Plus, the Patriots wear silver, which really needs to be eliminated as a team color choice. I can't stand what they wear or Bill Belichick's Old Mother Hubbard get-up on the sidelines. Also, Tom Brady's alien grin is unbearable.

If the Patriots brought back Steve Grogan and started wearing those red jerseys, maybe I'd reconsider.

But now we have the Patriots vs. the Giants in the Super Bowl, just like we did four years ago. And I am just as thrilled now as I was then.

Boston vs. New York.

Whoopee.

If it wasn't my job, I wouldn't tune in on Feb. 5th. And don't say "what about the commercials?" I can't take that stuff either.

I'll say one thing about this Super Bowl matchup. It's making me look forward to the first Red Sox-Yankees game this year.


(P.S.: Why, yes, that IS the only Patriot card and the only Giant card in my collection. So nice of you to ask).