My Top 10 Foxboro Moments of the Decade

Monday, 14 December 2009 21:29

Quite a 10 years, really. The Disciples of Dr. Hoodie have been the dominant team of the 2000's, and it's has been a lot of fun calling myself a fan and a 15 year season ticket holder. There have been some great moments at The Razor, and at The Old Dump as well. Here's my top 10 Foxboro Moments from the last 10 years:

10. The Hit on Bledsoe. It had been an emotional day, that first Sunday of football after 9/11. The Andruzzi's, Roland Tinan, and the NY Jets all came to town. In a lackluster game, Mo Lewis changed the direction of the franchise with his hit on Drew Bledsoe. We had no idea, obviously, at that point, what was to come. I do, however, clearly remember saying to my father "Let's see what this guy can do". Imagine what would have happened if Bledsoe hadn't got drilled.

9. AFC Championship vs San Diego. My main memory is of Junior Seau holding the Lamar Hunt trophy. I'm thinking "Dude, this is why you're here." They were this close to immortality.

8. Home Opener 2007 vs San Diego. This was the week Spygate came out. Dr. Hoodie got a huge ovation pre-game. Say what you will, if he was your coach, you'd love him, too. The Flying Elvii were up 24-0 at the half. I turned to my friend next to me and I said "they are going to run the table." He looked at me like I had three heads. I reiterated "This (the Chargers) is the second best team in the AFC, and they are not even in the game. They are going 19-0" Almost.

7. Titans playoff game. It was cold, like -17 wind chill. We wrapped the bed of our truck in a tarp, and sat in back with a propane heater, watching the early game on a mini TV. Guys around us laughed until they stuck their heads in the back, and we're in there with sweatshirts, at about 50 degrees. At the game, the beer froze before we could get to our seats. Didn't really matter, as the game was fun, and close, coming down to the wire.
6. Ozzy, Opening Night, 2005. One of the nice things about winning the Super Bowl is that Thursday night party the NFL throws for you. We noticed the inflatable helmet the guys normally ran out was a much larger, solid replacement. Wouldn't you know it, it opens up, clam shell style, and there's Ozzy and the boys, right there in front of us, ripping through "Crazy Train" Way cool.

5. 3 picks by Ty Law vs Manning. Cut that meat, indeed. Law had as many receptions from Manning as Marvin Harrison. I sat there in the stands, wringing my hands, lamenting a Colt comeback. One of the guys around us slapped my back and said " You've got all the Red Sox blood in you. Get rid of it. These guys win." Shortly after that, Law had pick #3.

4. Pats 20-Colts 3, divisional round, 2004. In the wild card round, the Colts hung 49 on the Broncos. All the talking heads were going on and on "The Colts can't be stopped.". Well, it snowed, and the rest is history.
3. Raising the Third Banner. Back in 1991, the Pats were a joke. Quite literally, thanks to Mowatt and his lousy behavior. You could never think of raising one of those bad boys, never mind three. I remember sharing a 'bro-hug' with my friend Rich, who I split the season tickets with. We both shook our heads in amazement as they unfurled another banner.

2. The Snow Bowl. The Thursday before the game, I'm laying in bed with a temperature of 102 degrees. The Bride comes home from work, and I'm watching the news in a fetal position. She says "How do you feel, honey?" I reply "2 to 4 inches at kickoff...I'm gonna rally." What a way to close The Old Dump. Funny thing was, we were never cold. Two weeks later, I'm standing in a bar on Bourbon st., and some dude slurs to me "I'm gonna miss Foxboro Stadium." My reply : "Your ass you will!!"

1. Opening The Razor. Talk about everything working out for the Krafts'. They build a new football palace with private money, put everything on the line, and the team wins the Super Bowl mere months before the new building opens. I take my family to the 1st pre-season game, and there a bunch of us Dad types, dazed, walking about, wearing Super Bowl beads from New Orleans, bumping into each other, amazed how nice the new place is. I sit in my seats, first game with my whole family, and I think "I've died and gone to Patriot Heaven". A few weeks later we're back for a real game, and it's a big time party. At some point in the 1st half, they play "We are the Champions" during a TV timeout. Well, they didn't time it real well, and the song got through I've had my share of sand kicked in my face/and I've come through and then play resumed. Not so fast, said the Foxboro faithful. A smattering of people kept singing We are the Champions, and 60,000 plus picked it up from there, We Are the Champions/ no time for losers/ cause we are the Champions/ of the World. A big ovation ensued as we cheered our good fortune, oblivious to the play on the field.

That's my moment.
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