This won’t happen often, so when it does you should know to listen up.  This post is about my other love: the Patriots.  What is the reason for this?  The basis of Pesky’s Poll may sound foolish to some, thinking that your thoughts can change outcomes.  Well, if you are one of those doubters, I have the proof that it works.

The baseball season is a marathon where the excitement lies in the long term strategy that, when played out properly, can result in an exciting season.  Football on the other hand is just a series of sprints where you can’t turn away in fear of missing that amazing interception or the elusive safety.  It all matters; it’s all exciting.  This unique quality of football brings out the uniqueness in its fans.  I consider myself a very practical and reasonable man.  However, on football Sundays, I erect a Patriots shrine in front of my television.  Why you ask?  Out of the festivities of it all?  No, I actually do it because I believe it has some bearing on the outcome of the game.  Unreasonable you say?  Well, read on.

I set out my Patriots bench and then carefully align, depending on the mood of the day and the Patriot’s foe, my shrine items (This is only if I am not actually at the game, of which I go to one or two a year.  In this case, I am considered a “traveling shrine.”).  I have multiple Sports Illustrated covers with Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots linebackers to display.  I have a Patriots mug depicting their three Super Bowl wins.  I have a glass with the old Patriots helmet decaled on.  There is my Pat Patriot doll from when I was a kid.  And what’s that he’s holding?  Oh, that would be my ticket stub from the Snow Bowl (I’m often asked what kind of mafia connection I have that a nobody like me gets to attend so many high profile sporting events.  I’m not ready to reveal such information at this time, but let’s just say I have a generous donor).  There is my Tom Brady bobble head proudly displaying his three rings (Brady could kick Bilbo Baggins ass!).  How could I forget the children’s book Lets Go Patriots! that someone gave to my daughter.  Is it really wrong to steal a book from a child in the name of football?  Finally there is various Patriots swag displayed on and around the shrine to really give it that extra flair.

When the game isn’t going as planned, the shrine can be altered.  Maybe the bobble head goes over here?  Maybe I’m wearing the wrong shirt?  In the end, I think I’m getting pretty good at constructing the shrine.  I mean 18-0?  It’s never been better, and that’s history talking, not just some schmuck on a blog site.

I can hear your question before you even respond.  So what happened?  Why not 19-0?  The answer is simple, and yes, I did have my shrine in order.  Nothing was spared for the biggest game of the year.  Mass negative energy trumped the cockiness of Patriots Nation.  How many Patriots fans even considered the possibility that they might lose the Super Bowl?  I’m not sure that I did.  But even with my confidence, the shrine had to go on.  I was cocky in part due to the shrine.  It has worked magic in the past.  I’ve seen it happen.

How many of you have similar superstitions (and if you don’t get it by now, they’re not superstitions at all)?  And if so, how many of you felt you need not bother, the Super Bowl was as good as won?  Obviously, too many members of Patriots Nation felt this way.  And now you feel like a member, don’t you?

The fact is the Patriots needed your shrines or whatever ritual you might have.  They needed it that night more than ever.  Why?  I don’t know if you listen to national sports radio shows, but the rest of the world hates the Patriots.  They hate Belichick, they hate Moss, they don’t hate Brady, but they love to watch him lose.  They hate their successes of the past and the ones to come in the future.  The rest of the country outside of our New England bubble, just want the Patriots to roll over and die.  That’s a lot of negative energy to overcome.

And that’s the point.  Like in any great story, or any great football game, there is good vs. evil.  Which side is which doesn’t really matter.  But you have to pick a side and believe you are the good.  Then you have to put your good thoughts and feelings forward to make what you want to have happen become a reality.

Don’t believe it?  Too hippie-dippy for you?  Hey, how much more proof do you need?  Look at it this way.  Baseball season is coming up.  The Red Sox are on top which means everyone else wants to knock them down.  We didn’t get Santana.  We have two pitchers that have been battling injuries and are in or knocking on the door of their 40’s.  Manny is only getting crazier.  These are issues that need to be handled and they will be addressed here at Pesky’s Poll.  What we need you to do is put your disbelief aside and let’s get back on the winning end of things.  Can you feel me?