Spring Training Starts When?

So now I'm hosting this (my first) Super Bowl party and the Patriots are not even in it.

New England is busy collectively consoling itself that it's only a rivalry if both teams win and showing some (not even grudging) respect for Peyton Manning. Well, I still don't like Peyton, but even I have to admit that it was an astonishing comeback.

A few days ago, I learned from comments at the Goon Squad blog that there are people in this world who HATE the Patriots as much as we like to hate the Yankees. Actually, I'm not sure I really hate the Yankees, it's Steinbrenner I don't like. And Peyton Manning. Anyway, it had never occurred to me that people might be sick of the Patriots, just more evidence of my East Coast snobbery.

So Peyton might finally get his Super Bowl ring. From what little I've seen of the Bears, Manning is clearly the better QB. As host, I'll probably be too busy to watch much of this game, but I'll still be rooting for Chicago because:

1. I enjoy watching Peyton pout and blame everyone else when something goes wrong.
2. Years of watching the Red Sox before 2004 has conditioned me to root for the underdog.
3. I am taking over as host from a friend who moved back to Chicago to open a Vino 100 store. His wife is a tremendous Bears fan.
4. How can you root against a guy named Lovie?

Comments

[Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah]

I used to feel guilty rooting against Lovie when he was a coordinator for the Rams, but I can't imagine hating a football team more than I hated the Martz/Warner Rams.

It is just so boring when the Patriots win everything all of the time.