Patriots Land Another Super Bowl Parade

Once again the streets of Boston were thronged with fans celebrating a championship. Once again, the New England Patriots brought a title and joy home.

Tuesday’s parade celebrated the remarkable comeback victory in Super Bowl LI, in which the Patriots roared from a 25-point deficit to a 34-28 overtime triumph against the Atlanta Falcons and their fifth NFL crown. While dirges play in Atlanta, Boston, despite spits of snow and cold temperatures, just plays and plays and revels.

It’s interesting to remember that Patriots owner Robert Kraft ran into nothing but obstruction and objections when he wanted to build a stadium and convention center in downtown Boston. At one point, after numerous frustrations, he cut a deal to move the team to Hartford, Connecticut. Boston had always had a problem with the Patriots, who bounced around a couple of local stadiums in their early days before moving out to Foxborough, 30 miles south.

Under Kraft’s stewardship, the Patriots built a new complex to replace the old concrete hull they occupied glumly for years. It now includes shopping venues, a movie theater and is also home to the team for training camp. Literally one-stop shopping.

Cheers, Boston. You turned the Patriots away, you nearly lost them, and now they are part of you. They’re building legendary status in the NFL under Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. And they’re not going away.

Keep the map for that parade route. You may need it again.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman