A Trip to a Shrine

The other day, I went with my two nephews to the Patriots Hall of Fame down at Gillette Stadium. First of all, I must say that I love Gillette. It's not a "little lyrical bandbox" like Fenway Park, but rather a massive behemoth of concrete, brick and steel that rises from the asphalt of the parking lot. This edifice was built for football.

As we walked through the outside concourse, I was struck by the eerie silence that is contrasted to the days in autumn and early winter when the place is filled with the electricity of 60,000 fans. In my mind, I could hear the strands of "O Fortuna" which is played when the Patriots emerge from the tunnel onto the the field to start the game.

I was wondering what to expect from a team that builds a Hall of Fame. The 15 minute introductory film was very well done and quite emotional. The exhibits were very impressive. I was really struck by the names that seem to roll out like ghosts from the past and present.

I've always said that the Bill Belichick era is an extraordinary ride that we should enjoy as we may never have one like this again. I have followed the team since 1966 when I first listened to the games on a transistor radio as a 13 year old. Going to the Super Bowl five times has been wonderful, but I enjoyed it all, even during the bleak years in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.

All of the players featured in the exhibits were once the fabric of the team. They were all young then. Time is very fleeting. NFL really does mean Not For Long.