Loser Envy

I look at the current Buffalo Bills fanbase and wish I could be a part of what's coming.

If you don't understand what that means, it's actually a simple concept. I am envious of the Bills for constantly losing.

Now, I'm not jeering you or making fun of the Bills. I'm honestly, in my deepest heart of hearts, jealous.

I'll tell you why. Let's go back to Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans, La., to Super Bowl XXXVI; The New England Patriots against the St. Louis Rams.

It's hard to believe that it has been nine years since that joyous day. I remember being scrunched on my small couch with my family, all glued around our small box TV. This was before the days of HDTVs.

I remember the commercials and the halftime show, all in memoriam of 9/11. It was the first Super Bowl since the attack, and America bowed and paid its respects to the lives lost.

The world stopped to watch the game.

On the final play of the game, Adam Vinatieri kicked the most important field goal in Patriots history. The kick soared through the uprights, and the Patriots won their first Super bowl.

New England exploded with excitement; I could hear the neighbors screaming. People dove into their cars and honked their horns. On that night, dreams had been realized. It was the first championship Boston had claimed since the Celtics won in 1986. History had been made.

Now, during every Super Bowl, I can't help but go back to the dark room lit by the TV and remember the night that made Boston sing.

Two years later, the Red Sox would bring the same feeling back to Boston with their first World Series Championship in 86 years. The city would come alive again, and the dream would be realized once more.

It took me 11 and 13 years, respectively, to see my teams win championships. Back then, all we had was a pack of so-called "idiots" to rally behind. Now, it's weird if my teams don't make it to their respective titles.

Here is my message to Buffalo fans: enjoy it. If you ask me how a team can enjoy losing again and again, I'll tell you, it makes the win so much sweeter. When the Bills eventually take home the Lombardi Trophy, or the Sabres snatch Lord Stanley's cup, everything will change. Nothing is ever the same after that first victory.

Sure, they're all exciting. It was great when the Patriots claimed the Super Bowl title again in 2003, and then in 2004, but it was never as sweet as 2001.

As a Pats fan, I will never enjoy that first win again, but Bills fans can only anticipate how sweet it will taste.

E-mail: meganlea@buffalo.edu