An Independent Patriots Blog
Here’s the latest episode of Patshow, our 21st so it can legally drink now! In this episode we recap the Pats’ win over the Titans, speak with the co-hosts of the Locked on Jaguars podcast, break down the shocking hoodie that Bill Belichick wore and preview the AFC Championship against the Jags!
Join me and Nick Stevens for Episode number 105 of Patshow, our new Facebook Live venture powered by the mad geniuses at MediaBoss. In this episode we let Fitzy puppet breakdown what we were all feeling during the Chiefs debacle, take a look at some of the best social media to come out of the game and break down one of the key defensive failures during the game. All that and plenty more Pats talk on Patshow!
I’m excited to share a very special treat today with you all today. I get a lot of emails asking about how I got my start blogging about the Patriots, when I started rooting for the team, etc. While there are plenty of moments that I look back on that played a part in me starting this site, there’s one particular memory that I can not only tell you about, but show you.
I was the ultimate NFL Films junkie when I was a kid. I loved the epic nature of their work and would never miss a week of Inside the NFL. This inspired me to teach myself how to edit videos on my parent’s VHS camcorder. My first project? A highlight film of my freshman football team set to Eye of the Tiger and Bust a Move. I dragged our rack stereo system across the living room, hooked everything into our regular VCR, used the “dub” button and play/record/pause and cut by cut made my own cheap ass version of an NFL Films highlight video.
Here it is as an appetizer. You might catch a little of me, #34 playing some middle linebacker, but I was far from one of the stars, and probably knew my destiny laid on the sidelines or perhaps in the press box.
This video got me into our high school’s cable communications class that was run out of the cable access studio. I learned to shoot and edit, and eventually carved out a niche for myself as being a great handheld cameraman with my sideline work at our high school’s football games.
[Read more…] about A Closer Look: Birth of a Patriots Blogger
It was 2007, the Patriots were in the midst of a perfect regular season and I had yet to see them. The WGA writers strike had crippled my real job, leaving me with a 25% pay cut and only half days to work. So I took off to hit what looked on paper like the last major roadblock between my beloved New England Patriots and 16-0.
As we tailgated in grey, slushy conditions near Gillette Stadium a plane overhead was pulling a sign that instantly caught the attention of every man, woman and hoodie outside (and I assume inside) the stadium. I took out my camera and clicked a picture:
Ah yes, a friendly Spygate reference. The catalyst for the 2007 Pats to lay waste to everyone they faced. An incredible and historic season that saw the Pats come within 3 minutes of being the undisputed best team of all time.
As I waited in line for a port-a-potty, a Steeler fan who had made the trip shook his head. He seemed to know that flying such a sign would pretty much ensure the Patriots would come out pissed off and ready to play.
And guess what? He was right.
I returned home after the game and, while scanning craigslist for a job that might get some more income coming in, I spotted an ad looking for bloggers to blog about their favorite sports teams.
Hmmm. I was a writer. I loved the Patriots. And I could even make one to two cents per day! I was sold. So for my first post I grabbed the picture I had clicked of the sign that had been flown over the stadium.
Thus began my blogging career and I have to say I owe at least part of it to the anonymous Steeler fan who felt compelled to poke the Patriots in the eye just before the game.