Bob Lobel: When a Win Feels Like a Loss

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

When does a win not feel like a win? Right now, Patriot Nation, right now! 

When does an emotional swing from high to low become such a burden? Right now, Patriot Nation, right now! 

And there is nothing we can do about it. 

All the commentary based on nothing but opinion is gone into the dumpster. The stark reality has just replaced the harmless. Banter of Jimmy vs Tom is finished.

Now it's all hands on deck, after going from what was an embarrassment of riches when you got up this morning, to the realization that bad things  can happen, and often do. So the NFL and its commish, aka, the Satan of Sunday, have really done some hard work in making the game safer. 

Since it seems everyone gets hurt, given enough time, the NFL is starting to suck. Nobody gets hurt in fantasy football, do they? I'm advancing the theory that fantasy football is becoming far more important than the product on the field. The real thing now is beginning to exist for the fantasy thing. Saying it another way, fantasy sports is the engine driving the television presentation. 

Prove me wrong. 

On to the events of the day that had you thinking you hit the mega bucks lottery an hour after the game began, then realized it was the wrong number. 

Now what, fans? Does a game Thursday night against Houston feel like the lock we once thought? Not if you’re a fantasy person. The team outcome really doesn’t matter, unless you're part of the dying breed of the real sports fans. I must fit that category because that game against Miami went from riches to rags in a short time. 

Now what do we talk about? Brady's return, which  is assured,  or Garappolo's return, which is not so sure?

I guess the “let's help the kid out” refrain is now directed at the other kid, in this overloaded world of worry and hate. It's getting more and more difficult to embrace the love. The love that used to be is now a love with attachments. 

Also, since the dark cloud has descended, remember the Patriots could easily be 0-2. They are not, so let the thought go. With the number three guy at QB, can the coaching staff kinda patch it together for Thursday? 

I can't believe I'm feeling like this, since they did win the game. This doesn’t happen to the Red Sox. More games, less issues. However, this baseball team will drive you and me crazy. 

The difference is, if I may be so bold, that it seems they have figured out the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. Welcome to “magic number” season. Everything about the Sox will soon be prefaced by their magic number. 

They picked a pretty good time to figure out all the moving pieces and where they should go.   

Yes, it can all turn on a dime, and probably will. Since I am opening my heart as a fan, we are still in a pretty good place with both teams now playing and winning. 

There is that caveat. The win that didn’t feel like a win. Just can't make this stuff up.