fchr Bailij (Ear Hppl Root for the Patriots; It s the American way Flew things resonate with Americans' sense of core values as much as rooting for the underdog. After all, this nation derives its principles from the American Revolution, “The Little Engine That Could' and “Revel Goes West." This year, especially, people love the underdog - aka all of the New England Patriots' opponents. Millions of Americans loathe the Pats, thanks to years of pent-up jealousy and a video-taping scan dal that many claim "taints" their perfect regular season. Want some cheese with that whine? The Patriots may be as far from underdogs as IVler Hansbrough against yours truly one-on-one, but rooting against New England in Super Bowl XLII is un-American. More than underdog victories, America prides itself on great achievements, and the Patriots' sea son certainly qualifies. Here's an underdog the guy reasoning with people to root for New England. So listen up, Brick Wall. First if the Pats win Super Bowl XLII and finish the season with a flawless 19-0 record, you can tell your grandkids, “When I W'as your age, 1 watched a man with a chin as chiseled as ‘David’ put together the season to define all others." But the Patriots need to win the Super Bowl to be “the best team ever." Had the 1972 Dolphins lost to the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, they would not be “The 1972 Dolphins" as we know them. If the 2007 Patriots beat the Giants, they are “The 2007 Patriots" for eternity. And you will have lived through every game. Second, the Patriots were incon trovertible the best team in football this season. If the Giants win the Super Bowl, it’s a travesty. See, the best team does not always win the championship in its respective sport. Many times, yes, the best team wins the World Series, NBA Finals, Super Bowl or Stanley Cup, and all is right with the world. But sometimes the hottest team wins, or the one that suffered the least injuries or the one that survived because of a ground ball through tHMOWME m WSt Game tickets available at the Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Ernie Williamson Athletic Center, until Friday at 5:00 p.m. will also be available at the white ticket trailer next to Carmichael • * tM7% starting one and a half hours before tipoff, WHILE THEY LAST! megMrophyCandidate If '/ txM&L ■r| \ /jj MEd Wjmk k help m FREE TURN IT BLUE T-SHIRTS TO ALL FANS! STUDENTS WILLHAVEACHANCnJwiNA HH R GIFT CARD AND MANY OTHER GREAT PRIZES! J SAM ROSENTHAL THE GARDEN STATE Of MIND Bill Buckner’s legs. If the Giants beat the Patriots, that hardly makes them the best team in football this season. The Patriots earned that distinction long ago. before the playoffs, argu ably before they even completed their perfect regular season by beat ing the G-Men the first time. Nobody but the Pats deserve this title. If the Giants win, they should tell their grandkids that they stole one from the best team ever. Lastly, don’t hate the players - hate the game. If you root for a professional football team, chances are you have at least one excruciatingly painful memory of a loss to New England during the past few seasons. Remember Super Bowl XXXIX? Philadelphia Eagles fans, like myself, wish they didn't. The Pats defeated the Birds 24-21 and w on their third Super Bowl in four years. Now many Eagles support ers despise the Patriots, as do Colts fans, Dolphins fans. Panthers fans and virtually anyone living outside of the greater Boston area. The Patriots, though, deserve respect, not rancor. As much as one can ask of a modem professional team, they play unselfishly and win with class. The franchise strives for the Super Bowl yearly —most teams are content to sell tickets. The Pats lost last year’s AFC title game but had no interest in trying again with the same personnel. Instead they added Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth to revamp their Achilles’ heel of a receiving corps. Those moves turned an excellent team into the best in NFL history. If New England wins one more game. They Are Legend. So one week from Sunday , remember Uncle Sam wants YOU to root for the Patriots. Contact Sam Rosenthal at sam rose (airmail.unc.edu. Sports {*s I ■ THE LOWPOWN ON SATURDAY'S GAME fSßij Carolina M Carmichael Auditorium, 1 p.m Broadcast: FSN (22-TEOACC) Radio: 1360WCHL ( 17^ACC) HEAD TO HEAD With Kristi Toliver's and Marah Strickland's „ , deadly marksmanship, MD leads the ACC in uAMfittNll Back court 3-potnt percentage Adding m Toliver's abil- IrUaHkH ity to create for her teammates in the open court, Maryland gets the nod Edge: MD ZaSCI Expect Saturday to be a war down on the blocks as both squads love to hit the glass FrontCOlirt UNC's Rashanda McCants is always a mis match for the opposition, and Eriana Larkins has been a force of late Edge: UNC When UNC’s Jessica Breland comes off the bench. UNC boasts one of the top reserves Bench in the ACC Factoring in the tempo the Tar Heels play, look for both teams' depth to be a key storyline in the game Edge: UNC A pregnant Terrapin head coach Brenda Frese will not make the tnp UNC doc- Intangibles tor’s orders This won’t be the first time MD has been without Frese on the road. but Boston College isn’t UNC Edge: UNC The Bottom Line North Carolina 77, Maryland 71 COMPILED BY DAVID ELY ■ cift r-Ei'iA M 'z/m . HOURS tflfc M-SatllJOw-mw I | m-4-