Unless you’ve been living under a rock you already know the Pats lost. So, if you’re not from New England, go ahead and rub it in while I try not to think of 101 reasons why I shouldn’t tell you to go pound sand.

So, what IS the big deal anyway? Why was the Pats going all the way undefeated such a phenomenon? Well, aside from being a moment in history (isn’t that enough?), it’s just plain good branding. Think about it.

Since the game that the Pats clinched the 16-0 mark, not a day has gone by that we haven’t heard one word, “Perfection.” As if professional teams don’t already hold a branding monopoly (the players are branded, the stadiums and fields branded, the team–even the fans are branded) being undefeated provided leverage for an even larger branding opportunity. An opportunity to turn more NFL fans onto New England’s team, a chance to turn fair weather fans into die hards, a chance to turn football players from opposing teams into Pats Wanna Be’s. New England seized the opportunity to capitalize on something that hadn’t been done before (excluding the ‘72 Dolphins, but then again, the season was two games shorter then).

So, besides trying to find an up side to this devastating loss, I guess I am trying to say that we can all learn a lesson or two about branding when it comes to professional sports. It’s about the fans. It’s about whom you need to fire up. It’s about giving them a reason to love you and it’s about given them an opportunity to shout it from the hilltops. It’s about whom you want supporting you and how you can convince them to do so. It’s about your brand!

Until next year, go Sox! Now that’s a brand!

The Red Sox—will someone please tell me who the hell is Eric Gagne and why is he playing in Boston? Also how about ‘the Youk’ he’s been hitting under the Mendoza line since the All-Star break and the idiot manager still bats him in the 5-spot. Come on. Drop him to 8th; hell Lugo is batting over 300 since the All-Star Break. And is it just me or does Manny seem to have suddenly lost it? I mean he’s the weakest hitting 85 RBI guy in the Majors.

The New England Patriots—okay Tom is a dad and that’s great but get back to camp, you have not looked like a Super Bowl MVP yet this pre-season. Asante, take the money, dude what are you thinking? I just love those big linebackers with all that experience. I think it may lead us to the promise land this year. And you know what else I think? Bill is the best! In fact, after I write this I’m heading out to buy a new hoodie.

The Boston Celtics—Danny Ainge makes me think of “Trader Jack” McKeon. For you young folk, he was the GM of the San Diego Padres baseball team from 1981-1988, who liked to make a trade every day before breakfast. Don’t get me wrong, I like this Celtics team, I think it has a chance to do some damage in a division that could be won by a good WNBA team. But with that said I hope chemistry and ego don’t get mixed up.

The Boston Bruins—really Mr. Jacobs, just sell the team to someone who cares. You and your team have become irrelevant in Boston. Other than that who cares?

New England Revolution—I’ll make this real simple there is only one FOOTBALL team in New England and it’s the Patriots. Case closed. I don’t care. Soccer sucks.

Now if only those teams would just let me be in charge for a day…