New England Falls To New York – Again: Super Bowl Is Super Blah

My arrival at Sonny McLean’s is around 9:30 a.m., an hour and a half after the bar opened for Super Bowl Sunday. My favorite booth is occupied, however the booth nearest the front entrance is free and I swoop in to claim it. Looking around I see Rich and I go over where he is at the bar – the surprise on his face and the ensuing hug are unexpected (though this is the first time I’ve been in my favorite New England sports living bar in over a year). Give Rich the store’s business card and he takes down my number. He is still not online, so no Red Sox Box for him. Rich tells me that he’s no longer a health and safety trainer with the Post Office, but is now a postal carrier in the Valley. He asks if I’m still in the area and I tell him no – I have to travel further to get to Sonny’s now. Andrew comes to Rich’s end of the bar (Rich now sits closer to the entrance) and he looks the same despite being a new father – great to see him. As I go back to the booth, Jen passes by and says she’s left a diet coke on the table for me and states “some things never change.”

As I look around at all the unfamiliar faces, I still feel the connection this bar gives me as the Bruins and Celtics play on screens throughout Sonny’s. Taking advantage of my temporary solitude, I read The Expats (no, it’s not about former New England football players) until someone asks to sit at the table. Well, that someone turns out to be Kevin, the Operations Manager at the condominium complex where Joanie and Grant (the new owners of Sonny’s) live in Pacific Palisades. He’s expecting his boss and a friend to come as well. This is Kevin’s third time in Sonny’s, though he has been in Southern California for years and his roots are in Maine. Steve B. passes by the booth and we chat for a few minutes – really good to see him. During the hours before kickoff, the Bruins and Celtics both win their games, I check out the Beer Garden in the bar’s parking lot (great idea – allows tens of people to be someplace other than the bar, which allows it to remain “walkable”), and I order the Steak Tip Dinner and though broccoli no longer comes with the meal, it is so much more flavorful than the previous version. Eventually, Kevin’s boss, Rita, makes it to the table and a couple, Shaun and Chandra round out the table guests.

Guess it’s time to go into a description of the game, though I do so without any joy. The New York Giants lead at the end of the first quarter on a safety and touchdown and point after and the New England Patriots keep the Giants from scoring in the second quarter, while managing to get a field goal and touchdown and point after to end the half in the lead by 10 to 9. In the third quarter the Pats score first with a touchdown and point after to increase their lead to 17 to 9, though the Giants come back in that quarter and score two field goals to come within two points of the Pats who lead 17 to 15 at the end of the third quarter. How I wish the Super Bowl ends now! Unhappily, there is one more quarter to play and the Patriots score no points and the Giants score six in the fourth quarter. The Giants win Super Bowl XLVI by a score of 21 to 17. To sum it up: the Giants lead first, the Patriots lead in the middle, and the Giants lead last. Another somber Super Bowl Sunday at Sonny’s.

I leave after the failed Hail Mary – no reason to hang around. Say good-bye to Kevin and Rita (the others had already departed). See Rich and say I’d come to Sonny’s during the baseball season this year. So, I’ll return in April and hope that the Red Sox can bring some happiness to the bar.

Teams	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	TOTAL
New England Patriots	0	10	7	0	17
New York Giants	9	0	6	6	21

New England Patriots logo from the website wikipedia.org

Patriots Proceed To Bowl (Super) And Ravens Recede To Stadium (Bank)

Instead of my favorite New England sports living bar, a booth, dozens of televisions and knowledgeable fans, I watched today’s AFC Championship game in a house, on a sofa, one television and with non-fans. No matter the venue and the lack of other New Englanders, I am exceedingly happy that the New England Patriots beat the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 23 to 20 to become the AFC Champions. This is a definite contrast to the last time these two teams met in the playoffs.

The Patriots took an early lead and kept it during this back-and-forth scoring game until the third quarter. That’s when the Ravens were able to garner a four point lead by the end of the quarter. However, as in the first quarter, all the scoring in the fourth quarter was done by New England. And thanks to a Ravens missed thirty-two yard field goal with eleven seconds left in the fourth quarter, the game does not go into overtime – New England Patriots are the AFC Champions!!

This wasn’t the most exciting football game I’ve watched – just a couple of touchdowns, interceptions, long passes, no long runs - but the outcome is what matters. So, on Sunday 5 February 2012, the New England Patriots will play the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Good Luck Pats!

Teams	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	TOTAL
New England Patriots	3	10	3	7	23
Baltimore Ravens	0	10	10	0	20

New England Patriots logo from the website wikipedia.org

Performance Poor Patriots Jerked Around By Jets

What is it about the post-season that destroys the New England Patriots? For the second post-season in a row, the Pats fail to advance after being in one playoff game. Granted this year’s loss was not as horrendous as the one to the Baltimore Ravens, but come on, the team with the best record in the NFL doesn’t make it out of the Divisional round – why? Plus losing to the New York Jets – ugh!! The sign that this was not going to be New England’s day came early when Brady had a pass intercepted in the first quarter – breaking his streak of three hundred forty passes without an interception. Although the Patriots end the first quarter with the lead, it was the only time they did.

This Sunday at Sonny’s had started out so promising. Met a fellow Sonny’s patron, Jason, on the bus, but he had to spend the day at UCLA (to think I felt sorry for him!) and arrived around 9:30 a.m. at the bar. Since the game did not start until 1:30 p.m., I was going to spend the morning doing some work on my computer. But first I had to get the new Wi-Fi password for Sonny’s from Grant, the new owner. No more Red Sox reference password. Jenny was working, but I didn’t see Andrew. While Sonny’s filled up with Pats fans, I managed to do some long overdue editing. Glad to see Stacie later in the morning – she’s doing well and looks so happy. Her Math teacher from high school is visiting from Rhode Island, so she and some friends are hanging out on the other side of Sonny’s. Before it became impossible to easily move around, I talked to Rich at the bar where, lucky for him, someone had saved him a place. The consensus on the game was that it would be a closer game than the Pats 45 to 3 rout of the Jets over a month ago, but that New England would win. If only it turned out that way.

Meanwhile, back at the booth, I was joined by two women and two men. One of the women was named Brittany, who works for the NFL, and I never got the other woman’s name. And the two men were both named Steve. Neither man had been to Sonny’s before and they were happy to be at the booth. During the first half of the unhappy game, learned that the CPA Steve from New Hampshire was visiting graphic character (Zen) creator Steve from Pasadena. Also while the Jets were taking the lead (never to relinquish it), a man I hadn’t seen in a long time, Roman, was here. What a surprise! Couldn’t really talk over the noise of the crowd and the table between us. Gather he is now living in Long Beach. Anyway, gave him the e-mail address and the site addresses for the blogs, but forgot to ask if he was on Facebook. Oh well, it was nice to see Roman again. Gave a wave to Steve B. (yes, another Steve) who came to watch the game before his evening shift. And we come to halftime, with the Jets leading the Pats by a score of 14 to 3.

Hope comes alive in the third quarter when the Patriots score a touchdown and complete a two-point conversion! However, between the sacks of Brady in particular and New England’s lackluster defense in general, hope dies in Sonny’s. The end of the New England Patriots was not the expectation of the day and its reality was numbing. Although the Pats score again in the fourth quarter, the hope is buried when the Jets score as well. Before the end of the game, the two Steves and a little later the two women leave the booth and Sonny’s disappointed. As usual, I stayed to the very end. The final score is the New York Jets 28, the New England Patriots 21. Despite the one touchdown difference, the game was never as close as the score indicates. It was the Jets all the way. Slowly pack away my computer and the peripherals and depart Sonny’s in disbelief. As I go out the door, I say good-bye to Jenny and I realize (barring anything special) I probably won’t back at Sonny’s until April – when another New England sports team begins its season. Next time - “Play Ball!”


AFC Divisional Playoff Game – Sunday 16 January 2011 – Patriots lost – Home

New England Patriots: 3 0 8 10 - 21
New York Jets: 0 14 0 14 - 28

Total game points equal 49. Patriots 42.86% of the points. Jets 57.14% of the points.

The New England Patriots 2010-2011 season has ended.


New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

Patriots Redown: December 2010 / January 2011

Game 12 – Monday 6 December 2010 – Patriots won - Home

New England Patriots: 17 7 7 14 - 45
New York Jets: 0 3 0 0 - 3

Total game points equal 48. Patriots 93.75% of the points. Jets 6.25% of the points.


Game 13 – Sunday 12 December 2010 – Patriots won – Away

New England Patriots: 7 26 3 0 - 36
Chicago Bears: 0 0 7 0 - 7

Total game points equal 43. Patriots 83.72% of the points. Bears 16.28% of the points.


The New England Patriots obtain the first playoff berth for the NFL postseason.


Game 14 – Sunday 19 December 2010 – Patriots won – Home

New England Patriots: 7 7 7 10 - 31
Green Bay Packers: 3 14 7 3 - 27

Total game points equal 58. Patriots 53.45% of the points. Packers 46.55% of the points.


Game 15 – Sunday 26 December 2010 – Patriots won - Away

New England Patriots: 7 17 7 3 - 34
Buffalo Bills 3 0 0 0 - 3

Total game points equal 37. Patriots 91.89% of the points. Bills 8.11% of the points.

The New England Patriots have the best record in the AFC East, they have obtained a bye for the first round of the playoffs, and they have home field advantage during the playoffs.


Game 16 – Sunday 2 January 2011 – Patriots won – Home

New England Patriots: 14 10 14 0 - 38
Miami Dolphins: 0 0 0 7 - 7

Total game points equal 45. Patriots 84.44% of the points. Dolphins 15.56% of the points


Regular Season totals: New England Patriots: wins 14, losses 2. The New England Patriots have the best record in the NFL. They play their first game of the postseason on Sunday 16 January 2011 in the Divisional round at home.


New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

Patriots Pounce And Dominant Dolphins

The timing of my arrival at Sonny McLean’s this morning is so precise that Jen is opening the door as I reach the bar. There are three guys already waiting at the door and as I follow them inside, I wish Jen and Andrew a “Happy New Year”. The guys go to one of the high tables and I head towards the booth. The bar is still decorated with a Christmas tree, lights, wreaths, and garlands. A nice festive atmosphere. Settling into the booth and Jen brings me a Diet Coke. Soon more people arrive, including two older guys who, as usual, sit two booths away from me. And the two guys who sit in the darts area decide to stay there for the game. But I’m happy there’s fruit with my Sonny’s breakfast today. Some guy stops by and asks where Maurice is and I tell him he’s at South, a bar down the street. The bar fills up and it’s a good crowd. And the final regular season game for the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins begins. The Patriots come out strong and score fourteen unanswered points in the first quarter – excellent! At some point during the second quarter, a guy comes and asks to sit at the booth – no problem. New England continues scoring in the second quarter and Miami still has not produced any points. At halftime, the score is Patriots 24, Dolphins 0. During halftime, Rich comes over. He finally bought his new television. It’s a thirty-two inch, High Definition, LED one, but the only problem is that he now has to get an HD cable box! That will happen tomorrow. Glad Rich finally has the television he wanted. The second half begins and the theme of New England scoring keeps on – another fourteen points in the third quarter. During the third quarter the guy in the booth leaves. And while I’m paying my bill during the fourth quarter, a couple, Chris and Heather, think I’m leaving, but they do join me for the rest of the game. Alas, the scoring stops for the Patriots in the fourth quarter, but begins for the Dolphins. However, Miami does not score enough in the available time to be a threat to New England. And the final score for the final regular game is the New England Patriots 38, the Miami Dolphins 7. Highlights of the game were that Tom Brady’s no pass interception streak continues and that Green-Ellis ends up with a thousand rushing yards for the season. With the wrap up of this game, the New England Patriots have the best record in the NFL at fourteen wins, two losses and with a playoff bye next week, will not play again until the 16th in the Divisional round at home. Congrats Pats on a terrific season and I’m looking forward to a spectacular postseason with a trophy at the end! Wish Chris and Heather a good rest of the Sunday and it is raining as I leave Sonny McLean’s, but I’m feeling only the sunshine of the victory and the upcoming postseason.


New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.com

Boxing Day Blues For The Bills: Patriots Pummel and Pound

This is my first visit to Sonny McLean’s since Thanksgiving and it is my last visit for 2010. Wish Andrew a “Merry Christmas” (guess it should have been “Happy Boxing Day”) as I head to the booth. I see that Jen is working and Grant, the new owner, is also here. Rich arrives and comes over for a chat. His says his Christmas was good as his son gave him hiking boots with custom-forming insoles and a Patriots hat and Rich gave his son an iTunes card and some Wii games. Rich is still in search of a new television. Rich leaves when Andrew shouts that his “breakfast is up” and that’s the cue for me to order my usual Sonny’s breakfast with wheat toast and luckily Jen passes by the booth at that moment. The bar is filling up and even the darts area has people in it. In fact two guys who are sitting in the darts area ask to take two of the chairs from the booth because they don’t like the high stools there. Understandable. The Sonny’s breakfast arrives, but alas there is no cut-up fruit today – the only truly healthy element of the meal besides the tomato and even that is fried! The Buffalo Bills have a bit of joy in this game against the New England Patriots – they are on the scoreboard first with a field goal in the first quarter. Sadly for the team and its fans, that is Buffalo’s only score in the game. New England answers the field goal with a touchdown and the point after. Although at the end of the first quarter the Bills are still within striking distance, the Patriots break it wide open in the second quarter, scoring seventeen points to the Bills zero points. At halftime the score is Patriots 24, Bills 3. Buffalo contributes to its own demise by having seven turnovers over the course of the game on which New England capitalizes. The Patriots continue scoring in the second half. The final score is the New England Patriots 34, the Buffalo Bills 3. With this win the Patriots have the best record in the AFC East and obtain a bye from the first round of the playoffs. Also Tom Brady now has the record for most consecutive passes thrown without an interception at three hundred nineteen. A very Happy Boxing Day indeed!



New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

Patriots Redown: November 2010

Game 8 – Sunday 7 November 2010 – Patriots lost - Away

New England Patriots: 0 7 0 7 - 14
Cleveland Browns: 10 7 7 10 - 34

Total game points equal 48. Patriots 29.17% of the points. Browns 70.83% of the points.


Game 9 – Sunday 14 November 2010 – Patriots won – Away

New England Patriots: 10 0 13 16 - 39
Pittsburgh Steelers: 0 3 0 23 - 26

Total game points equal 65. Patriots 60.00% of the points. Steelers 40.00% of the points


Game 10 – Sunday 21 November 2010 – Patriots won – Home

New England Patriots: 7 14 7 3 - 31
Indianapolis Colts: 0 14 0 14 - 28

Total game points equal 59. Patriots 52.54% of the points. Colts 47.46% of the points.


Game 11 – Thursday 25 November 2010 – Patriots won - Away

New England Patriots: 3 7 14 21 - 45
Detroit Lions: 7 10 7 0 - 24

Total game points equal 69. Patriots 65.22% of the points. Lions 34.78% of the points.

New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

Patriots Versus Lions: Happy Thanksgiving Again (And More) New England!

It’s not the traditional Thanksgiving of my childhood, but being at the New England bar, Sonny McLean’s, is the closest I can come to the celebration in Southern California. Since the Pats rarely play on Thanksgiving, it’s a special treat to watching them play the Detroit Lions this early morning. The last time the New England Patriots played on Thanksgiving was Thursday 28 November 2002 also against the Lions at Detroit and the Pats were victorious by a score of 20 to 12. Looking for a repeat. A number of people go away for Thanksgiving, so Sonny’s is not really crowded for the 9:30 a.m. kickoff and over the course of the game no one asks to sit at my table and there is no one in the darts area - it’s that empty. Jenny and Lauren are working, along with some other people I don’t know. Well anyway, Rich, a fellow regular is here and I talk to him for a while. He already has Christmas in mind and is planning on buying a new television for himself. There’s certainly a temperature feel to the holiday season as we both remark on how cold it is in the bar – brrr! Later today Rich will be spending Thanksgiving with John’s (another Sonny’s regular) family. My plans are to stay for Sonny’s Thanksgiving meal (of course subject to change). However, I am enjoying the Sonny’s Breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, tomato, wheat toast, and fruit) as game time arrives and play begins. Happily, the Patriots score first, but the Lions come back and take the lead. This matchup will prove to be a back-and-forth affair with the lead changing several times and the score tied twice. At the end of the third quarter the score is 24 to 24, but in the fourth quarter New England completely shuts down Detroit and vaults ahead with three unanswered touchdowns! The final score is Patriots 45 and the Lions 24. It is indeed another Happy New England Thanksgiving! As a time for Sonny’s Thanksgiving meal was not yet set and it was still very cold in the bar, I decided I would return home for the rest of the day and let the victory sustain me and keep me warm (as will my apartment!). No, it’s not the Thanksgiving of my youth, but one that is never-the-less happy with great touches of New England in it.


New England Patriots logo is from wikipedia.org

Patriots Can’t Catch In Cleveland: Browns Bring Win To And On CBS

The only interesting aspect of this NFL football game is the different scoring symmetries for the two teams – the alternating New England Patriots (0, 7, 0, 7) and the mirroring Cleveland Browns (10, 7, 7, 10). I suppose I should clarify and say it is the only interesting aspect this Patriots fan could find today; I’m sure a Browns fan has a different perspective. It’s Sunday morning and not surprisingly I’m at Sonny McLean’s along with a fair number of other people watching this disappointment of a game. Not as crowded as the last time I was here, but a nice number of people anyway. Once again, not really any familiar faces among the patrons this morning. It seems that only people I know are Andrew and Lauren, who actually are working. And Steve, who is working later tonight, is nice enough to come by and chat with me for a while. As for the game, the Patriots are displaying their fumble fingers and seemingly have forgotten how to catch a spiraling, oval-shaped sphere. This condition is being exhibited throughout the team – no one is immune. Such is the level of play today, that the Browns’ quarterback scores a touchdown – sigh. I’m sure the Pats are glad to leave Cleveland. Despite the morning’s loss, New England is tied for first place with the New York Jets in the AFC East – Yeah!


New England Patriots logo is from wikipedia.org

Patriots Redown: October 2010

Game 4 – Monday 4 October 2010 – Patriots won – Away

New England Patriots: 0 6 21 14 - 41
Miami Dolphins: 7 0 7 0 - 14

Total game points equal 55. Patriots 74.55% of the points. Dolphins 25.45% of the points


Game 5 – Sunday 17 October 2010 – Patriots won – Home

New England Patriots 7 0 3 10 3 - 23
Baltimore Ravens 3 7 7 3 0 - 20

Total game points equal 43. Patriots 53.49% of the points. Ravens 46.51% of the points


Game 6 – Sunday 24 October 2010 – Patriots won – Away

New England Patriots 7 6 7 3 - 23
San Diego Chargers 3 0 0 17 - 20

Total game points equal 43. Patriots 53.49% of the points. Chargers 46.51% of the points


Game 7 – Sunday 31 October 2010 – Patriots won - Home

New England Patriots 0 7 14 7 - 28
Minnesota Vikings 0 7 3 8 - 18

Total game points equal 46. Patriots 60.87% of the points. Vikings 39.13% of the points

New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

Revenge In Five Quarters: Patriots Pluck Roosting Ravens

The last time the New England Patriots played (if you want to call it that) the Baltimore Ravens was back in January of this year and what happened on the gridiron was indeed ugly. The Patriots utterly lost to the Ravens in their final game of that football season and there was no happiness in Sonny McLean’s that winter Sunday. On this autumn Sunday there are smiles on every face in Sonny’s, as New England, who trailed at halftime, comes back to beat Baltimore in sudden death overtime by a score of twenty-three to twenty. It was a back-and-forth game, with the most excitement happing in the fourth and overtime quarters. Much high-fiving and cheering in Sonny’s after the winning field goal! With five games completed, the Pats have four wins and one loss which places them second in the AFC East. Next week the Patriots head to my part of the world to play the San Diego Chargers. Although I won’t be traveling south to see them play, I’m sure a number of Sonny’s patrons will be making the trip, like Lexie (from Sudbury) who is one of the three people at my table today. The other two people joining me this morning are Lexie’s cousin David (who is from Newton and has a television production company) and Mike (also from Newton, who has one-year old twins – a girl and a boy). In September, both David and Mike had previously sat with me, but during two different Patriots games. Most of the people in the bar I don’t recognize – fewer and fewer of the usual people are coming to Sonny’s. Today’s familiar faces (in addition to the wait staff) are Rich, Lisa, Joe, I think I saw Nick, and at the end of the game, another Mike. Wonder where Tom and his girlfriend are these days – the high table across from me has been occupied by others. Anyway, the bar is full of New England people supporting the Patriots and that is surely something about which to give a Rah! Rah! Rah!

New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.com

Patriots Redown: September 2010

Game 1 – Sunday 12 September 2010 – Patriots won - Home

New England Patriots: 10 14 7 7 - 38
Cincinnati Bengals: 0 3 14 7 - 24

Total game points equal 62. Patriots 61.29% of the points. Bengals 38.71% of the points:


Game 2 – Sunday 19 September 2010 – Patriots lost - Away

New England Patriots: 0 14 0 0 - 14
New York Jets: 0 10 11 7 - 28

Total game points equal 42. Patriots 33.33% of the points. Jets 66.67% of the points


Game 3 – Sunday 26 September 2010 – Patriots won - Home

New England Patriots: 7 10 14 7 - 38
Buffalo Bills: 3 13 7 7 - 30

Total game points equal 68. Patriots 55.88% of the points. Bills 44.12% of the points.


New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

It’s Another New England Patriots First Down!!!

It’s 9:00 a.m. and I’m at Sonny McLean’s waiting for the first New England Patriots football game of the 2010-2011 season to begin in an hour. Sitting in my favorite booth, I see that Andrew, Lauren, and Sharon are working as well as a couple of other waitresses I don’t know. Because Mike, the manager abruptly left at the beginning of the month and Hammy deciding to watch Patriots games at South this season, I wonder if anyone I know will show up this morning. No familiar face among the early arrivals. Will assuredly be a different atmosphere than usual today and going forward. Aha, a familiar face has arrived - Fellow Red Sox fan Rich. At the bar I give him a copy of a baseball bucket list I came across last week and since Rich is doing baseball road trips, he liked the list.

Over the next hour more people arrive, including a guy named Tom and his girlfriend who sit across from me at the high table. I order the Sonny’s breakfast and for a brief time Stephen and a friend of his, Damon, join me in the booth. Damon is a Denver Broncos fan and Stephen goes in search of a television for him. The noise level has risen substantially, making conversation difficult so I just enjoy my breakfast. Stephen finds a television for Damon and eventually others (people I don’t know) join me in the booth. Although the usual Patriots fans (Lisa, Morry, Tessie, Dave, Wayne, and a number of Mikes) haven’t shown up, Sonny’s is very crowded for the Patriots game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The game is a much better one than the last Patriots game I watched at Sonny’s. New England plays well and comes away with a win to start the season off on a positive note. Really missed having the halftime raffle – how else am I going to get free Patriots paraphernalia? However, there were sporadic chants of “It’s another New England Patriots first down” when appropriate; though it’s not the same without Hammy doing it. Towards the end of the game I saw that Stacie had arrived. Talked to her afterwards and she is doing well – her boyfriend is on location and he flew her out there for her birthday. Such a good guy. Also talked to Kateri who is around for awhile. Good to see her. With a Patriots victory to start the day, I stayed at Sonny’s to watch the Red Sox game against the Athletics. They were also victorious, winning 5 to 3. A great day for New England sports!

New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org

Ravenous Ravens Devour Pathetic Patriots

A nightmare of a morning at Sonny McLean's as a packed house witnessed the New England Patriots completely fall apart at the sure-football hands of the Baltimore Ravens. Unbelievably, for Pats fans, the game was decidedly over halfway through the first quarter. And the Pats continued to reinforce that fact throughout the remainder of the game. Excuse me - not game, rout. New England suffered its first home playoff loss since 1978 and it was a horrible way to end the streak with a score of 33 to 14.

All was not sadness at Sonny's on this last Sunday football game for the season. The former owner of Sonny McLean's, Jim, had returned to California after spending six weeks in Massachusetts. It was good to see his familiar face around the bar. Jim is not sure what he will do next, but he will be around here for awhile. Also returning from back East was Lisa who experienced the new high tables and chairs for the first time, which she liked. Additional rare faces in attendance were Caroline and another Lisa, who raffled off a signed Tom Brady jersey with the proceeds going to Hollywood HEART. After today's rout, the jersey is sure to have decreased in value! And speaking of raffle, I won a blue Patriots adjustable cap at halftime - my second (and last) raffle win of the season. A few weeks ago I won a throwback red T-shirt which had the name Boston Patriots on it. Guess there is some good fortune in my life.

There was lots of commiserating (among the less than packed crowd that remained until the last play) after the game. Now will have to put this horror of a season-ending game behind all of us. The Celtics and Bruins are still playing, but I am looking forward to when the Red Sox begin their season. Gave out a few Red Sox Box cards before leaving Sonny's. Not sure if I'll be back before baseball season begins, but I will be back to my favorite New England sports living bar!

Baltimore Ravens logo from team website.