10. I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Listen. I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I was El Prez and 100000% believed the entire game that the Pats would pull this thing out. But, I did say when it was like 21-3 the following:

-The Pats never, ever, EVER just get completely blown out

- They’d figure out a way to get the game to within 1 score

We’ve seen them do crazy stuff like this too many times- remember the Saints comeback in ’13 when we had buried them 14 times? Other than the MNF KC Game when everyone declared Brady to be a walking corpse, I can’t remember the last game the really, truly got their asses handed to them. Did I think they’d come back to win? No. Did I think it would be a game? YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I DID!

9. WHERE DID LADY GAGA GO AFTER SHE CAUGHT THAT FOOTBALL?

Yes, we know that Gaga pre-taped repelling from the top of the stadium. One Owen Hart situation on live TV is enough for this life, thanks. But after she ran through all the hits, and grabbed a pass (WHO THREW THE PASS? I MUST KNOW) she evidently fell into the Springfield Mystery Spot, never to return? I need some closure, dammit. Overall I give Gaga’s halftime performance a solid A-. Prince is the Gold Standard here, btw.

8. REGGIE AND MILFORD MAKE AN IMPACT

Before I get to the big Spartan win on Friday night, WHERE THE HELL IS REGGIE, MILFORD KIDS? Do Dave and Pete and I take the Reggie talk way too far? Some say “yes”, I say “NOT FAR ENOUGH!”, especially since we haven’t seen Milford’s most popular student athlete in a while. I WANT ANSWERS, MILFORD KIDS.

Anyway, the Spartans weren’t picked by anyone on the NH Sportspage staff (except a plucky young reporter named McIsaac, that kid has a future I tell ya), and all they did was beat a very good HB team by 21 on the road to keep their record unblemished. D2 is far more wide open than I imagined it would be at the beginning of the season, and Milford (and hopefully Reggie) might just be there in the end.

7. ROUND ONE TO EPPING

It’s going to be a tough battle to get a top 4 seed in D4, with 6 teams holding 2 or fewer losses. Epping gave themselves a little breathing room vs rivals Newmarket with a “Grind it out over a rival” 47-39 W. This game was 21-15 after 1 BTW, but the pace slowed down, and Epping allowed just 3 Mules to get into the scorebook. Round 2 is Friday night at the Mule Dome.

6. CUPCAKES AND SCOTCH

That’s my “Super Bowl Stress Eating/Drinking” go to, evidently. 4th quarter against Seattle I was pounding cupcakes made by the lovely Mrs. McIsaac and housing some GlenFiddich. It only took me until the 2nd quarter this year to fill my face hole with cupcake goodness, and punish my liver with Glenmorangie. Now that Brady has 5 rings, will I stop trying to kill myself everytime there’s a Pats 3rd and 9 in a Super Bowl?

(Spoiler: No.)

5. “I KNOW THAT I KNOW NOTHING” – SOCRATES, PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT MEMORIAL

Just last week, a win over North, and a loss to Pinkerton. Every year, Memorial will have you scratching your head until you’re bald, and it seems like every year they end up driving you nuts on the way to the final 4. They have 4 road games coming up, and anything from 0-4 to 4-0 is in the realm of possibility.

4. HAVE A WEEK, MASCOMA

Wins over Interlakes and Belmont have the Royals in the conversation for the “I really hope we don’t draw them in round 1” team in D3. A 1-4 start would’ve had most teams thinking about baseball try outs, but the Royals are 4-2 over their last 6, including the two big wins I just mentioned. The Royals can’t let up though, 4 of their last 5 are on the road, including a trip to Kearsarge looming…

3. THE OLD GRAY LADY WHO DOESN’T WORK FOR THE OLD GRAY LADY

Having been friends with Dave Haley for so long, there’s not a whole lot that surprises me anymore. I could fill a Top 10 with things he’s told me stories about that would end one or both of our careers, and probably lead to a fistfight between the two of us.

So when I got a text in response to my “How was Groveton?” question that included the phrase “Almost had a fight with a 70 year old woman”, well, that one raised an eyebrow. Evidently there are photo journalists in the North Country that take territorial rights at basketball games very, VERY seriously. I think that’s all I can reveal without fearing reprisal from the New York Times of the North.

2. I THINK BG IS TERRIFYING IF THEY GET IN

Matt Regan is starting to get the kids at BG to play the way he wants, and, as Portsmouth can attest, that is a very dangerous thing for D1. The Cardinals will need a bunch of wins to sneak in as the 12th (and final) seed in D1 this year, but woe to the 5 seed that has to see Regan and his $75,000 earrings walking into their gym for a first round game.  I can see them going 6-2 over these last 8 to finish at 9-9 and become someone’s worst nightmare.

1. THE GOAT. NOW AND FOREVER.

Lest there was anyone who thought maybe they could make an argument against Tom Brady being the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be (trademark Bret Hart), last night should’ve made believers of everyone. Tom Brady is the greatest QB of all time. He’s the greatest Boston Athlete ever, and I don’t think 2nd place is close. He’s shut up all the haters. He’s performed repeated miracles. I don’t care if he doesn’t eat tomatoes, and wears magic pajamas. He’s THE GOAT!

Also Receiving Votes: The Super Bowl commercials were awful again (aside from the Dad faking his own death, I can relate), Jen Chick-Ruth’s surprise 30th birthday party was success, The Pats have never played a SB with Jim Nantz doing pxp, Portmsouth v Exeter Tuesday on MOSN!