It's Better to Be Feared by Seth Wickersham

Title: It’s Better to Be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness
Author: Seth Wickersham
Publication: W.W. Norton & Company, hardcover, 2021
Genre: Sports/Nonfiction

Description: Wickersham, a writer for ESPN, has chronicled the story of the Patriots football team from 2001 when Tom Brady became its quarterback through 2020 when he left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During that time frame and through the Patriots’ success, many speculated whether Tom and his dour coach, Bill Belichick, were successful because of each other and how each would fare if on his own.

Picking Up the Pieces

There's always a sad empty feeling when the season ends, especially when your team should have trounced the Giants and instead wound up looking pitiful. Mike Lynch and Mike Dowling said it was almost as bad as when Aaron Boone hit that home run off Tim Wakefield in 2003. I can't help wondering if this is Tom's punishment for his behavior to Bridget but if so unfortunately he is not suffering alone. The media seems unwilling to blame Tom but are certainly eager to blame Belichick and certainly his leaving the field before time expired was classless.However, there is always something to look forward to - like Duke at Carolina on Wednesday night, and the long awaited return of Dickie V from throat surgery! If only I didn't have to worry about my nephews wearing Tarheel tee shirts in Virginia but I guess I can't blame my sister-in-law for wanting them to root for her school...

And let's not forget the Beanpot, where Harvard made the finals for the first time in ten years!

Bob Ryan disses librarians!

The Boston Globe, October 18, 2007
IT ISN'T often that librarians make the pages of an opinion piece. When they do, it is usually because of standing up for patrons' rights or other fights for the freedom of information. This time, however, it came in the form of a negative stereotypical viewpoint of sports columnist Bob Ryan ("QB receives more support this season," Sports, Oct. 15). Ryan wrote, "And you can be sure [Tom] Brady will be seen in public with a homely librarian before he engages in any discussion about the difference between the receivers he was forced to work with last season and the ones he has now." Not only is that offensive, but it reinforces a stereotype that librarians fight against. It is outrageous how Ryan essentially equates librarians as lesser people to be associated with in comparison to, say, supermodels or actresses whom Brady may date more frequently.

It is time to stand up as a society and realize how important it is to break stereotypes and show respect to some of the most valuable community members we may be fortunate enough to "be seen with." As for Ryan, I would advise him to get to know his local librarians better.
TED SCHELVAN, Norwell, MA
The writer is a librarian at Norwell High School.

HOMELY LIBRARIANS unite - Boston Globe beautiful-person expert Bob Ryan doesn't think you are suitable for Tom Brady. Which is saying something, considering that Ryan looks like a cross between Bilbo Baggins, Tip O'Neill, and Elmer Fudd; comes from New Jersey; and makes his living watching other people play games.
On second thought, homely librarians - don't pay attention to what Ryan writes. It doesn't really matter.
JAY PARK, Easton, MA

I will say that Bob had an awesome piece today about sports fans which (partially) makes up for his insensitivity...