Considering the alternative

What do the New England Patriots, Tom Brady and the State of Israel have in common? Though better in the their fields of endeavor than their rivals, they are hated by the masses for being “too good” (“Patriots’ role as villain helps fuel entire league,” Commentary/Sports, February 2).

When Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994, the team was a perennial loser. As Mr. Kraft reminisced, “in those days, everyone was so nice to me.” Quarterback Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick, hardly a testimonial for a future all-star. The Patriots and Mr. Brady, with diligence and perseverance, turned things around.

Today, Israel is viewed by many nations as a pariah state. But in the early days after its rebirth, things were quite different. Nations admired the tenacity and self-sacrifice of the skin-and-bones Holocaust survivors who successfully defended their state from their more numerous and better armed Arab nemeses. But as victory followed victory against the Arabs and Islam, Israel lost its glorious image.

It seems as if people admire success, but with limitations.

No one likes to be defamed and for fans to wish them bad. But all of the above would agree: Despite the bad PR, continued success is much better than the alternative.

ROBERT DUBLIN

Jerusalem