Something to celebrate

If ever New Englanders needed just a little respite from the world of politics, executive orders and all of the things that divide us, it is now. And who better to perform that little miracle, who better to remind us of the strength of teamwork than a team that has never given up on itself or on each other.

The New England Patriots and their record-shattering MVP quarterback Tom Brady gave their fans — and we can only hope that includes much of the nation outside the immediate Atlanta metropolitan area — a reason to celebrate something together. A number of those Super Bowl commercials made the same point Sunday night.

There is something rather wonderful about the ability of sports to bring people together. Even if we root for different teams, most fans are able to appreciate the skill and the focus that lead to victory — especially one as spectacular as this one.

And it doesn’t hurt that Brady is one of the classiest guys in the business — even as he received his MVP trophy from the man all of New England has come to loathe, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“It’s an honor to be here and have the commissioner present us with this trophy,” he said at yesterday’s ceremony. “It certainly means a lot. My kids will be happy to see that trophy.”

Brady was his usual gracious self, sharing the credit with running back James White, who was indeed spectacular, and sharing his feelings about what it meant to have his ailing mother come to her first game this season.

“We’re going to remember this one for the rest of our lives,” Brady said.

And thanks to him, his teammates, Coach Bill Belichick, and the Krafts, so will the rest of New England. That Duck Boat parade, well, it never gets tired.