Pigs take flight: N.Y. hearts Patriots
Kraft’s shipment of masks makes up for a lot
A staple of the Patriots under Robert Kraft has been an ability to deliver in the clutch.
The tale of six Super Bowls won during Kraft’s ownership, under the guidance of Bill Belichick and through the steady hand of Tom Brady, is spiced with miraculous comebacks, historic upsets and unbelievable moments.
It’s never been dull. Even the three Super Bowl losses since 2001 have been thrilling, soul-crushing affairs and not simple thrashings.
Three weeks ago, Kraft faced a future of scorn from Patriots fans after Brady bolted to Tampa Bay without so much as a legitimate contract offer.
Today, Kraft is a king in New England and a prince in the Big Apple. He’s secured Real World Hero status from Quincy to Queens.
The Kraft family, along with forces from Beacon Hill, China and God only knows where else, bought and delivered 1.4 million life-giving and lifesaving N95 masks to medical personnel in the Bay State. Kraft’s team picked up another 300,000 masks for New York and more for Connecticut and Rhode Island.
“Thank You, Pats!” blared the New York Post on its Saturday front page, winning the “Things We Thought We’d Never See” contest. The newspaper’s cover was graced with a photo of a Patriots-themed 18-wheeler loaded with masks parked outside the Javits Center, which has become a massive MASH unit for ailing New Yorkers.
It was the sporting equivalent of the USS Missouri docked in Tokyo Bay.
But Boston and New York are on the same team this time, facing the ultimate common opponent.
Pigs are flying everywhere. Such is life in the Age of Coronavirus.
The bile spewed toward Kraft and the Patriots in the New York tabloids has flowed freely since Kraft refused to let Bill Parcells “shop for the groceries.” It grew more bitter after Belichick jilted the Jets for the Patriots 20 years ago. Brady, Belichick and Kraft have relegated the Jets to punch-line status nearly every season since.
During Deflatgate, the Post blasted headlines about how NFL had “BRADY BY THE BALLS.” The Post once infamously ran a cover photo of Gisele Bundchen wearing a burqa behind a headline screaming “COVERUP – Deflategate Bombshell: Tom Destroyed Phone.”
“Something I thought I’d never read … in a New York paper. I love this!” Patriots PR chief Stacey James posted with an image of the Post cover in perhaps the greatest understatement in Twitter history.
Kraft was impressed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s actions during the crisis and equally pleased that Cuomo and Gov. Charlie Baker — a Democrat and a Republican — put aside any potential partisan differences.
“I personally have a deep affection for all the citizens of New York City. I just thought it might be cool if the owner of the New England Patriots is doing whatever he can to help Jets and Giants. This is a gift,” Kraft, who attended Columbia on a full scholarship, told NBC.
Even more striking than the Post’s cover was live video of the Patriots 767 landing Thursday afternoon at an all-but-deserted
Logan Airport. The ultimate “Hail Mary” delivered the biggest touchdown in New England history. The Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins never looked more insignificant. The 5-foot-7 Kraft will forever tower over his Boston billionaire contemporaries for what he and those working with him accomplished in the most clutch moment of them all.
No one told Kraft to do this. This wasn’t the result of a focus group. Nor did it come about as part of some grand “Holy Crap We Lost Tom Brady, What Do We Do Now” PR plan.
Kraft saw a need and cut 7,000 miles of red tape to fill it. Kraft didn’t do his job. He did everyone’s job. He forever obliterated the line between the sports world and the real world.
There will be plenty of time for recrimination to examine the failures in government — whether they occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue or inside Gracie Mansion — that led to the medical and economic purgatory in which we all live. No matter one’s Zip Code.
Far too many have already embarrassed themselves by trying to inject politics into Kraft’s actions.
“This transcends politics and brings everyone together,’’ Kraft added.
“We’re all one, we’re all together and we’ve got to make sure to take care of the people who take care of us. I believe in the power of will. We can do it, but we have to do it by all pulling together. We are going through something unique and difficult, but we shall overcome.’’