Krause: Patriots fans should remember 2002 and keep pride in check

Today’s lecture is about pride. We’re not talking about good pride – the attribute that makes you want to do your job well, dress well, and generally present yourself well.We’re talking about the other kind of pride – the vice that allows a person to be smug, condescending and arrogant ? the type of pride that makes everyone root against you and revel in your bad fortune.The New England Patriots players have an abundance of the right kind of pride. And thanks to their coach, you won’t see many of them exhibit the other kind.But their fans? As the great John Wooden used to say – when he was on the edge of extreme anger – “Goodness, gracious sakes alive.”Now that the San Diego Chargers have vanquished the Indianapolis Colts, Patriots fans are downright giddy over the idea of going to the Super Bowl without dealing with Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, et al.And I’ll admit, myself, that the Chargers – good as they are – don’t present the same kind of challenge to the Patriots that Indy would have.But listening to the fans, you’d think the Chargers should save all that airfare money and throw themselves a big party in San Diego instead. Why come all the way out here? They’re going to get trounced, aren’t they?Not so fast.Fans have short memories. Otherwise, they’d still remember how indignant they all were back in 2002 when they heard that the Pittsburgh Steelers started making room reservations in New Orleans ? convinced that a win over the upstart Patriots in the AFC championship game was a foregone conclusion.Do you recall how that worked out for them?In fact, if I recall correctly, what made the Steelers so detestable then – and now – was their penchant for talking. They talked way too much – a habit that they hadn’t broken by 2004-05 (when the Patriots beat them again in Pittsburgh), and that they continued to display as recently as two months ago, when they talked all the way to another defeat in a big regular-season game.That kind of talking is generally classless ? and it’s even more so in this case. The Chargers beat the Colts fairly (in fact, the referees did everything in their power to prevent that from happening), which means that however inferior Patriots fans think they are ? they belong here.There is no valid reason to portray the Chargers the way they’re being portrayed. Not only did they win Sunday, they did it with a second-string backfield.Ask yourself what kind of a chance you’d give the Patriots if Matt Cassel has to go in for Tom Brady Sunday AND they’re down to Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans in the backfield. The thought of it would probably make you break out into a rash.But the Chargers had to do that ? and won. So whether you think they have the talent to match Tom Brady, you can’t deny they have the guts. And that has to count for something.I think everyone can agree that we’re seeing something historic with Brady and the Patriots. We will probably never see it again, once these core players go their separate ways. Quarterbacks with the talent and smarts of Tom Brady aren’t exactly manufactured on assembly lines.It’s one thing to enjoy the show. It’s another thing to take it for granted. And sometimes, I wonder if some of these Yahoo Patriots fans aren’t doing exactly that.Because I think Tom Brady is the obvious X-factor in any game in which he plays, I think the Patriots will probably win Sunday ? and go on to win the Super Bowl, too (and by the way, it wouldn’t shock me if they’re playing the New York Giants in Arizona, either, because the Giants would have beaten any team except the Patriots two weeks ago at the Meadowlands).That doesn’t mean I think the Chargers (or the Packers or Giants) will roll over and let them win. Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson have all kinds of pride, and if anyone thinks either of them is going to sit this one out willingly, they’re crazy. Tomlinson will play on one leg if he can.The total lack of respect given the Chargers since Sunday afternoon is amazing. Just as th