A Thank You When It Can Still be Heard

We always seem to wait until someone has passed before we take the time to spread accolades, tell stories of their greatness, talk about their impact, or simply to say thank you for a job well done and a lifetime spent doing good. We are blessed to have a true New England treasure in our midst, and I wanted to say thanks while he can still hear the words. To some, Robert Kraft may be just another rich guy who owns a sports franchise, but to New England, he has taught more than a generation what it means to do things the right way and has given us more sports memories than any fan base or region may deserve. I know that I am more than above average when it comes to nostalgia and sentimentality, maybe because of my journey of late, but probably more with my Italian background, but I cannot watch or listen to enough videos or podcasts about our New England Patriots. Yes, they are a success story, and yes, they are going back to the Super Bowl, but deep down, I needed something good and positive to latch onto in a world turned carnival ride crazy, and the Patriot story, because of Robert Kraft, is just what I needed.

My history with the Patriots goes deep into my past and is a huge connection to my Dad. My first Pats game was in 1964 at Fenway Park. It was a 13-13 tie with the San Diego Chargers on a beautiful October Sunday, but there was more to the story. After the game, Dad took me on the field to stand in front of the Green Monster. It was not about the structure or the lore of Fenway; my Dad wanted to stand where his hero, Ted Williams, ruled for so many years with the Red Sox. I remember going to see my first college game, BC vs. Penn State at the old Schaefer Stadium, and sitting on those cold aluminum benches, or seeing the great Phil Collins play with Genesis at my first stadium concert at Gillette. These were not just events, but memories that still live in my heart and mind. Robert Kraft knows what I am talking about because for years he sat in the same seat on those cold benches and watched the Patriots lose more often than they won. But he chose to do something about it, and we have thirty years of incredible memories to thank him for. Yes, Robert Kraft bought the New England Patriots in January 1994 for $172 million, a record price at the time, saving the team from a potential move and transforming them into one of the NFL’s most successful franchises, winning 6 Super Bowls under his ownership, and possibly a 7th this Sunday.

Kraft didn’t just buy a sports team. He transformed a region and instilled a spirit of greatness and good into New England. The Patriots are hated around the NFL and country, and that is probably the greatest compliment to Kraft’s effort, because it is the success and culture of the Patriots that those folks hate. Because they are envious of what they don’t have. Kraft built a dominant enterprise, mostly without taxpayer dollars, and transformed a small New England town and region into a sports, entertainment, shopping, and business destination. He created a sports family. I have had the pleasure of attending many of my company’s food shows at Gillette and sharing time with Pete Brock and the Patriot Alumni organization. Spending time with Pete and many of the past players showed me that they were not just players but family, and that their bond and memories were palpable. They shed a lot of blood and sweat on the Gillette field, but built connections for a lifetime.

I watched a video the other day of Robert Kraft sitting alone in a viewing room watching the 30-year history of the Patriots unfold before him. I remembered every event as if it were yesterday. I smiled and yes, shed a tear, because it reminded me of what Kraft has given us. I could keep writing for hours, but like Kraft, this is a simple note of thanks.

I hope that the Kraft legacy will live on for years on the foundation that Robert Kraft built, but today, I owe Robert a tremendous thank you for nearly half my life of incredible memories. He was once a fan like the rest of us. He had the means to buy a fledgling franchise and turn it into a model for the sports world, but he was generous enough to share his good fortune with millions of New Englanders he may never meet. I hope this new Patriots team can win the big one Sunday, not just for the fans, but so Robert Kraft can do something once again that many owners never get a chance to do: lift the Lombardi trophy high above his head for the seventh time. Thank you, and God bless you, Robert Kraft.