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A mix of emotions for local football fans

By Tom King - Sports Writer | Jan 23, 2021

Telegraph Sports Reporter Tom KIng.

Happy Conference Championship Weekend, football fans.

Here are a few thoughts to ponder as we enter the home stretch for January:

• OK, let’s get rid of the Gronk-sized elephant in the room: Who are you rooting for in the Tampa-Green Bay game?

It’s got to be a mix of emotions for many. On one hand, many will love seeing Brady succeed and make it to another Super Bowl (it would incredibly be his 10th), in part to stick it to Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Clearly the fandom should be outraged that Belichick had no sound plan to make up for Brady’s departure.

On the other hand, there are those who won’t want to see Brady and Rob Gronkowski succeed in what could possibly be the snow today because it would just be too painful to watch. It would conjure up the memories of glory days past, and probably enhance the knowledge that those glory days won’t likely be returning anytime soon.

It’s not surprising that this is happening. The Bucs and Brady, after their late season bye week, have been one of the better teams. Their road hasn’t exactly been all that tough, Washington and a New Orleans team with no loud fans and a Drew Brees that couldn’t throw the ball down field (ahem, remind you of anyone?) Either way, there will be mixed emotions in New England with whatever happens in the NFC title game.

For yours truly’s picks, go to nashuatelegraph.com on game day.

• The interesting, unique high school winter season continues on. Besides virtual swim meets (comparing times with other teams rather than being in same pool), one of the different things we’ll see during this brief winter season is the fact the divisional wrestling championships will be decided by dual meets.

That will add a different dynamic, for certain, leaving a lot to chance, the cohort groupings teams have to emerge from aren’t exactly going to be equal, etc. It will enhance the team factor, for sure, but it certainly is the safest way. No way could you have a gym full of hundreds of wrestlers in today’s pandemic world.

• Rarely do we give businesses plugs or mentions for advertising reasons, but a couple of local facilities have come to the rescue in this tough time. First, Cyclones Arena certainly helped Bishop Guertin out a great deal.

“They really came through big time, we didn’t know what we would do,” Guertin athletic director Ryan Brown said with regard to the fact the Cards girls and boys teams were without a home after pandemic rules prevented playing and practicing at Skate 3 in Tyngsborough, Mass. being practical (quarantine requirements, etc.).

Guertin has a decent situation at Cyclones, it seems, with regard to game and practice times. No fans have been allowed at games for the first couple weeks of the season for all BG events, but that could change.

Meanwhile, the Nashua Hall of Fame got a boost when, after having to postpone not once but twice the in-person ceremony set to be held at the Courtyard Marriott in Nashua, and then ultimately cancel it, received a full refund on its deposit (disclaimer, yours truly is on the HOF committee). That’s something that the facility didn’t need to do.

• Great idea and gesture by the Nashua High School South girls basketball team to honor memory and legacy of late and legendary Panthers girls hoop coach John Fagula at the Sunday, Jan. 31 game vs Nashua North. The Panthers are hoping to hang up posters with short quotes from former players from the Fagula era. They are requesting former players to fill out a form at forms.gle/kNjEStFVrT1G8x. For more info, go to the team’s Facebook page and twitter account.

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter at @Telegraph _TomK.

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