Israel: Big Fans of the Patriots

Filed in archive NFL on December 28, 2007

The New England Patriots are not the most lovable bunch in all the land. In fact, it's fairly common knowledge that most of America pretty much hates them. For the most part, people don't like them because it's plainly obvious that their head coach, Bill Belichick, sold his soul to Lucifer in 2001.

How else do you explain a coach who had never even won his division, and had losing records in every year of his career except one, suddenly becoming the best football coach of all-time?

Still, the Patriots do have their supporters outside of the New England area. You have to go quite far to the east, but they're out there. How far? Well, all the way to Israel, apparently.

Seems Patriots owner Robert Kraft has done a lot for American football in that country, and they've adopted the team as their own, according to the Israeli website Haaretz.com:

"The Kraft family is deeply invested in Israel, and in developing football here. Thanks to their friendship and commitment, there are thousands of Patriot fans in Israel. The Patriots have earned the right to be regarded as Israel's team in the NFL."

Kraft is Jewish, and he also owns the largest packaging plant in Israel, so it is only natural he would want to contribute to the country. And he has done that, building Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem, which has allowed American football to become popular there, mostly through Flag football leagues. Good for him, he did a nice thing and now he has fans in New England and Israel.

The article also offered this account of Kraft's 2005 rededication of the stadium:

"Before building the field in Jerusalem, the Patriots had never won a Super Bowl. Since building the field, we have three championships." Looking toward the heavens, he added, "This could not have been by chance."

If only Belichick had been there. Instead of looking up, he would have looked straight down.

(Photo: Flickr)