Chapter 639: Concluding remarks when the coffin is closed Chapter 639: Concluding remarks when the coffin is closed A conspiracy, an accusation, using the power of public opinion and capital to ruthlessly suppress and even destroy the competition, and then easily escaping justice—
This kind of incident, happening to the New England Patriots, was neither the first nor the second time.
Over the past twenty years, this drama had unfolded time and again, and as the New England Patriots escaped punishment with ease, the anger and dissatisfaction of other fans and onlookers accumulated day by day.
Finally, someone, finally a team, stood up rightfully and said “no” to those despicable conspiracies and launched a counterattack.
In an instant, the suppressed and endured emotions could no longer be controlled and exploded completely.
New England Patriots fans proved a point once again:
To some extent, fans are a mirror of the team.
Because fans are an essential part of the team’s culture, one could often see the values most cherished, emphasized, and revered by a team reflected in them, continuously attracting more fans to join, eventually forming a powerful force.
Right now, that was exactly the case.
“We are the victims, okay?”
“You just envy and resent us because you can’t stand us winning so many championships, so you falsely accuse us.”
“This whole thing is a conspiracy orchestrated by that rookie specifically to attack us.”
The silence of Brady and Belichick further fueled their frenzy and ostentation, with various remarks revealing their discriminatory nature continually being made.
The entire social network was in chaos, the sensationalism of off-field antics completely overshadowing the game itself, as initially, the New England Patriots defeating the Kansas City Chiefs was the news, but now the focus of the news had completely shifted.
The fans of the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs launched vicious attacks on each other, with the tension between the two teams escalating to new heights, even showcasing a do-or-die stance, and the debates and attacks had gone off track, eventually devolving into mindless personal attacks.
At this point, the League didn’t need to push or hype it up anymore, as the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs had already become emerging archenemies, any little thing easily igniting energy.
The storm stirred by New England Patriots fans on social media did not impact Goodell’s decision-making, as insiders had smelled the truth early on.
Goodell had always wanted to expand into the global market, especially the Asian Market, a direction that met with both support and opposition, as there had always been different voices within the League, which is why last year, when Goodell was pushing Li Wei’s prominence behind the scenes, he faced various degrees of backlash and protest.
Now, the opportunity had arrived.
Goodell could make an example by using this incident to demonstrate the League’s resolve, if anyone continued to cause fuss, this incident would serve as a reference.
Therefore, Goodell not only made his stance clear but was bound to act decisively and swiftly; in the face of the entire League’s interests, the New England Patriots were still not strong enough to oppose the major forces.
The subsequent development of the situation proved this point—
First, the New England Patriots issued an official statement, expressing zero tolerance for discrimination.
They sincerely apologized to Li Wei and Mahomes while committing to cooperate actively with the League’s investigation and to reform their fan culture to present a new attitude.
Then, the League announced that with the cooperation of the New England Patriots, the investigation had been completed, identifying seventeen culprits responsible for the disorder.
Depending on the severity of their actions, nine fans were banned from entering Gillette Stadium this season, and the other eight were banned from three to five games each.
At last, the League announced its decision to warn and fine the New England Patriots, and although the fine was minimal, the act clearly placed the responsibility and fault on the team.
Compared to fans, the team should be held accountable, and the League made its stance crystal clear.
The aftermath unfolded one after another, displaying a ferocious and sudden intensity, to the point where the fans of the New England Patriots couldn’t even react in time.
Shock, impact, inertia.
First, the team made its stance clear, and then the League, under the double attack of solid evidence and official positions, the fans finally ceased their protests.
Of course, there were still a few stubborn troublemakers jumping around on social media, waving the flag of conspiracy theories, continuing to speak out for the New England Patriots; but these voices were ultimately in the minority and were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming tide.
Thus, the matter finally came to an end.
If you think so, you are far too young and naive.
After experiencing decadence and despair, the fans of the New England Patriots began targeting the Kansas City Chiefs—
It was a fight to the death.
One could imagine that every future confrontation between the two teams would be intensely charged and full of tension.
This was no longer a “Goat vs.
rookie” issue but had escalated to a team-level; the fate of the rivals was now tightly intertwined.
And it wasn’t just the New England Patriots.
When the entire League was in an uproar, focusing entirely on the “Gillette Stadium Fan Incident,” the other thirty teams, while watching the excitement, also understood this was not unrelated to them, whether it was Goodell’s determination to tap into the global market, or Li Wei suddenly becoming the League’s new standard-bearer, this was all closely related to them.
Indeed, everyone disliked the New England Patriots, but that didn’t mean they supported the Kansas City Chiefs.
They could dislike Belichick and Li Wei at the same time—
Only children make choices.
Adults want everything.
For example, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin-Lewis.
This sixty-year-old coach was starting his sixteenth season as head coach in Cincinnati, and he did not like Li Wei.
More accurately, he was filled with contempt.
“Did Li Wei complete an amazing rookie season?”
“Yes, that is a fact.”
“But this is the NFL, where many meteors shine brightly only to disappear as quickly; there are countless others, not just one thousand but eight hundred, who only shone for a single season, making the whole League chase after them as if he was already the greatest running back in waiting, which is not his success but the shame of the League, kneeling before profits without a spine.”
“However, that is your choice.
If you want my approval, first deliver top performances for five seasons or win two Super Bowl rings, then come talk to me.”
“Oh, sorry, I forgot, he is a running back; he might not last five seasons, then make it three seasons.
“Before that, any talk of top players and elite running backs is all nonsense.”
“Look, by mid-season, his performance starts to falter and even declines significantly, last year was the same, and this year he is likely to repeat the same mistakes.”
“Be careful, rookie, losing continuously might become a habit.”
In the seventh week of the regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals travel to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs.