Patriot Lames

Due to all the success that the New England Patriots have had it seems like they have an awful lot of fans nowadays. Now I'm ok with people cheering for their team and I can even accept a little of them rubbing it in. But I refuse to listen to any of the cheering or taunting from casual fans or those who didn't pay their dues. For example if you cheered for the Pats while Pete Carroll ran them into the ground, I'm ok with you being excited now. But if you were a Cowboys fan and then decided that all of a sudden you're a Patriots fan, then you don't deserve to taunt. You dudes didn't pay your dues. So here are the guidelines which you must pass for me to consider you a legit Pat's fan:

First, which group are you? A) Have lived in New England or B) Haven't lived in New England

Guidelines for those who have lived in New England:

A)If you have lived in New England then you are allowed to be a fan, with a few notable exceptions:

1) If you have lived there for less than four years than you must have been a Patriots fan prior to 2001**.
2) If you live in Connecticut and have ever been a fan of the NY Giants or NY Jets then you must have switched allegiance prior to 1996*.
3) If you were a fan of any previous team that won a Super Bowl in your lifetime you must have switched allegiance before high school or 2001, whichever is earlier.

Guidelines for those who have never lived in New England:

B) If you have never lived in New England then you are not allowed to be a fan, with a few notable exceptions:

1) If you or a parent are a lifelong Patriots fan
2) If you have a relative or friend on the team
3) If you became a fan prior to 1996
4) If you became a fan prior to 2001, and was never a fan of a team that won a Super Bowl in your lifetime.

*The Patriots went to the Super Bowl at the end of the '96 season
**The Patriots won their first Super Bowl at the end of the '01 season

If you pass the guidelines then congratulations, enjoy the easy life. As for me, I'll go on suffering the fate of a Bill's fan.