No PATS Allowed?!

Remaining tickets for this Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots went on sale Monday. They sold out in minutes. Why wouldn't they? The 14-2 Chargers and MVP LT vs. the 3x Super Bowl Champion Patriots and Tom "Terrific" Brady; it's going to be a great game.

But, the fact that tickets are sold out isn't what has Pats fans angry. It's who was allowed to get the tickets for the playoff game in California. When Patriots fans wanting to travel to San Diego for the game went online to purchase tickets on Monday morning they were met with a warning. "The San Diego Chargers have restricted sales to the Divisional Playoff game to residents of Southern California and the surrounding area only. Residency will be based on your credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of Southern California will be canceled without notice and refunds given," read the Ticketmaster website.

Bill Johnston, a spokesman for the Chargers said "Our goal has always been to fill our stadium with Charger fans and supporters of the team. This also helps give our team the best home-field advantage possible." Filling the stadium with Charger fans has left the Pats fan steamed. Many of them are insulted; they feel as though they're being told their money is no good.

Johnston went on to say that IF the Chargers beat the Patriots the same ticket policy will be enforced for the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots organization was quick to point out that they have never restricted ticket sales.

Apparently, the Chargers aren't the only team doing this for the playoffs. The Chicago Bears have blocked sales to Seattle Seahawk fans by restricting sales to residents of Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

Yet, Pats fans won't be turned down. Representatives for online ticket vendors StubHub.com and AceTicket said they they've been receiving calls and orders for tickets all week. Jim Holzman, president of AceTicket said "Tickets are available. We have been getting lots of calls, and it seems to be a fair amount of Patriots fans are going to the game."

The Patriots have an outstanding record of 7-1 this season while traveling on the road. While their reasoning for ticket restrictions is logical, it has raised a serious question that the NFL will have to address before the start of the 2007 season.

My Opinion: The Chargers are the best team in the NFL this season. They have a record of 14-2. LT is the NFL's MVP, and has broken the rushing touchdown record for a single season. They're sending 9 players to the Pro-Bowl. Yet, apparently they don't have enough confidence in their ability as a team. So, they need to block any Patriot fans from getting into the stadium in San Diego. This move by the Chargers organization only gives the New England Patriots motivation. The team of the 21st century, my New England Patriots, will find a way to win the way they have done in recent history.

In Bill We Trust.