May 09, 2019 at 05:34AM
DOVER — Viewing the New England Patriots' recently dented Vince Lombardi Trophy was a highlight for many fans who went to see it in person Tuesday, when the organization brought it to Dover Ice Arena.
"It was awesome. You can actually see the dent in the trophy," said Dover's Amy Morton after seeing the Patriots' sixth Super Bowl prize. "I've never seen it so close."
Many fans wore the jersey of Rob Gronkowski, the man responsible for the dent, when they visited the Dover arena to see the trophy and take a picture with Patriots cheerleader Jenna Cloutier and mascot Pat Patriot.
The Patriots won its sixth championship after beating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Feb. 3 in Super Bowl LIII. Famously, Gronkowski dented the trophy April 9 by using it like a baseball bat to bunt a ball pitched by teammate Julian Edelman before Boston Red Sox opening day ceremonies at Fenway Park. Gronkowski announced his retirement from the National Football League on March 24.
Katherine Nichols of Rochester, who was sporting New England Patriots earrings and a No. 87 jersey, won't be surprised if Gronkowski comes out of retirement and dons his No. 87 jersey for the Patriots again sometime next year.
"I was more surprised that he wasn't at the Kentucky Derby," she said. Many other current and former New England Patriots were at the famous horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. last weekend. Being able to see Gronkowski's dent up close was a thrill. "I can't believe how big it is," Nichols said. Her mother said Nichols is "crazy" for the team, including owning socks and pajama apparel.
Dover Mayor Karen Weston, who contacted the Patriots organization to see about bringing the trophy to Dover, stood behind it holding a pom-pom with Cloutier and Pat Patriot. "The mayor is going to be a Patriots cheerleader," she said.
Cloutier, who has been cheerleading for the football team for four seasons, donned white gloves to move the Lombardi trophy to the table in the arena for the general public viewing. "Is there a special way to hold it?" she asked Pat Patriot and the other members of the Patriots' promotional team before she picked it up. Afterwards, she said the task was "nerve-wracking," but said she couldn't stop smiling while holding it.
Mark Dudley, aka Mark the Singing Mailman, donning Edelman's No. 11 jersey, came with his daughter Maureen to see the trophy. "Seeing it up close and personal ... it's awesome," Dudley said.
Jacob Dumas, a student at Bellamy Academy in Dover, said when he last saw the trophy two years ago when it came to Henry Law Park, he predicted the Patriots would be back in the Super Bowl last year and lose but would win the following year. "The dent was awesome. It was an amazing experience," Dumas said.
Even a Dallas Cowboys fan, Erik Johnson of Somersworth, came to see the prized award. He also brought a replica Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring to take a picture with the trophy, Cloutier and Pat Patriot. The Cowboys have won five Super Bowls but none since 1995.
The daytime event didn't draw as big of a crowd as a past visit by a Patriots' Super Bowl trophy to Dover in July 2017. That event was held on a Monday evening, when school was out and fewer people were working.
"We knew it was going to be (a low turnout)," Weston said. "But this (day and time) was all they had."
DOVER — Viewing the New England Patriots' recently dented Vince Lombardi Trophy was a highlight for many fans who went to see it in person Tuesday, when the organization brought it to Dover Ice Arena.
"It was awesome. You can actually see the dent in the trophy," said Dover's Amy Morton after seeing the Patriots' sixth Super Bowl prize. "I've never seen it so close."
Many fans wore the jersey of Rob Gronkowski, the man responsible for the dent, when they visited the Dover arena to see the trophy and take a picture with Patriots cheerleader Jenna Cloutier and mascot Pat Patriot.
The Patriots won its sixth championship after beating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 Feb. 3 in Super Bowl LIII. Famously, Gronkowski dented the trophy April 9 by using it like a baseball bat to bunt a ball pitched by teammate Julian Edelman before Boston Red Sox opening day ceremonies at Fenway Park. Gronkowski announced his retirement from the National Football League on March 24.
Katherine Nichols of Rochester, who was sporting New England Patriots earrings and a No. 87 jersey, won't be surprised if Gronkowski comes out of retirement and dons his No. 87 jersey for the Patriots again sometime next year.
"I was more surprised that he wasn't at the Kentucky Derby," she said. Many other current and former New England Patriots were at the famous horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. last weekend. Being able to see Gronkowski's dent up close was a thrill. "I can't believe how big it is," Nichols said. Her mother said Nichols is "crazy" for the team, including owning socks and pajama apparel.
Dover Mayor Karen Weston, who contacted the Patriots organization to see about bringing the trophy to Dover, stood behind it holding a pom-pom with Cloutier and Pat Patriot. "The mayor is going to be a Patriots cheerleader," she said.
Cloutier, who has been cheerleading for the football team for four seasons, donned white gloves to move the Lombardi trophy to the table in the arena for the general public viewing. "Is there a special way to hold it?" she asked Pat Patriot and the other members of the Patriots' promotional team before she picked it up. Afterwards, she said the task was "nerve-wracking," but said she couldn't stop smiling while holding it.
Mark Dudley, aka Mark the Singing Mailman, donning Edelman's No. 11 jersey, came with his daughter Maureen to see the trophy. "Seeing it up close and personal ... it's awesome," Dudley said.
Jacob Dumas, a student at Bellamy Academy in Dover, said when he last saw the trophy two years ago when it came to Henry Law Park, he predicted the Patriots would be back in the Super Bowl last year and lose but would win the following year. "The dent was awesome. It was an amazing experience," Dumas said.
Even a Dallas Cowboys fan, Erik Johnson of Somersworth, came to see the prized award. He also brought a replica Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring to take a picture with the trophy, Cloutier and Pat Patriot. The Cowboys have won five Super Bowls but none since 1995.
The daytime event didn't draw as big of a crowd as a past visit by a Patriots' Super Bowl trophy to Dover in July 2017. That event was held on a Monday evening, when school was out and fewer people were working.
"We knew it was going to be (a low turnout)," Weston said. "But this (day and time) was all they had."