Fan Returns Famous Missed Field Goal Ball To Patriots
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (CBS/AP) — Ever since Dr. Terry Oder caught the football pulled wide by Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff in the closing seconds of the Patriots' AFC championship game, he's faced a dilemma of how best to commemorate the game and the catch.
Put the football on his mantel? Pass it around to friends and coworkers? Give it back to the Patriots to let all fans enjoy it?
On Saturday, after using the football to spur donations to a scholarship fund set up for the 1-year-old son of his recently deceased friend, Gloucester police Patrolman Aran Patrican, Oder returned the ball to Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Two Sundays ago, Oder, who grew up in Gloucester but now lives in West Hartford, Conn., joined three Gloucester friends — John Dana Perry, Vaughn Shannon and Robert Bouchie — for the game after the old pals saw each other at Patrican's funeral and realized they rarely enjoy happy experiences together anymore, seeing one another only at sad occasions.
Oder bought tickets for the group.
In the last 11 seconds of the game, Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff missed a field goal attempt that would have tied the game and stalled the Patriots' run to this weekend's Super Bowl. Instead, the ball soared left of the goalpost, left of the net behind it and into the stands toward the group from Gloucester, with the ball bouncing off Bouchie and eventually being caught by Oder.
"It has a lot of meaning to me because it represents my friend who passed away and also has a lot of meaning to the Patriots cause that helped them get here and can't help but think the spirit of Myra Kraft may have that ball missed the uprights," Oder said.
On Saturday, Oder met with Kraft in Indianapolis.
"I just want to give you this ball on behalf of the fans appreciation for all the great things you and the patriots have done," Oder told Kraft.
The Patriots owner thanked Oder with three seats to the Super Bowl.
"People refer to it as the Myra ball. It's the ball that she either touched or helped that wind blow left," Kraft responded.
Oder says he's happy that the ball will end up where he believes it belongs, in the Patriots Hall of Fame. He also says those who still want to donate to his late friend's son can go here and follow the links, or send donations to Thomas Patrican/Missed Field Goal Fund at Rockport National Bank, care of Kelly Kirkman.
The bank is located at 16 Main St., Rockport, 01966.
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