I spent the Sunday evening in Boston watching the New England Patriots defeat the Baltimore Ravens in a close contest which is sending Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in ten years, an incredible feat.

I admit, I don’t see half the things that happen on the field that a true football intellectual would see, but I do have an eye for what makes a successful organization. It may sound cliché, but it comes down to individual and collective character, versus mere talent. (Everyone at this level has talent.)

There were several things that impressed me in the pre-game and post-game interviews.

First of all, Bob Kraft, who played a huge role in preventing a football strike this year due to the fact that he has the wisdom of Solomon, was asked about how he felt about going to the Super Bowl. Again Kraft, who is a nice Jewish man, the kind of guy you would want your daughter to marry, responded by not saying a word about football.

He started talking about his beloved wife Myra who he lost to cancer this year, and whose initials were sewn into the Jersey of every Patriots player. He said he believed in spiritual things very much, put his hand on his heart and the raised it up to God, “She is helping us,” he said, “from the other side.” (Myra was known in NE for her tremendous charitable work.)

Kraft then recounted how Tom Brady, his future Hall of Fame quarterback, had come up to him one day when he first arrived looking like a long, skinny string bean and said, “Hello Mr. Kraft. You probably don’t know who I am.” Kraft replied, “Yes I do. You’re Tom Brady, our 6th round draft pick.” (Brady was 200 overall in the draft.) Brady said, “That’s right and drafting me is going to be the best decision you’ve ever made.”

Kraft reflected, “Maybe it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Kraft said, “but hiring Bill Belichick (the coach) was also one of my best decisions.” Brady and Belichick have had more playoff victories (17) than any other coach/quarterback combination in history. Kraft went on to acknowledge many other people in the organization who made a difference, even though you may not even know their names.

Later, after the gut wrenching game was over, with NE coming out on top 23 to 20, the trophy for the AFC Championship was handed to Mr. Kraft by former Pats’ quarterback Drew Bledsoe (the number one draft pick that Brady replaced). I was impressed by the fact that Bledsoe said to Kraft, “Hello Buddy” (no rancor) and then proceeded to give him a kiss on the cheek. Kraft asked for another kiss on the other cheek. He then talked about how proud he was of this team and everyone in the New England Patriots organization, including the fans who are part of a big family.

The camera then cut to Bill Belichick (usually deadpan serious 24/7), who was smiling happily like a little boy who just got a new train set. Asked what led to the Patriot’s victory in light of the fact that Tom Brady didn’t make one touchdown pass, he proclaimed, “Playing as a team.” He said, “We talk in the locker room about mental toughness. Mental toughness is giving your best to the team, when things aren’t going that well for you personally.” Wow, I thought.

Tom Brady, when interviewed, was asked about how he felt going to the Super Bowl again. You could see from Brady’s expression that he wasn’t happy at all. He said, “I feel good for the team, but I have to say that I really sucked today.” While Brady didn’t throw a touchdown pass, it was his goal line jump for a touchdown over the opposing line, bending his back into a weird banana shape that was enough to win the game. One fan said the next day, “he could have broken his back.”

Finally, Vince Wilfork, the Patriots’ all pro tackle, who sacked opposing quarterback Joe Flacco and stuffed opposing rushers seven times in the game, came onto the interview platform. He was asked if he felt amazed when the Baltimore Ravens’ field goal kicker choked on a 20 yard field goal which could have tied the game with seconds left. He answered with a shy smile, “yes.” Then Wilfork’s face took on a serious demeanor, showing respect for the kicker, “It’s a lot of pressure for someone in that situation, a lot of pressure. And it’s a painful way to lose a game.”

Wilfork, a mountain of a man, then proceeded to walk out of the locker room at an incredibly slow pace. He had given everything and more that day. There was nothing left in the tank. And that’s why I say, while it takes talent to be a great organization, it takes something else that at the end of the day may be the deciding factor…CHARACTER.

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