Noted Boston guy Mark Wahlberg has handy excuse for leaving Super Bowl early
Yo! Mark! Marky Mark? Mark Wahlberg from Dorchester? Bro! What gives?
Because, I mean, Ben Affleck would never.
Mark Wahlberg presents himself to the world as a dyed-in-the-wool "Boston guy." It's a theme that's present in several of his movies. It's in his accent, and it's in his sports fandoms. Being a tough but likable, everyman "Boston guy" has been one of the hooks on which Wahlberg has hung his hat as an actor.
That's why many an eyebrow was raised Sunday night when Wahlberg and his family were filmed leaving Super Bowl LI early. At the time, his Patriots were down 28-12 with under 10 minutes to play. He shoulda banged a yooey, as they say, right then and there.
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If Hollywood's recent obsession with Boston has taught us anything, it's that "Boston guys" like Wahlberg are loyal to the end. When the chips are down and the cause seems lost, they'll bust out their deepest Bahston accent, deliver a gruff but rousing speech and kindle the damn revolution.
Wahlberg, though? Apparently not so much, if Super Bowl Sunday is any indication.
After Wahlberg left Houston's NRG Stadium early, the Patriots completed the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history to beat Atlanta in overtime.
So back to our original question: What gives, bro?
Wahlberg took to Instagram shortly after the game was over to explain himself.
"I had to leave the game early because my youngest son wasn't feeling well." he writes. "Trust me, I would have loved to be at the stadium -- but family first. Doesn't mean I don't love my Patriots too! ❤"
Hmmmmm. Valid reason or lame after-the-fact excuse? One day, probably several years down the line, that kid will grow up and some enterprising reporter will ask him about what really went down at the 2017 Super Bowl.
Until then, though, it looks like we'll have to give Wahlberg the benefit of the doubt. Because all those Boston movies taught us something else, too: A "Boston guy" like Wahlberg always puts family first.
Especially when his favorite team is down big in the Super Bowl and getting a head start on post-game traffic sure seems nice.
Sam Laird is Mashable's Senior Sports Reporter. He covers the wide, weird world of sports from all angles -- as well as occasional other topics -- from Mashable's San Francisco bureau. Before joining Mashable in November 2011, his freelance work appeared in publications including the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Slam, and East Bay Express. Sam is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz, and basketball and burritos take up most of his spare time. Follow him on Twitter @samcmlaird.
