This story appeared in ESPN The Magazine's Feb. 5 State of the Black Athlete Issue. Subscribe today!
THE PATRIOTS' DYNASTY began with a yawn. In 2002, a few hours before kickoff at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Tom Brady wandered off inside the Superdome and found a quiet, isolated area, where the Patriots quarterback nodded off for perhaps the most legendary nap in sports history. Out cold for almost two hours, Brady barely woke up in time for warm-ups before rallying to beat the Rams 20-17 and claim the first of New England's five Lombardi trophies.