First in a series BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

Noel Texeira was in the Army in 1990 when the New England Patriots lost 15 games and won only one.

As the New Englander in his unit, he was the target of barbs from his Army friends who delighted in teasing him over his team's ineptitude.

"I got a lot of flak from my buddies," the Foxboro resident said.

At the time, the team was last in points scored, second worst in points allowed and first in embarrassment because players had sexually harassed a woman sportswriter. The few season ticket holders the team had left had trouble giving their seats away on game day.

So, at times it is hard for dedicated fans like Texeira to believe how fortunes have changed for their team.

The Patriots are undefeated, considered the model franchise in the National Football League, and enjoy a long backlog of fans wanting to buy soldout tickets after the team has won three Super Bowls.

"It is almost incomprehensible," Texeira said. "They're on the verge of history."

But it is not just the Patriots.

The Red Sox just won their second World Series this decade after an 86-year drought.

The Celtics have the best record in basketball, the New England Revolution went to the soccer championship game and the Boston College football team was ranked second in the nation earlier this year.

Even the Boston Bruins are showing signs of life on the ice.

"For New England fans, seeing their time has come, they are certainly reveling in it," Texeira said.

"Fans should give thanks to the sports gods," said Joe Wilson of Attleboro. Wilson said he has been a Sox fan since the days of Ted Williams and always thought the New York Yankees would dominate the local nine.

Now it is the Red Sox who lead the way.

"It's kind of hard to fathom," he said.

The Dallas Cowboys use to be called America's Team, but the Patriots have replaced them and the Red Sox have replaced the Yankees as the top draws in sports.

New England fans travel the lengths of the country to see their teams play. Often baseball games in Tampa, Toronto and Baltimore have more Sox fans than hometown fans.

The success and wealth of the Patriots and Red Sox has also earned them the envy and dislike of fans of others teams, especially after the Patriots were accused of illegally videotaping the signals of the New York Jets.

People from across the country tune into their games, hoping they will lose.

As a result, the New England teams are constantly on national television during prime time, creating more hard feelings from opposing fans and causing Nielsen ratings to soar.

A recent Patriots game was the highest rated cable television show in history, beating "High School Musical II."

While the image of the teams is at its peak, the image of the players has taken on near mythical proportions.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the glamor boy, dating movie stars and posing like a model in magazine advertisements.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is the stoic genius, always outsmarting the opposition while mastering the art of responding to questions without answering them.

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is the beloved "Big Papi" who hits game-winning home runs and has a hug for friend and foe alike.

Sox pitcher Curt Shilling is the oracle, giving his opinion on everything from steroids to presidential politics while writing his own blog for anyone interested in what he has to say.

Jonathan Papelbon has his bizarre Irish step dance routine.

And then there is always Manny being Manny.

With all the success of the local teams, New England fans could be excused for believing the winning will last forever.

But, this being New England, fans with memories of Victor Kiam and Bill Buckner are half expecting the worst to strike.

"As a Boston fan, you are almost conditioned to expect defeat," Texeira said.

"It's going to be a big fall when things don't go our way," Wilson added.