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N.H. Teen Shrugs Off Indy Booing

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Jan 15, 2008 11:13 pm US/Eastern

N.H. Teen Shrugs Off Indy Booing

Reporting
Christina Hager

STRATHAM, N.H. (WBZ) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: New Hampshire teenager Anna Grant smiles as she is booed by Indianapolis Colts fans after being introduced wearing her New England Patriots jersey.
CBS

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If you watched Sunday's NFL playoff game in Indianapolis, you witnessed a new low in bad sportsmanship.

A 15-year-old girl was booed by a stadium full of fans for wearing a New England Patriots jersey.

But not only can she kick, pass and punt, Anna Grant can play the butt of a joke in stride.

"It didn't bother me at all," Grant said Tuesday. "I just laughed."

She was in enemy territory, after all -- the home of the dreaded Peyton Manning. And she was sporting the Patriots jersey the NFL gave her when she won a local kids football competition. They sent Anna to Indy, where she placed No. 1 in the national contest, earning a mention during Sunday's halftime.

"I was the second-to-last person announced, and everyone was clapping, and then you hear, 'Boo!'" she recalled.

Before a national audience. it brings back memories of audiogate: Remember when the Colts were accused of piping applause into their dome?

The Grants say this was definitely real.

"It was sort of a low rumble, like 'Boo!'" said Karen Grant, Anna's mother.

Not exactly the sportsmanship Anna herself has been taught to use in her soccer matches back in New Hampshire. She's worked hard for this honor.

"I know they weren't booing me. I know they were booing my jersey, my team I represent," Anna said.

In the end, those Colts fans apparently got their just rewards. And somewhere on the West Coast, there will be plenty of people booing the Patriots this weekend, as if to assure Anna Grant she's in good company.

And here's a happy ending for you: The Patriots have stepped up and offered Anna Grant free tickets to this weekend's playoff game in Foxboro, where the welcome will be a whole lot warmer, even if the temperature is not.