One thing we’re sure of, the rich get richer …

Sportfan New England went collectively heart-in-mouth last week when “Our Tom” (a.k.a., Patriots quarterback Tom Brady) was involved in a fairly serious car accident.  Despite his airbag not deploying, Our Tom was uninjured. Plus, he was able to pull off an impressive season-opening win a couple of days later. A passenger in the other vehicle was not as lucky as Our Tom, and was seriously injured. (As if being in an accident involving Tom Brady wasn’t misery enough - especially since witnesses claim that the other guy ran a red light - the injured man’s son was the driver.)

Since the accident involved Our Tom, every jot and tittle  - make that every jot and Y.A. Tittle* - of it has been examined to death by the local news outlets. But to me the most interesting tittle-bit was the fact that the car Tom was driving was registered in New Jersey. (Another interesting tittle bit was that the car was an Audi – pricey enough, but pretty unflash for a guy who was on the eve of signing the most lucrative contract in the history of football.)

Now, everyone knows that Our Tom lives in Boston when he has to. That he lived in New York for a while because he wanted to – and even became something of a Not Our Tom when he was paparazzi’d wearing a NY Yankees cap. And that he’s building a football stadium-sized hacienda in California with his super-model wife, Gisele Bundchen (who is not now, and never will be, considered Our Gisele).

So what was up with the NJ plates?

Anyway, it seems that the car does not exactly belong to Our Tom.

According to the sleuths at the Boston Globe – who’ll no doubt be in contention for a Pulitzer for this crack reporting -

…The $97,000 [Audi] S8 model was a loaner from the company as a part of the agreement between Brady and the car company involving "Best Buddies," a charity dedicated to helping people with developmental disabilities. Audi is the official car of the charity, for whom Brady has served as honorary chairman the past few years.

Now I don’t want to take anything away from Our Tom’s involvement with Best Buddies. From everything I’ve seen, this is not just a lend your name charity for him. He appears to be genuinely part of this outfit, participating at what appears to be a well beyond the photo-op level in their events. When he’s pictured with one of his best buddies, he looks totally engaged and delighted. (In general, there is precious little about Our Tom that doesn’t say ‘pretty nice guy,’ even if he didn’t marry his first baby mama a few years ago.)

And you can’t fault Audi for wanting Our Tom’s brand associated with their brand – even though they may not be ultra-thrilled that it’s been reported that Our Tom’s airbags failed to deploy.

But wouldn’t you think that someone who just inked a $72M contract, and who’s married to one of the richest women in the world, would feel a bit scrounge-y driving a free-mobile?

Couldn’t the $97K car be put to better uses?  Like a Best Buddies raffle.

I guess that, in our fame-besotted society, getting comped is just a way of life for celebrities. (What becomes a legend most? Free goods. Of course, whatever you think about the ability to throw a football, at least Our Tom became a famous for actually accomplishing something, not for just being famous. )

So many people want to bask in celeb glow, bathe in their reflected glory, there are thosee for whom - wherever they go, whatever they want -  their money’s no good there.

Thus, they don’t need to buy a $100K watch; the watchmaker’s just happy to see it on their arm (in a tasteful B&W ad, of course). They don’t need to pay the tab at the restaurant. Who doesn’t want to have a celeb at the next table?

Who doesn’t like free stuff? (Soprano’s fans will recall the hilarious episode in which ChristopherMoltisanti – character -  mugs Lauren Bacall – playing herself - for her Oscar night swag-bag.)

But do rich folks need the charity? It must be especially galling to second-tier actors, athletes, or whatevers to see that the folks who make the most money are the ones that garner the most freebies, as well. (Oh, boo hoo.)

Anyway, it just strikes me as a bit amusing that Our Tom was commuting in a free car, courtesy of Audi, granted to him for his involvement in a worthy cause.  I guess goodness isn’t always its own reward.

Meanwhile, since I read about Our Tom’s loaner car, I haven’t been able to get this ditty out of my skull:

One thing we’re sure of, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

In the meantime, in between time, ain’t we got fun?

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*For those who’ve never followed football, Y.A. Tittle was a pro quarterback in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He was no Our Tom, but he was pretty darned good.