I’ve decided to go on another energy-saving kick in the coming months, a mental/emotional energy cutback if you will.
Let me ‘splain.
As a guy, last year was an amazing vicarious success for me. In order, the Pittsburgh Steelers, North Carolina Tar Heels and Pittsburgh Penguins all won their respective championships. A Lombardi Trophy, an NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship trophy and Lord Stanley’s Cup: Not a bad sports haul for one guy to cheer about in six months.
Hell, my teams won the same number of championships during the first six months of 2009 that all of the professional sports teams in Philly won during the last 26 years. Not too shabby. To twist the knife into Philly a little more, my teams have won more championships in the last five years (another Super Bowl and NCAA title) than Philly has since 1975.
But last Sunday, as I watched the Steelers stagger around Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium only to lose a second game in two weeks in the last 15 seconds, I realized something. That something is rooting for a team takes a lot out of you. All the “Damn it! Why the Hell did they do that?” and “How the heck do the Super Bowl champs lose to the fuckin’ Bengals?” well, there’s an emotional toll to be paid and I’m tired of ponying up every weekend.
Since I’m not going to stop watching college hoops, and hockey really isn’t televised until the playoffs begin in April, something else’s gotta go. That something is going to be football.
.jpg)
Heinz Field: This is how it will look in the Black 'n Gold recesses of my mind this year
.
Just like I cut a number of TV shows out of my life last year, I’ve decided that since the realities of professional football (salary cap, injuries, the Pats) militate against the Steelers repeating as Super Bowl champs in 2010. So I’m going to endeavor to be less emotionally involved with them this year.
It’s not that I’m not going to be a fan; it’s just that I’m not going to anxiously scan the TV listings to see if their games are on. I’m not going to religiously read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s sports page every day.
Most importantly, I’m not going to get my panties all in a bunch if they lose. Also, since the Heels lost – through graduation or the leaving early – a goodly number of the players who beat the ever-living shit out of Michigan State last April, I’m pretty sure they’re not going to win either.
So I got that going for me.
For those of you wondering what effect this change of heart will have on the annual Gumbo Championship Party and its associate the Super Bowl Chili Party I can answer you in one word: Nothing. I enjoy gumbo/chili and football as much as the next guy.
The only question I have left is this: What do people do on Sunday afternoons in the fall?
11 comments:
Sundays are all about the big Sunday dinners!
More to the point, what are WE doing on Sunday afternoons in the fall? Museums? Wineries? Potluck dinners?
I had a very similar epiphany about six years ago. It doesn't make you or me less a fan because we don't invest as heavily - emotions are a finite resource.
Regarding what to do with your newly free fall Sundays, I can tell you that it is the easiest day of the week to meet women attending anything remotely artistic... you will of course have to get beyond their assumption that you're gay.
Ride a bike!! followed by big Sunday dinner...
"hockey really isn’t televised until the playoffs begin in April"
What is this strange land where hockey is not televised constantly? I have never heard of such a place...
Brando - Working on that one. How's lasagna work?
Shannon - All good suggestions. I haven't been to a museum in ... well, a long time.
Ref - I literally laughed out loud at the whole assumption thing. Perhaps an accent? No, that'd make it worse.
Titiana - How am I supposed to cook when I'm riding? Cooking, for me, is a full-contact sport.
A - It's a cruel and barbaric land filled with cultural Visigoths. And hey, how 'bout them Leafs?
"Hell, my teams won the same number of championships during the first six months of 2009 that all of the professional sports teams in Philly won during the last 26 years. Not too shabby. To twist the knife into Philly a little more, my teams have won more championships in the last five years (another Super Bowl and NCAA title) than Philly has since 1975."
It's all just so mean. True, but mean.
I'm gonna go cry now.
Liebchen - To be fair, since I'm counting the Heels, I must also include Villanova's 1985 NCAA championship.
So, the sentence should actually read: "...my teams won the same number of championships during the first six months of 2009 that all of the major sports teams in Philly won during the last 24 years. Not too shabby. To twist the knife into Philly a little more, my teams have won same number of championships in the last five years (another Super Bowl and NCAA title) that Philly has since 1980."
Does that work? If it means anything, I root for the Eagles when they play against their division and rooted for them in the Super Bowl.
i simply cannot get behind this initiative. i live & breathe giants football from now until.. well.. however far they make it in postseason.
(PLEASE GOD LET THE GIANTS MAKE IT TO POSTSEASON.)
Alice - See, that's what I went through all last year. I had not one, but three teams go all the way. I guess I just burned out in the emotional energy department.
And, seriously, what's up with all the NFC East folks here? At least no 'Skins fans have shown up.
God, I wish I had Sunday lunches/dinners. We probably have 1 of those a year. Mega-lame. My mum says she cooks enough as it is...
Fair enough, I suppose. But still LAME!
Sundays... I usually write for Monday morning!
I sometimes wonder if I'm missing out, having no major sporting affiliations. I just can't rouse myself to care enough about it.
Maybe that makes me boring...
Post a Comment