Fanaticism in sports

Front runner or loyalty and nobility in pain? I grew up with the Cubs, who televised all their games on cable, which I could watch at a friend's, and moved to NYC, to find fans who only like a team when they win, have a kind of entitlement.

Growing up I rooted for the University of Wisconsin. They were good in hockey and bad in football and basketball. Things have reversed since then. I liked the Vikings because of the horn on their helmet, and I liked Fran Tarkington. I never got into the Packers or the Bucks. I watched high school and college hockey mostly, and NFL football and baseball. I wasn't wild about the Brewers, but I did watch Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and those guys in the late 70's and early 80's.

I drifted away from professional sports in college, so when I moved to NYC I was free to adopt the local teams. I first chose the Knicks when they got Pat Riley. Then the Rangers had their magical season. I lived near the Mets stadium, so I became a Mets fan. I became a Jets fan when Parcells became coach. A good coach is what I yearn for.

I followed the Yankees along with the Mets, until they met in the world series, and then I hated them. Listening to WFAN and ESPN, I realized there were all kinds of fans, but that I was the kind that could only like one team. I couldn't fogive the Yankees. I can't root for the Nets because they're in the same division as the Knicks. Same for Islanders and Devils. But the Jets and the Giants in the same superbowl? That seems unlikely so I do half heartedly follow the Giants as well, even though the Jets are my team. If they meet in the superbowl and I learn to hate them, well, we'll cross that road when we get there. So I was happy to see the Giants win on Thursday.

All that is to say why I like the following quote which I found today: "Among the nine major professional sports franchises in the New York metropolitan area, the Jets have the longest championship drought, 39 years." (NY Times).

With the White Sox and the Red Sox winning, it's the Cubs who have the most long suffering fans. In the NYC area, the Cubs equivalent are the Jets. But the Jets got Favre. Of course we know it's the lines that win games, and not just the quarterbacks. But I look forward to the game today.

Endnote: With deepening spiritual practice and fatherhood, I can't use sports as a kind of male soap opera it once was, but I still enjoy a game.

I read a few places that sports are a kind of social lingua franca for men, but I have quite a few friends who are not into sports. Turns out it's only something to talk about with some guys. Maybe outside urban areas where sports are more popular.

I've read some articles about how people really do get a boost when their teams win and suffer when they lose.

Of course I'd rather be doing things, instead of watching, but I'm not about to play football anymore, it's hard to find a basketball game where I'm either too good or too bad to play and I've not signed up for any softball leagues, I don't have a job where that is possible or a circle friends who would do it. Hockey is out at my advanced age. I was a runner, ran 3 marathons, and rowed an ultramarathon, and that's great, but I haven't trained since William was born. Anyway, I hope the Jets win today and the Mets sweep the Phillies.