Monday, January 22, 2018

There's Always Next Year

For you non American football fans, we are just two weeks out from the Super Bowl. My team, the Minnesota Vikings, played their worst game of the season yesterday, and will not be going to the Super Bowl in their own home stadium. Too bad-it would have been fun. Still, life is the same for 99.99999% of Minnesotans today, as it was on Saturday, maybe a little "gosh darn, we were so close," going on. I'm sure there is a lot of Monday morning quarter backing as well. I've been a fan my whole life. I'll be a fan for the rest of my life. They may never get to another Super Bowl, let alone win, but purple blood runs through my veins. 

No doubt the players are feeling it hard. It's one thing to lose in a close battle, but after their first possession touchdown, they were blanked the rest of the game, and it got more painful with every touch of the football by Philadelphia. Adding insult to injury, news reports were that Eagles fans were less than good sports, throwing beer cans and bottles at Viking fan buses, stealing caps off peoples heads, and other acts of grossness I don't need to share. I'm not a New England Patriot fan-quite tired of them actually. But if even one report of this behavior was true, I guess that is who I am rooting for. Reading and hearing behavior like that makes me wonder what might have happened had Minnesota won the game-maybe it was a blessing. 

My point in this post is to remember, sports are just games. Fans don't benefit other than a bit of emotional, short lived gold. Despite the short term pain of losing, there is always next year. Stay true to your teams. Support the  young ones coming up, and let's remember to be kind  and gracious in defeat and in victory.

10 comments:

  1. Great post. I detest professional sports, actually, with a particular dislike of football. I see it as idolatry, if the truth be told. The whole culture disgusts me. And cheerleading? I can't think of anything more vapid. Granted, as a dancer, I see the skill required in some of those numbers, but ultimately, those cheerleaders are nothing but eye candy. This is the culture the fans have created, then act "shocked, SHOCKED" about things like the wardrobe malfunction, and poor sportsmanship like those you mentioned. I cannot imagine spending one second viewing, thus giving money to, an organization that considers psi's more punishable than domestic and animal abuse. I think kindness and grace are sorely lacking in the culture of professional sports. I see that lack in h.s. school sports, too, to the point that I flat out told my kids, and the school, there were some sports, that until the culture changed, they would not be allowed to participate in. In our district that's football, volleyball and basketball.

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    1. Since my daughter stopped playing sports in school, the high school sports aren't even on my radar any more. Still, I can see your view-too much pressure and fighting to be on top.

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  2. This is exactly why my husband said he has no intention of taking our sports obsessed 8 year old to any NFL game until he becomes an adult. He doesn't want to subject Jacob to that type of behavior by fans, which happens regularly in many stadiums around the league. Sad. I think that many people take their alliegances to their sports teams way too far sometimes. I am sad when my team loses, but it doesn't affect everything that I do or even the next day. I move on. My team, the Green Bay Packers, didn't even make it to the playoffs this year. That happens. I will be rooting for the Patriots, as I truly think that Tom Brady may be the greatest quarterback of all time and he is fun to watch. Also, Ben (my 5 year old) loves Gronkowski! LOL Have a good week!

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    1. It will be interesting to see if there is bad fan behavior when they come into our town next week. I guess I'll root for the Pats as well.

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  3. Sadly the bad behaviour in the UK is linked to football (soccer) whereas once it used to be a family game. I suppose it still is for many clubs but the violence at some matches is just so sad. I guess a lot has to do with the ridiculous sums the players are paid too - it's BIG money. That's why I love rugby. I love it when England play (the 6 Nations is coming up) and if they lose - oh well, like you say, there's always next time.

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    1. My daughter s\and I experienced a bit of the rowdy UK football fans the Saturday we were coming back from a museum day. I don't know if opposing fans were coming or going, but she learned a whole new version of British slang.

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  4. Philadelphia has always been known for having cr***y fans, their baseball fans are the same. I was rooting for the Vikings. Can't stand New England, even though I think Brady is a great quarterback, so I'll be rooting for Philadelphia.

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    1. I'll probably root for New England. We have some friends who are die hard fans.

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  5. New reader to your blog, found your name on a comment you left for DUTA at Places with Character, don't you just love her blog?

    It was a hard loss for the Vikings, I was rooting for you guys even though I am a Dallas Cowboy fan. It should be an interesting Super Bowl even though it's highly fore casted that the Patriots will be victorious. Myself even though I'm a Cowboy fan I've always liked Tom Brady and think he's an excellent quarterback, so I'm rooting for the Patriots.

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    1. thank you so much for coming over. Yes, I love DUTA's blog and her photos. I feel like I take a little trip when she posts new articles. It is funny, though, as I hear that in some places when a sports team has such as "devastating loss" the fans base is in severe depression for weeks. There was a bit of grumbling on Monday, a touch on Tuesday, but either we are so used to being disappointed, or we have figured out in the scheme of life, it doesn't matter, life is back t normal mode on radio, tv, conversations etc. All I read now is that our guys all seem like stand up men, do good work in their communities, and the fans supported the Saints Kicker's charity. I hope that is what people think about with Minnesota sports and fans.

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