In a movie I saw a few years back, called Fever Pitch, there is a scene where the main character, Ben, played by Jimmy Fallon, is talking about some girl trouble that he is having, with a young student of his. Ben is completely and utterly obsessed with the Boston Redsox. He owns season tickets, and every year, baseball consumes several months of his life. Any ways, he is having trouble with his relationship because he won't commit to the girl, like he does to the Boston Redsox. The scene in the movie ends with the boy asking Ben, "You love the Red Sox, but have they ever loved you back?". With this question, Ben gets peeved, and says, "Who do you think you are, Dr. Phil? Go on, get outta here!" It's a pretty funny scene.
The reason I bring up this scene, is because lately, I've been growing more and more disappointed with sports, and I feel that I'm not getting back what I put in. I get so emotionally invested in teams and outcomes, that I think it takes a toll. For instance......last night, as I was watching the Utah Jazz stink it up against the L.A. Lakers, I was FUMING!!! I was so mad, that I actually had visions of myself standing up and hurling my tv remote into our wall.
Why do I do this to myself? Year after year, I will get emotionally invested in a team, only to be let down.
If any of you know me well, you would know that I love sports. I totally love the 49ers, BYU Football, the Utah Jazz, the Oakland A's, and the San Francisco Giants.
If I had to describe what it felt like to someone else, for me to watch my team get taken out of Championship contention, I would have to compare it to watching a puppy in a 5 month race. And, just as this cute little puppy is about to cross the finish line, and take the prize, a Mac truck comes out of nowhere, and completely obliterates the puppy........leaving me with NOTHING!
As you can probably tell by reading this, I'm pretty frustrated. I guess it's because I was so spoiled back in the 1980's and 1990's. The 80's and 90's were amazing, if you were into my teams. Things couldn't have been better. BYU won it's National Championship, the 49ers won 5 Superbowls!!! That's right, 5!!! And, the A's and Giants faced each other in the World Series. Things were great.
I remember one year, in between some of the 49ers Superbowls, that I was watching a 49er playoff game on a Saturday afternoon. The 49ers were knocked out, and I remember actually walking down my street, on Hathaway Court, actually crying, because I couldn't handle my 49ers not winning it all.
But now, I'm left with only memories of when times were good. It's been literally over a decade now, since I could brag about how my team is #1. I can't taste that sweet taste of victory in my mouth any more. I'm left with only a bitter taste, like I just chugged down a gallon of vinegar.
None of my teams have won lately, and there's no light at the end of the tunnel. The Jazz look to get worked by Kobe this year, in the playoffs. It's pretty much an impossibility that BYU could win a National Championship now, because of the BCS, aka "the devil". And, the Giant's and A's are mediocre at best.
So, why do I still hold on? Why do I still care? Why, after so much heart ache, do I still let my heart get sucked into these games and these teams? Should I become a bandwagon fan, and jump on the Patriot train? Or, claim I've always loved the University of Florida?
The answer is, HECK NO!!! I can't do it. I must keep plugging along, and keep hope. Because, hopefully, when one of my teams finally break through again, and win the coveted championship, hopefully, all the pain, tears, sweat, and angst, will all be worth it!!! So, in answer to the question, do the 49ers, BYU, Giant's, Jazz, and A's love me back? They once did....... I guess only the future will tell if they will again................
2 comments:
Matt, I remember that before my Grandpa White died he told me he didn't think it was the 49ers year. He died in December 1988 and the 49ers actually did win the Super Bowl Jan. 1989. When I was watching the game I smiled and remembered what my Grandpa had said. I guess they weren't doing well at the beginning of the season but they really came back. You just never know. I hope your teams do you proud in the future, just try to remember the small victories are nice too. BYU may never be National Champs because of the BCS, but we know where they stand with us. Love your blog, you are too funny.
Matty, Matty, Matty.... I feel your pain. I'm surrounded by Patriot fans here in North Carolina...aka hell. Even my kids high school mascot is the Patriot. I long for the 49ers to reclaim their former glory. We fans must unite and stand strong. We can not be "Fair Weather" fans. We must be red/gold and true blue through and through. We will eventually see things turn around. After all, the Patriots did finally lose even if it was to the Giants. And I don't really care if BYU gets national recognition as long as they beat those dirty UTES!!!! Like Julie said, relish the small victories and if your team doesn't make it to the big show, then that's more time for Julie, which is really how it should be anyway.
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