“If you don’t expect too much from me, you might not be let down.” ~ Gin Blossoms
Simply put, I’m a big sports fan. Soccer is my passion, but I still love all of my Philly teams – Iggles, Flyboys, Phightins, and even the Sixers. Well… Maybe not the Sixers.
I’m no expert, but I have a very good knowledge and understanding of major American sports, plus a working ESPN grasp of the not-so-major sports as well. For example, when the mood strikes I…
- … sometimes stay up late and watch Australian Rules Football. G’Day!!
- … had a great time at Parx Derby Day in 2012.
- … watch college baseball. Mostly because I like to hear the aluminum bats pinging.
- … want to learn about cricket. I see it on Sky Sports (English SportsCenter), and would love to understand the rules. It’s one of those sports where I say, “Shit… I could do that!”
I still love my Philly teams, but I don’t have that all-consuming fire anymore. Not so many years ago I was living and dying by game results and playoff wins and losses. Success gave me satisfaction, but defeats made me moody. As the years went by, the ups and downs became too extreme. Everything changed on Sunday, January 19, 2003, when Ronde Barber intercepted Donovan McNabb pass, and ran it back for a 92-yard touchdown interception return to clinch a Super Bowl trip for the Buccaneers. That precise moment… over 66,000 people at Veterans Stadium and millions of fans watching at home had their hearts broken. Including me, in my living room, decked out in my Eagles green.
This was definitely our year. The best Eagles team, destined to win the Super Bowl. It was a given. Hmmm… not so much. I was down for weeks. F#%&in’ Ronde Barber!! To this day, I still shudder when I see the video of that play. But after a few weeks of surliness, I had a realization. This consuming investment in my beloved sports teams had to stop. It wasn’t going to get any better, because my team was not going to win every game every year. I decided then that I couldn’t, and wouldn’t do it anymore.
A similar epiphany happened about 15 years earlier, when I realized that I was not going to be a great golfer. After a particularly sad chip shot, I threw my club into a tree. Because obviously, the club was faulty!! When It came down to earth in two pieces I realized that I might be missing the better part of the golf experience… fun. I gave up my ambitions of the PGA Tour after that incident.
Today, there are just too many games in sports to sustain meaningful fan support. NFL owners want the expand the schedule, the Stanley Cup playoffs make the regular season meaningless, and don’t even get me started about the close to 200 hundred games World Series participants could play in one year. Soccer isn’t immune, with plenty of extra tournaments for club and country.
In soccer, any team can beat any other team, on any day. Whatever the level, top tier versus semipro. That was never more evident than this year, with a giant killing in the FA Cup final. If the unthinkable happens the supporters may cry and curse, but recover quickly… because there is another game coming up fast, and the team needs them.
I love soccer, and regret that I discovered it so late in life. One of the reasons I’ve embraced the beautiful game is the supporters culture. I can hear you haters out there, revving up your hooligan stories. I’ll stipulate that these idiots do exist, but in no greater percentage than in any other sport.
I’m a member of the Sons of Ben, the organization that supports the Philadelphia Union. I take pride in what the group stands for… support the team. No matter what. From the SoB Code of Conduct… “Sons of Ben are in the stadium to support the Union. If you’re here to support the team, you’re welcome in the Sons of Ben. If you’re here to make trouble for yourself or for the fans around you, you aren’t welcome.” And obey the four rules… Don’t be a Racist. Don’t Be a Thug. Don’t Be an Idiot. DO Support the Team. Simple as that. I like it.
Sure, I’m gutted if the Union lose a match. Or if Manchester United loses. Or if the USA National team loses. Or the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies… even the Sixers. I’m bitching and booing loud, because it’s my right. But the next day I’m over it. I’m up and ready, and psyched for the next opportunity to support MY team. For them, not against them. It’s my thing.
Because I’m a sports fan.
**** Sons of Ben photo courtesy of SonsofBenMovie.com. Click on the picture to see a larger version… I’m in the back right corner! Ronde Barber photo courtesy of Satan and his minions.