Are You a Fan?

Today Mike Downey had an interesting column in the Trib.  He basically says there’s no point in watching Chicago sports this winter, because no teams are going to be in contention for titles. 

I can’t disagree with his comments about the teams being average.  But is that a reason not to watch?  I hope not.  If you truly are a local fan, you should watch and support your team anyway.  Even if the team is average.  Or worse.  After all, this is Chicago — if any town knows how to cheer for a losing team, this should be it.

See, if you claim to be a fan, be a fan.  Cheer on your team.  Wear the colors.  And enjoy them, even if they don’t win every game.  If you only watch when the team is winning, then at least be honest about the fact that you’re jumping on the bandwagon for a playoff ride.  Some general sports fan watch for quality play, and that’s fine, as long as they acknowledge that they are simply supporting excellence and don’t claim to be a “fill-in-the-blank” fan. 

Downey can get away with his comments.  After all, he’s a journalist, and therefore, in theory, impartial.  He watches because it’s his job.  And he’s a columnist, so he’s expected to provoke reaction.  But the idea that you shouldn’t watch just because your team isn’t winning?  That’s not what being a fan should be about.  Hanging in there when it’s tough makes the good years that much more fun.  And it proves your loyalty. 

Just my two cents.

Football Loyalties

While I don’t follow the NFL closely, I do use Monday Night Football as background many evenings.  This week the game was a bit more interesting than usual.  I couldn’t decide who to cheer for — a team lead by one of Da Bears?  Or a team with a backup QB who has been league MVP but was backup to a QB I have less than no use for and a kicker that came out of the lean years of the Illini?

I was torn.

I came to the conclusion I could be happy either way, as Mike’s 49ers started really strong.  But I was wrong.  I don’t mind that Arizona won, but it’s the way Mike’s team lost with poor communication and clock management in the last seconds that made me cringe.  If they had made a more legitimate play for the endzone on the final play and failed, I could have handled it, but they looked totally lost. 

Oh well.  At least I had a chance to think through how to determine NFL loyalties.  At one point I planned to pay attention to the Steelers because of their great first-round draft pick for this season, but now that said draft pick is out for the season, I again find it hard pay attention.  I do appreciate the success of a Big Ten QB in Chicago, but since he’s out for the moment…you get the idea.

That Was Close

College football this weekend was indeed close.  From the last-second TD in Lubbock that lifted Texas Tech over Texas to the Northwestern interception returned for a TD against Minnesota, games were close.  Down to the wire.  And so fun to watch.

Michigan State beat Wisconsin on a last-second field goal, winning 25 to 24.  Illinois beat Iowa on a late field goal, and sealed it with an interception with seconds left.  A 4th quarter TD lifted Miami over Virginia.   Purdue beat Michigan by just 6 points.  And just one field goal lifted Pitt over Notre Dame, Missouri over Baylor, Georgia Tech over Florida State, Utah over New Mexico, and more.  Arkansas and Texas A&M beat Tulsa and Colorado respectively by just a TD.  Kentucky held on over Mississippi State by just 1 point.

Yep, lots of close games.  Fun stuff.  Wish I could have seen more of them…

I can’t help but think…

…that somehow Rex masterminded this whole thing.

At the post-game press conference, his neck showed distinct signs of a flowering neckbeard. He couldn’t have just started on that now. What’s he been planning?