I have never been in to watching sports. I have passed on the World Series, skipped the Super Bowl, and avoided the NBA playoffs. The only BYU sporting events I have gone to are the softball and baseball games and the odd rugby game. It's not that I didn't like sports, it's that I have never really felt that spark that so many of my friends and family have when their team plays. My friend Bret goes crazy for the Redskins, my co-worker Jen loves the Kings, and of course the Snyder family eternal commitment to the Tar Heels. For so long I have remained out of the loop of sports and I wondered what was wrong with me. I felt the first glimmer when we were living in England and my friends at church got me hooked on the rugby world cup. i watched game after game up to the final where England took the victory out from under Australia. It was a great game and the after party in London was even better. That was the first sporting event I can remember watching and being truly invested in the outcome. The next time was the FIFA world cup in 2006. i screamed for France to win but Italy took it from them. The only consolation was the massive bruise Marco Materazzi was sure to have from Zinedine Zidane's head. Slowly but surely love of sports has crept into the forefront of my life. Suddenly I cared about USC football, and the Red Sox, it was weird. But finally in this year, I took up my heritage, my birthright if you will and caught the March madness. I watched games, i discussed brackets, I defended the Tar Heels against any slander or trash talk from fans of Duke, UConn, Oklahoma, and finally Michigan. I even had to defend my reasoning for liking UNC. Someone accused me of liking them just because they win and calling them the Yankees of basketball. I was fully invested in the success of Carolina, I am even proud to say I whooped for victory in an Applebees as Carolina steamrolled over Villanova. I got a lot of reproving looks and a few supportive nods from fellow tar heel fans. The championship game, however was really the icing on the cake. not just because that Tar Heels dribbled their way to victory (although that in itself is a reason to be happy) but because I sat in Travis' living room with my Dad and my brother (and Kate in spirit I have no doubt) all of us wearing Carolina colors, logos, etc. Dad's all had a story behind them, but I digress. I felt like I had finally accessed a part of myself and I felt really bonded to my family...and to the Tar Heels. I finally felt in on the action and I loved it. Next year is going to be great...and in the mean time, Opening day was yesterday wasn't it?
4 comments:
So happy to hear you finally got "in on the action." You are our NC baby after all. :)
Now for a few notes on your entry:
1. You need never be interested in the NBA. Blah.
2. USC football? Seriously? Snob!
3. Never call Michigan State "Michigan"---that's the blue and maize Wolverines. Abbreviate with "State." I'm just trying to make sure your relationship with Alex stays positive :).
Oh...forgot to add...come to CA and we'll try to hit a Dodger or Angel game!
ah yes. March Madness. That and Twilight=your only vices.
That's my boy! We did have a great time watching the game together. I even managed to sit down once or twice.
By the way, you misspelled Dook. Please don't let that happen again.
Dodger game, Kato? Jack's dodgy enough as it is. He needs to see the Angels.
(Actually, it's hard to resist Chavez Ravine, especially with great seats. Next time you go, eat a Dodger dog for me while you're enjoying the gentle smell of eucalyptus on the breeze.)
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