Ridiculous rancor
I will never understand sports rivalries.
I will never understand why adults will get so worked up over 'em.
I will never understand why people who have no affiliation with a school (didn't go there, doesn't have immediate family there) will attach themselves so powerfully to a team. People go around wearing sports T-shirts that they bought at Wal*Mart. Is that really your goal? To define yourself as a "Sooner?" As an "Aggie?" As a "Longhorn?" (Although at least affiliation with a college team makes mores sense than the way people define themselves as a professional team's fan. Those teams aren't even regionally-oriented; the free-agent system and the draft system means that they could come from anywhere, and will likely end up somewhere else.)
What just leaves me gobsmacked is when I see that people are getting physically violent over the sight of another person wearing a shirt that expresses affinity for a given ball team.
It's a game. A child's game.
Get over it, folks. Seriously.
Labels: crap entertainment, culture, Outrage, problems, public service message, social conflict, Truth is stranger than fiction
posted by Matt G @ 3:29 PM
20 Comments:
You make a cogent and well-reasoned point. Let me say this in rebuttal:
KNUCK FOX!
BULLDAWG 4 LIFE!
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!
Good Thursday to you Matt.
Some people have no other way of defining who they are...
The only rivalry I understand is the UCLA - USC one, because I used to be a Bruin, and my boyfriend back then was an offesive tackle, and the whole competitive thing between the two schools was fun.
It's vicarious living Matt, many of these people don't have an exciting life, so they replace that with abject loyalty to a team and rivalry and it gives them an identity and "family" with which they act out...
Now having said that, I'm STILL pissed about Texas beating Arkansas in '71 for the National Championship. Street stole that game...LOL
I've always thought that professional sports is just a way to keep the common thugs off the street. I mean 90 percent of the people playing are too dumb to do anything else. If it weren't for sports they'd be crackheads or some other such street trash. I've never met a professional jock with and IQ over 90. The fans you mention are even worse. Most of them are just above the retarded level. That's why they act like they do.
Okay, I'm a 49ers fan. I am originally from CA, but currently live in IN. Major rivalries between the niners and Dallas/Green Bay. I totally understand it. What I don't get is the physical violence people will engage in due to such rivalries. I mean, the guys are already out on the field playing ball and duking it out to see who is best. Do people really have to do that off the field? Also, how drunk were they? Fodder for an alcohol/stupidity post.
The ones I can't understand are the high-school dropouts who are rabid about a far-away college team.
HOLY CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!
His scrotum tore and blood ran down his leg? After I healed up, I would hunt that SOB down and have a few words with him...
What kinda freak grabs a dude by his goodies? OU fans, that's who. Freaks.
By the way Tuck Fexas and GO HOGS!
old nfo,
That game was in 1969. Assuming you are talking about the "Great Shootout" with Nixon and Billy Graham in attendance.
Texas Sucks!
I just don't see the point of getting into a purple-faced rage over any kind of sports event.
Now the All-Blacks? Yeah, I could get *ahem* excited about them, badasses that they are, but angry? I haven't seen that day yet.
Oh, and kilgor? You say things like "Tuck Fexas," but when it comes to people who find Texas an arousing state, well, baby, take a number. We can't help it if people want to interfere with us romantically. We're all about the love.
Ah damn... You're right Kilgor. My dyslexic typing again. I was a little Razorback, down in Texarkana when that game was played. We actually beat Texas side that year in our mini-rivalry.
Hah! And the sports fans pop up to comment...
On the other side, I have no interest in sports, and I would _always_ rather spend my time _doing_ something than watching someone else.
I can't imagine wasting my time watching sports.
I think the sorts who sniff that professional sports are just ritualized tribal violence may actually have a point.
Yeah, yeah. I read the anthropology texts in college about the New Guinean tribes (the Danai, I believe) that have ritualistic tribal warfare over made-up slights.
The entire tribes turn out. They meet on a field of battle, with the respective groups perhaps 100m apart. It's very festive. Pigs are slaughtered. The womenfolk cheer. They then, one by one, run out of their group, and pitch a spear at the other group from perhaps 40 yards away. Everyone oohs and ahhs as the spear arcs, and comes down amongst the opposing group. Everyone steps aside, and usually no one is hurt.
This goes on for days, sometimes.
Finally someone is hurt, and the "battle" is won.
Ritualistic warfare.
(Interestingly, in one of the books, one of the anthropologists asked the tribesman why they didn't just use bows. "Bows? What are these 'bows' you speak of? Explain!" they were interrogated quickly.
Realizing that they were disturbing the balance of the tribes they were studying, they said "NeverMind!")
Matt,
Dude- you get to shoot people- or at least You COULD if you had to. Not funny and sorry- really not meant to be.
The rest of us have to sit back and yell- He was out of bounds, What do you mean safe? and silly stuff like that!
I played football at South Carolina in the 70's and I still don't get upset when we play our Rivals- Clemson...I love sports and I love what really well & organized sports can still teach kids about ethics, chracater, honesty, integrity, self respect, winning, losing etc. It still happens with good coaches and stil works in society.
But yelling and fighting over shirts and tailgaiting and family feuds etc.....yeah...kinda excessive---
hmmmmm. maybe where Fan....comes from.....
FAN-- ATIC!???? Be kinda cool if we could get 80,000 plus people of Faith to pull In ONE Direction instead of apart in many denominations wouldn't it?
Just a thougt,
John
Have a grat weeked Matt and I'm sorry about AD and Babs dumping on ya like that! grin That was still a killer piece of literature!!!
phlegm,
Yep, it's not often that you find a team that sucks and blows at the same time.
By the way, I'm from Texas. I love the state. Remember, half the state hates UT.
Back to the story... RIPPED... HIS... SCROTUM. That boy needs a serious beating. Freakin OU fan.
Hey Matt--I'm with you on this one, I just can't see getting ear-steaming angry over sports. Excited and energized, sure, but not angry. Mostly I stopped to say I finally linked you and posted about you on my blog. Hope you'll stop for a visit!
http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2007/08/housekeeping.html
"Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!..."
PF: AMEN. I would LOVE to see the All-Blacks do the Haka, it gives me chills just seeing it on YouTube. I would give ANYTHING to see that performed live. ANYTHING.
Matt, I am COMPLETELY with you as far as having no affiliation and pulling for a team. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. Esp. de facto Carolina fans.
But for me the team rivalries run in the family (AU v. Bama). They are as old as we can remember (NCST v. UNC), they are a part of tradition and a bonding experience but there is no sense in it escalating to anything more than reciprocal pranks.
Violence ruins it for everyone.
Rather, the violence. By fans. Off the field.
That's the thing-- how far removed are we, really, from soccer hooligans?
I have to admit, video of hooliganism makes my palm itch for the polished wood of a second growth hickory truncheon.
I find it strangly amusing that something people watch to "relax" and "enjoy" has the possibility of put them into a bad mood and/or ruin their entire day.
Violence over sports is just plain silly and ultimately sad.
Because it's fun. That's why we get all riled up. Now I'll admit that resorting to physical violence is a bit much. I was an OU cheerleader for 3 years and not only do I enjoy football but I enjoy the gathering that goes along with it. The food, the beer, the teasing and the brotherhood (or sisterhood) there is when you're all rooting for the same team. It's just FUN. I don't do it for hockey or baseball or any other sport but if those that do have a good time with it more power to them. However some people are just idiots. You get em in every crowd.
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