Sports: "Is it okay if I feel like I don't want to live anymore?"

[dlgood]

Yes, Bobby Hill. That's how you're supposed to feel.

Given that we're just coming out of the Ten Days of Awe, and I was in a very spiritual frame of mind, I was going to put together a post about the concept of an 'afterlife' and how I feel about that. I suppose I have a fairly strong opinion on the topic...

But then my teams just up and yakked all over the carpet this weekend. And I am feeling bereft, just as Bobby was in this week's "King of the Hill" episode. (Hank et al take Bobby to the Texas-Nebraska game, wackiness ensues...)

It's astonishing just how lousy stuff like this makes me feel, even though it's utterly beyond my control and only tangentially connected to my actual daily life. My world really wouldn't be markedly different if Maryland hadn't choked against Wake Forest... or if the Redskins hadn't self-destructed and fallen apart against the Giants...

And yet...

If you aren't going to be actually good, it's so much easier when you expect you team to suck. When the Nats lose, it's not so bad. Heck, they're 15 games under .500 and I'm thrilled they're not Historically Terrible. But my football teams stagger around expected mediocrity and I'm crushed.

Sometimes, my hobby just hurts my heart. How silly is that?

Comments

[southernbangel.livejournal.com]

The Alabama game Saturday night killed a little bit of my soul. I was certain we would lose (we played for shit). I was certain it wasn't going to OT. But when it did, I thought for a moment we might win. I let myself believe it.

And then they broke my heart.

Some might say it's silly to get that invested in a sport/team, but I don't care.

[bastardsnow.livejournal.com]

I consider the Nats season a good one this year because they're not going to lose 100 games. Hell, they're not even in last place!

My Hokies haven't looked very impressive, though. The one ranked team they've played blew them out of the water, into the stratosphere, and then watched, laughing, as they plummeted back to Earth in a flaming ball of doom.

And the Redskins... oooh... that hurt...

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

For the Nats, the season's been good in that they've had a lot of Value finds, won more than anyone expected, and I think have played in a fun and accessible way - they're an easy bunch to root for. And the farm system is getting better. OTOH, the guys they were hoping to get development from at the Major League level - guys like Lopez and Kearns, haven't improved much. But I have positive feelings.

Our Redskins, and the local college football clubs, However. Gack!

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

That was a hard loss, but I generally feel worse about the ones where you were playing better, had the lead, and fall apart then I do about the ones where you are getting pounded and just miss out on stealing the win. Still sucks.

For you, I do not look forward to that game against LSU. But if they just leave you like so much roadkill at least it won't have that same sort of sting.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but your Michigan beat Penn State. Isn't that at least worth a 'hot diggity-damn?'

My Mizzou team is up to #20 in both polls. Though they do seem to have an awesome offense, I don't think the coaches have even suited up any defensive players this year. Their four pushover opponents have averaged more than 400 yds offense per game against them. As soon as they play someone with a defense, I'm afraid, it's all over.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but your Michigan beat Penn State. Isn't that at least worth a 'hot diggity-damn?'

Oh, it's nice and all, but for me the results of the Maryland and Redskins games totally overwhelm some sloppy Big Ten action.

As soon as they play someone with a defense, I'm afraid, it's all over.

Fortunately for Mizzou, they play in the Big XII North, and there really isn't a ton of that going around up there.

[ladyoneill.livejournal.com]

You know I feel the same way about KU basketball. It's just painful when they lose! It really is easier when your expectations are lower. The Chiefs have been breaking my heart since the first preseason game and until yesterday's win I was doubting they'd ever win a game this season! Traditionally they do well enough that my hopes get up every season, but, yeah, with the Royals it's just wooohooo we're not in the cellar of the entire roster of teams, both leagues. *g*

[ladyoneill.livejournal.com]

Fortunately for Mizzou, they play in the Big XII North, and there really isn't a ton of that going around up there.

Hey! *g*

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Heh. Get back to me when KU beats a real team.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

It's sad. I remember when the Royals were great. Oy

[thelastgoodname.livejournal.com]

It's a lot easier to take extended and expected suckiness, because then you haven't gotten your hopes up at all so they can't be crushed horrifically like melons under the tread of a Panzer tank.

(In other news, those Redskins throwback uniforms were awesome.)

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I liked them. They were designed by Vince Lombardi. My favorite throwbacks, though, were the ones they wore in 2002 (http://espn.go.com/page2/s/newlook/redskins/uniforms.html).

[moire2.livejournal.com]

It was a frustrating weekend all around for football fans. And, you're not silly. I was stuck in a bar close to Athens quietly cheering for Alabama Saturday night. I'm still depressed.

That looked like an exhausting game

[thelastgoodname.livejournal.com]

Also: time of possession Georgia Tech: 37:19 Maryland: 22:06

Re: That looked like an exhausting game

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

1. It was grueling - remarkably hot and humid for october out here

2. TOP was misleading because we scored very quickly on all of our TD drives. GaTech stacks the line and blitzes a lot, which makes them very hard to run against but left them vulnerable to plays down the field. (We had 5 plays of 30 or more.)

3. That last field goal missed by less than a foot. We sit just to the outside of the left goalpost and none of us could tell if it had missed. Thank goodness for that holding penalty that knocked a 40 yard kick to 52.

Oi