Whether it is the NFL, a sibling on a varsity high school team or even a beer pong tournament entered by a pal at your local watering-hole there is always a championship at the end.
At one time or another, most sports fans have a had a team make it to the championships. The team can be ranked #1 or the surprise sleeper of the season, but it all disappears because your team is in the finals.
That’s when you meet the obstacles and annoyances that come with real fan-ship.
Cheering on your team for the first time or the twentieth doesn’t say anything about your passion. Once you fall in love it’s all over, as this group is in your heart for good.
Streaks and slumps affect your mood swings; this cannot be avoided. When the team is good, and everyone says so, the pain of distress can be bitter.
At the same time, the winning team you see might not be the general consensus from friends to ESPN. Then the team wins and it is pure satisfaction for any fan.
Just imagine a championship and finally to feel fulfilled, as your fan-ship and dedication has paid off.
That is when trouble starts.
To help a fan get the righteous glory of watching your team win, listed below are three ‘types’ to avoid:
(1)THE MAD MAN is the fan-friend who’s team just can’t seem to get a break. Season after season disappointed by false hope only for it to all fall apart, again. A true mad-man will never miss a game even when it’s sheerly painful for all involved (example Mets). This ‘friend’ will spite you, right to your face. No debating will be involved, as the mad-man will low blow your team with angry remarks to excuse you team for being good.
It is best to allow the mad-man to rant and rave. All while you ignore or gesture politely in agreement. Then go back to the TV as your team is on. There in the the finals and thats all that matters. You gotta feel a little of the mad-man’s suffering because it sucks.
WARNING, never comfort the mad-man by forecasting how good a season it will be the year his team wins and to have faith. It will only make it worse because the mad-man cannot relate, so just let him be. The mad-man will watch your team’s championship with you because it is more self- torture. It is in your best interest the less painful you make it for him in relation to determining how mad he gets.
(2)THE DOUBTER is a buddy who supposedly has the same fan-ship loyalties as you. You and the Doubter watch most games together, have endless conversations recapping the latest game etc. This is when it gets tricky because the Doubter will seem to be agreeing with what you said.
Nodding away, listening intently only to find the one negative aspect of every situation. The Doubter looks like a fan, plays the part of a fan but her biased comments start to worry you. Well your instincts are in tact as this type will kill you buzz. Usually starts doubting slowly, leading to confusion, to eventually all out fighting.
This is someone that you trusted your team with so it will feel like the Doubter has cheated and in all senses they are. This fan-ship is likely an outlet for some childhood trauma, that the Doubter cannot even admit to themselves yet. The Doubter will miss at least half of the team’s biggest games and definitely be late to watch the championship.
WARNING, never waste your time convincing the Doubter of their fan-ship. It is a waste of breath as even if the team proves them wrong, the Doubter is already ten negatives ahead of you.
(3)THE MORON is a great friend but the fan-ship is so ridiculous that it is embarrassing, especially in public. The Moron will organize tables at fun sports bars for big games way in advance, and you will always go. Why? The Moron’s behavior is so retarded that you mentally forgot the last time because it is not really your problem. The Moron will be head to toe (including the head) in team merchandise. One article is just not going to cut it. The Moron will know other Morons at any location you watch together. There will be a lot of high-fives between two Morons. High-fives will occur over tables, over your head, anything separating this happening will be obsolete. The high-five will happen. One plus is that there are never more than a few Morons’ per establishment as the Morons’ themselves will kill each other out of passion.
WARNING the moron’s attire, behavior and relationships with other morons can ruin the entire experience of watching your team. A great fan can lose concentration, want to leave to save face or never wear anything with a logo admitting your fan-ship. It can be traumatizing. PLEASE proceed with caution.
Tuesday night, out in sunny Anaheim, CA, the Yankees dropped a bomb over Angel Stadium; the bomb is Carsten Charles Sabathia.
On just three days rest, CC threw for eight innings with five strikeouts and allowing the Angels only five total hits. This performance just a night after a walk-off Angel win and momentum was what was at stake.
Indians GM Mark Shapiro once said, “C.C. is one of our better ball players and one of our better people.”
If that does not speak volumes of a person, what else could?
Watching, reading and listening to CC in his first time in pinstripes, can only do Yankee Nation proud again. Sabathia, even with his enormous size is more than just a player he is a friend.
Whenever talking about how big CC’s paycheck is when regarding his pitching performance can now formally contain an factual answer.
Sabathia should take a raise because a person like him is priceless.
Nothing is final yet but the Yankees answered all questions lingering from game three by winning game four. Now they have a 3-1 lead in the series.
One thing that is reality is the 2009 NY Yankees will never be forgotten and will go down in history together as a group, win or lose.
It is safe to say that CC Sabathia is to thank for that.
**A HUGH honorable mention goes to Alex Rodriguez, who has officially reversed his post-season curse. Arod is producing big hits in even bigger situations to tie or take a game.
For Alex, no one questioned his abilities as a player on the field. Now off the field Arod is embracing life and that is what is making it all click for the star.
Finally, Arod is part of the team both on and off the field.
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Tonight the Angels status went from zero, back on in this ALCS, with the team’s walk-off win.
The Yankees are still a game up but the dream of a sweep and an easy way out from the L.A. ghosts of playoffs past got taken back down to reality in game three’s loss.
Everyone was disappointed but no one was surprised by the Angels winning back at home.The Yankees have been preparing for a fight and never expected this series to be any different. The Yankees could fluff their cushions by taking game four before heading back to the Bronx leading the series by two.
The game started on a high with our Captain blasting a solo shot into right field. Following Jeter was Arod and then Damon giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
Angels Vladimir Guerrero had been hitless for his last 11 plate appearances in a row. Guerrero’s 12th time was a wake-up call by hitting a 2-run blast.
Safe to say that this chump is out of his slump.
After Guerrero, the game was tied as Howie Kendrick hit a home-run the inning before so the game was 3-3.
The fourth Yankees solo homer, by Posada tied the game leading into extra innings.
Pettitte pitched well and should not take any heat because the Southpaw did his job. A solid performance for Pettitte overall. Continue reading ‘ALCS Game Three: Home Is Where The Walk-Off Is’ »
Game three of the NLCS wrapped up tonight, with Philadelphia Phillies beating the L.A. Dodgers and taking the 2-1 lead in games.
Watching what resembled more of a batting practice, the Phillies scored 11 runs. Phillies Cliff Lee and his divine arm struck out 10 of Torre’s Dodgers. Lee’s performance was outstanding, tying a NLCS and franchise record for most KO’s in a playoff game since 1980.
On Saturday, back in the Bronx the Bombers had a nail biter again. Luck might seem to be abundant with the Yanks taking game two from the Angels in the bottom of the 13th inning.
Both teams made errors, but the Yankees took advantage of it and just fought harder.
The Angels have the expression of a team in shock since arriving in freezing, raining New York for the weekend. Maybe the sequence of events was already determined by for Los Angeles? Abreau could be homesick as it looks like he is going to cry at the plate cause it is certainly not hitting.
In the Angeles defense, everything Yankee is everything scared of the Angels.
The Yankees could have an Oscar nod if this cycle continues in the direction of games one and two. Win or lose the Angels downright suck the life out of the Yankees. Whether it is home or away, for years this was the pattern up until precisely these last two games.Maybe it is a new trend on the west coast as the Dodgers looked just as shell shocked in Citizen Bank Park.
The east coast teams disagree entirely. Players eyes fill-up with fierce determination, along with never-quitting attitudes consumed with the desire to win.
Both LA clubs have attitude. Nothing new in Angel-land but for the Dodgers the moment that pen hit the ink of Manny signing his contract.
Both California teams need to make a 180′ directly to go back into this two series. Losing games due to error, instead of the opponent winning, is a road no team wants to go down. It is a downward spiral, especially when you arrive as one of the best.
Maybe if they has a mascot like the Phanatic it would lift spirits up? The Phillies mascot can be quite the spectacle and Manny might be jealous?The Phillies and the Yankees are not going anywhere, and nor are their attitudes.
Anything can change in this environment The west coast that needs a wake-up call or else the dreams of Freeway World Series will become just that.
New York City is ready for it to be a Yankee Universe again, as Yankee fever is everywhere.
Z100 has revamped the Jay Z, Kayne and Rihanna hit and it has taken over a the most requested song in town.
Rumor has it the the die-hard Yankee fan, Jay Z and company or going to rerecord it if the team makes it the world series.
Click below and listen….it is awesome!
Christmas season is months away, but abnormally cold temperatures in NYC in addition to taking the first game in the ALCS Friday night, sure felt like it in the Bronx.
The stadium was freezing. Everyone bundled up but the fans enthusiasm was at an all time best. The team followed as the Yankees beat the Angels 4 to 1.
The game MVP was clearly CC Sabathia as he was lights-out and reigned again following his first start this post-season. The hot bats Angel bats of Chrome Figgins and old friend, Bobby Abreu went 0-8 with three of those strike-outs.
The Yankee bats raked in 11 hits and scored 4 enough to make it safe for CC to succeed.
John Lackey’s Angels lacked in every-way for their game-one starter.
The Angels made it relatively easy for the Yankees by committing three errors on textbook plays. It seemed like the cold might have literally frozen L.A.’s Halos right off their heads.
On a pop-fly hit by Matsui, Glove candidates Erick Aybar and Chrone Figgins stood there dumbfounded. The visible and textbook out hit the grass, not the glove.
Angels skipper, Mike Scioscia, must have read the riot act as that is just not Angels baseball. Angels get the least errors 85 on the season and errors like that will not make it in the post-season.
No one is taking Friday nights performance as any evidence for anything because it is just one game. The Yankees need to keep their business to Yankee baseball. This team shows up to play which is evidently on display anytime they take the field.
This Yankees team has the desire and the battle similar to the past 90′s teams, that made so accustomed to fans. The entitled days of winning are over and the Yankees have to prove themselves all again.
The expensive fresh faces of guys were just the breath of fresh air the Yankees needed to see that swagger back again.
Would I love to see the Yankees win the World Series this year? Yes, what fan would not want that.
Will it take to anger and criticism if the group does not?
Disappointment is a given. Finally, the demons of the past few seasons lack of spirit is gone.
I am at peace with the fact that this team gives it their all every game. The last couple years teams are ultimately gone.
The Yankees are champions for their fans already by playing with so much enthusiasm, giving not only the fans our spirit back but to an entire city.
*all photos in this post were taken at the ALCS game at Yankees stadium by LadyLovesPinstripes.com*
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