I moved with my family to Minnesota from Illinois almost 18 years ago. My formative years in sports were already over--I had chosen my allegiance. Who can blame a kid that lived just outside of Chicago during Super Bowl XX? Da Bears! Who can blame a kid that grew up attending baseball games at Wrigley Field?
That being said, 18 years of Minnesota have somehow worked their way into my soul. I am a Minnesotan. Even though I still make a semi yearly pilgrimage to Wrigley field, I have grown to cheer for the Twins. I can't quite say the same for the Vikings, not because it isn't true, but because a Bears fan understandably has difficulty voicing those words. What unites me in heart with Vikings fans is a detest for the Packers. This is easier to say. This leads me to Sosa and Moss.
It was a tough off season for me. I understand that Sosa and Moss have their problems. While one corks bats and the other runs over traffic cops, they both seem to leave games early. This doesn't take away from the fact that they are two of the most exciting players to watch in sports. I know that the teams that are trying to win do not like a whole lot of additional drama to distract them off of the playing field. But this drama is part of what makes players exciting to watch--you never know what they will do. There is a part of me, deep down, that could identify with Moss mooning the Packer crowd. Part of me sighed with relief and said, "that is satisfying."
That being said, though I do not get to watch these players compete for my teams anymore, I must confess that my teams are probably better off. The Cubs will always be the Cubs--being their fan is never about the win-loss column, it can't be. The Vikings look to be in prime shape to win the conference and, despite loosing Moss, have had one of the best off-seasons in football. The Bears have yet to play with much consistency but look to be making some baby steps. The Bears woes are much easier to look beyond when one thing seems to be certain: The Pack will struggle to make it to .500.
It's easy to sympathize with the Cubs, who are, arguably the greatest baseball team ever. Who else would compete for that title, the Yankees? I am a Cubs fan despite being from "cheesehead" land and in large part because baseball, as a sport is about as interesting as tennis.
ReplyDeleteI also grew up adoring "da Bears." Being raised in a home with no team huzzah or loyalty I was drawn to the winning team. I realize now that the artist in me rather liked their sporting complimentary colors which was probably the bigger draw. But, with the onset of puberty came the realization of who and what I was; a cheesehead through and through.
Although Moss and Sosa are "exciting", who could even begin to argue with the fact that Mr. Brett Favre is the most exciting and greatest athlete in all of sports ever. His airness comes aweful close, but other than that...
Even though the Vikings had probably the best offseason and the Packers among the worst I will always passionately cheer for the goodguys -- the Packers. As the Cubs are to baseball, the Packers are to football.
I pitty you when the day comes and you meet Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi at the pearly gates.
Baseball is as interesting as tennis...humph. For a cheesehead I suppose this perspective may be a direct result of...the Brewers.
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