It’s been awhile since one of my favorite teams won it all, and I’ve missed the feeling. I’ve been on a high since the Ravens beat Denver last month thanks to Jacoby Jones’ “Mile High Miracle,” and I’m not about to come down. The momentum from that game carried the Ravens into Foxborough, 9 point underdogs for the second week in a row. The Patriots did not stand a chance.
This pretty much sums it all up.
Well it looks like I just might still be in mourning. It’s been a week. One whole week since my beloved – and favored – Capitals were eliminated in the Stanley Cup playoffs. My heart was, and still is, broken.
It’s times like this one when we realize that it’s great to be a well-rounded sports fan. When one season comes to a close, another is either in full bloom or just beginning. This year, that thought makes me even more depressed. Typically, when the NHL season ends, I put my focus on baseball. This year, I’m finding that pretty hard.
It’s been a little gloom and doom in the bomber household these past few days…
You see there was this semi-important professional sporting match on Sunday, and despite my best efforts of yelling and screaming at the tv, my boys did not come away with that Lombardi trophy.
While I hold no ill will towards those gents in black and gold, I can’t help but wallow in my loss.
It got me thinking about championships and fandom- more specifically what impacts us more, the wins or losses?
Two Baltimore Heroes: Eddie & Cal
When it comes to being a sports fan, I have ridden the roller coaster of emotions. I have been privileged to experience the ultimate highs and humbled to have experienced the extreme lows. Recently, I’ve been forced to take inventory of my sports emotions, so to speak.
As most of you already know, I was born and raised in Baltimore in the early 80s. My first sports love was the Baltimore Orioles. When I was a little over 1-year-old, my O’s won the World Series. That was the last time my beloved franchise was blessed with a title. Of course, I don’t remember the sweet taste of victory, but I did experience it. My mom-mom packed up my little self, hopped on a bus and took me downtown for the victory parade. I have a photo of me in my little stroller, waving my World Series pennant with the parade passing in the background. What I wouldn’t give to recreate that moment. Let’s just hope I don’t have to wait until that stroller turns into a wheelchair!
Let’s not forget that until I was a sophomore in college, I had never seen a baseball game that didn’t have Cal Ripken, Jr. playing in it. I wouldn’t say that the Orioles spoiled me, though. We were good during my formative sports fan years, but all good things must come to an end. Personally, I don’t think we’ll ever win until someone finally exacts revenge on that Jeffrey Maier kid. Hate him. While I have come to expect disappointment from the Orioles, I’m having a harder time coming to terms with my other teams.
I got the idea for this post when I was talking to my friend about the last time the Yankees won the World Series. It’s almost going to be nine years, but nine years isn’t that long. If I ever complained about a nine-year World Series drought to a Cubs fan, I would more than likely get a smack in the face…and it would be completely warranted.
However, when I think back to where I was the 2000, it seems like ages ago. The last time the Yankees won it all I was a freshman in High School. It feels like I graduated from H.S. ages ago; forget about actually being a freshman. The bottom line is we all follow our team with one goal: to see them win it all at the end. Don’t get me wrong, you can still enjoy the season, but you are never fully satisfied unless your team is the last one standing. Unless you root for the Phillies, Red Sox or Cardinals, the last time your team won it all can seem like a lifetime ago.
So let’s take a little trip down memory lane and see what life was like the last time your team were World Champions. Sorry to all Washington, Milwaukee, Houston, San Diego, Colorado, Tampa Bay, Texas, and Seattle fans. You need to have won at least one to qualify.
Ladies... 