A-ha! I got it! We finally got it!!
Follow me here for a moment...
The 2008 season was not supposed to end that way. When time expired and New England’s Patriots suffered a “Giant” loss in Super Bowl XLII - ruining what would have been a rare, perfect season, seemingly only 2 reactions surfaced: either (1) gut-wrenching heartache or (2) unexpected elation. Distress or delight. No in between. We either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Few football fans remained emotionally unattached.
Less than 2 weeks ago the Lakers won their 15th NBA championship. Led by shooting guard, Kobe Bryant, basketball fans either (1) cheered or (2) jeered as the Orlando Magic found themselves exiting The Finals more with a whimper than a bang. For those who have difficulty witnessing Bryant excel (many of whom are still awaiting the coming reign of King LeBron), 1 more publicized “showtime” of Lakers was disgusting.
Let us not forget baseball’s finest, none other than the American League’s Yankees. “I don’t care if ARod is among the best ever; he plays for New York, and they’re all arrogant and don’t deserve another title!” Yes, love ‘em or hate ‘em... such is how sports fans follow the Yankees.
The wide world of sports has morphed into passionate emotional displays. When we support a team, assuming they maintain an adequate level of success, we either see little wrong or gloss over the imperfections that may impede the road to victory. We support them no matter what... often blindly. And their adversaries, well, of course, they consistently engage in error. Their leaders are either evil or incompetent, but there exists no way the adversary could be as wise nor as talented as we.
Think a Jets’ fan acknowledges the superior game management by Brady and Belichick? Or those in Boston compliment Kobe on his Jordanesque closing skills?
The “A-ha” moment, my friends, is that as a culture, we have allowed this passionate, polarized emotion to transcend into areas where it does not belong and it is often unhealthy. We have wrongly encouraged our culture to see Democrats and Republicans more along the lines of Yankees and Red Sox, as opposed to the public servants that they are. No one party has all the right answers. No one party has all the wrong answers. Like it or not, there are members of each team that positively contribute to the lineup. There are talented point guards on each team and some quarterbacks that are pretty amazing.
But sadly, we hide behind loyalty as if it is noble. The conflict is certainly understandable. Loyalty is a trait far too uncommon in current culture, and many of us work diligently to instill this in our children. However, the danger of political loyalty is similar to that directed toward MLB, the NFL, or NBA: loyalty breeds blindness... and blindness may keep us from recognizing when even Brady or Bryant has an excellent idea and thus makes an incredible play. Instead, we greet the play with skepticism and doubt.
Remember, sports fans, even for the dreaded adversary, some quarterbacks are pretty amazing.
AR
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1 comment:
I cheer for my pro football team because of loyalty. Players come and go. I support my political party because of its basic platform. Candidates fad into the sunset and good ideas often come from the other side. I agree with you that “loyalty breeds blindness” but I hope I am objective enough to see good football no matter who plays it and what is good for America no matter who suggests it. It is an important objectivity to have. Thanks for causing me to review how I personally apply it.
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