What a great weekend of football, huh? All four games come down to the last possession; three decided by walk-off field goals by the underdogs. If you’re a fan of the game, it doesn’t get any better.
Unless your team lost.
Watching those games with no real strong rooting interest was fun. If you are (or were) a lifelong fan of one of the teams that came out on the wrong end of the score line, you probably didn’t have a lot of fun.
Let’s face it. Unless you’re a fan of the 49ers and the Patriots, you’ve seen your team lose a lot more big games than win them.
Steelers, Cowboys, Giants fans…don’t @me. Your teams aren’t relevant anymore. My sophomore in high school was 6 years old the last time any of the aforementioned teams won a playoff game (Giants in 2012). I was a 2nd Lieutenant the last time the Cowboys won a playoff game.
I, too, am familiar with the heartbreak of postseason failure. As a Broncos fan from the late 70s to early 90s, I suffered through 39-20, 45-10, 55-7. As a relatively new Seahawks fan, I suffered through “give Marshawn the damn ball.” As a Penn State diehard, I’ve experienced perfection once (1994), but even that didn’t end up in a championship.
So, you’re team lost. How do you deal with that?
Blame-the-Officiating-Guy: “That one missed holding call in the 2nd quarter was the difference in the game. The refs obviously wanted the other team to win.” Just stop. There are 80+ plays in most football games. A bad call is rarely the reason you lost (unless you’re the Saints, or the Raiders..cough, cough, “tuck”). In any other year but this one, I’d say this guy was the worst. But given the state of NFL officiating in this postseason, BtOG gets some leniency.
Deflection Guy: When confronted with his or her team’s shortcomings, this species will often employ a swift defense, exposing the attacker to their own team’s futility. “Oh yeah, how far did YOUR team get in the playoffs?” Assuming you are a fan of one of the 18 teams that didn’t get in the postseason or your team lost before his, he’s got you.
Hollow-Harsh-Critic Guy: This fan will turn his or her anger back on the team that just lost, often decrying their effort and stating that they deserved to lose. Inside, this fan still loves their team, and is emotionally devastated. They struggle with their feelings, knowing that but for a break here or there, things could have been different. It’s easier to lash out than to look inward.
Rational Guy: A well-reasoned fan, this supporter will often be heard saying “look, it was a good game. The other guys deserved to win.” Much like Bigfoot, Rational Guy’s existence is mythical, having rarely been spotted.
Root-for-the-Team-that-Beat-Your-Team Guy: This guy takes unusual solace in hoping the team that beat theirs wins it all.
Set-Your-Jersey-on-Fire Guy: Usually a Cowboys fan. And it’s never a real jersey, but a highly flammable knock off.
The pain of losing a big-time game, especially the way some of these teams lost, doesn’t go away quickly. There is comfort in knowing that there’s always next season…and if you burned your jersey, there's always another bandwagon.
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