With my hometown Detroit Tigers long ago on the outside of this year’s Major League Baseball post-season discussion, I found myself more rooting against teams rather than for teams these past 10 days of MLB playoff action.
For example, I’m more than happy that the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals will spend the remainder of the playoffs watching from their easy chairs just like me. And if the New York Yankees can join them … well, that wouldn’t stink.
Rest assured, I was also pulling hard for the Seattle Mariners in their 2-for-the-price-of-1, 18-inning, 6-hour, 22-minute marathon from the Emerald City Saturday night when they were ultimately eliminated. Nothing against Dusty Baker, but I’ll be rooting against Houston no matter who its opponent might be come Wednesday.
the author will still root against his Astros the remainder of the playoffs.
Aside from not having an actual rooting interest, I guess I’m unsure why I’m behaving this way?
Is it a natural part of the aging process? I’ve heard tell of my father and others of his generation who behave similarly. Shoot, several of my buddies do the same thing!
And it’s not just limited to the baseball post-season.
On what was truly a pretty remarkable day for sports fans Saturday I also found myself pulling for the Tennessee Volunteers (and I’m ordinarily no fan of “Rocky Top”!) against the Alabama Crimson Tide because … it’s Alabama, duh! And Texas Christian beating Oklahoma State in double-overtime was just fine by me (see Coach Mike Gundy‘s mullet) as was Illinois and Coach Brett Bielema (gulp!) taking down Minnesota and it’s boat-rowing coach, P.J. Fleck.
This transferred to Sunday when, with no Detroit Lions’ action to torment my day, I had cart blanche to root for the New York Jets er, rather, against the Green Bay Packers (J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!) as well as the for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers to lose to the Ben Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers (a year ago I would’ve rooted for a tie!).
Here’s hoping the hometown Detroit Red Wings keep up the hot start and their NBA-brethren Pistons get off to a quick start against Orlando on Wednesday. Perhaps then can find some joy in rooting for someone again.