Really. Disgustingly obsessed. I'm the one who screams like a maniac when my quarterback throws an interception or the goalie leaves the pipes to play the puck. I'm the one who can recite the team roster foward and backward, including players' heights, weights, and hometowns. When the Cincinnati Bengals or the Pittsburgh Penguins get knocked out of the playoffs, I am utterly inconsolable. This is not an exaggeration. I am devastated, sobbing like an extended family member just died, and better left alone for a day (or ten).
My mom, serving as the usual voice of reason in these situations, always makes feeble attempts to comfort me. Typically, she makes me a bowl of ice cream, kisses me on the head, and says something along these lines: "There is always next year. Just remember, they had a great season. Also, if you feel this horrible, imagine how they must be feeling."
This, of course, doesn't console me in the least. Usually, it makes me feel more upset...and, to make matters worse, the ice cream makes me thirsty. In my spiteful, disappointed rage, I tell my mom horrible things, like: "I could die before next season. Who knows?" or "It doesn't matter if it was a great season. They didn't win the championship, so it's a disappointment." As you can see, I'm lovely.
One piece of my mom's wisdom, however, always brought me a tiny bit of comfort. I always believed she was right about how the players must feel after a huge loss. I always thought, "Well, if I feel like my heart was put into a blender on the highest speed, then the players must somehow feel worse."
Because that makes sense.
Sure, football, hockey, baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, etc. are sports. In truth, the world could do without them. There are many things that matter more and they aren't necessary to sustain life. Excellence in sport is fleeting - an achievement held only briefly before a new champion is named. Even a sport's ultimate pinnacle, like the Super Bowl and Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals or the World Series, is still technically just a game.
However, a true fan knows better. Sports may not sustain life, but they do enrich the soul. They give you reason to believe, to cheer, and to hold out hope. Sports are more than just a series of games because they make you a part of something bigger than yourself. They show that hard work pays off and allow you to believe, however briefly, that anything is possible.
If the fans feel this way, the players must, too. Right? Not only is it their job to play (and win), but it's their passion in life. It's a part of who they are. Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants the timeless, priceless glory of a championship trophy. They live for it.
...or so I thought.
Just hours after the Patriots' 21-17 Super Bowl loss on Sunday, tight end Rob Gronkowski was photographed shirtless on stage, dancing alongside LMFAO.
Now, I realize that being in the Super Bowl at all is worth celebrating, particularly if you've had as incredible of a season as Rob Gronkowski. Perhaps impersonating a Chippendales stripper is a healthier way to deal with a huge loss than my usual routine. Maybe the best way to deal with a devastating loss is to focus on the good and stay positive.
...but I sure wouldn't want to see someone on my favorite team doing this (even with a body like that). Say what you want about him, but I guarantee Tom Brady didn't feel like dancing or partying. Need I remind you that the game's final, desperate pass fell inches short of Gronkowski's outstretched hands?
Of course, Gronk was upset with the loss, but would it have hurt to show it a little more? As a fan, I appreciate a little anger, frustration, and sadness from the players. It shows they care, at least as much as I do. I admit that mourning the loss for a full week, questioning the point of life itself, and cursing the gods may be a little extreme, but how about some old-fashioned disappointment? You never see my beloved Bengals celebrating after a horrible end to the season...and trust me, they've had plenty of practice.
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