One Last Time, Probably

I am not a rabid sports fan, for a wide variety of reasons. It is not dreamy idealism, not a stand against the corruption that may be rampant. Nor is it a vengeful stand against the dangers inherent in competition, though both have merit. It is just a view based on experience, and hey it is my blog, after all.

I can make it all the way through baseball season without ever thinking about standings, pennant races, public scratching, or spitting. I find the average baseball game lasts too long, and most of that time has little real drama, or action. Sometimes I like to watch a baseball game on television, just to listen to the announcers fill the time between pitches with a constant stream of statistical trivia, the colorful memories of past performances, and the hopes for potential greatness. In many ways, to me, it has to be one of the most difficult jobs in sports broadcasting. Being the play by play announcer for a baseball game requires more research than a law degree, and more flexible, associative reasoning than quantum physics. It is almost like a machine, a perpetual motion construct, taking long minutes of routine and trying to make it sound noteworthy. But, I am not even sure who won the World Series last year, and don’t really care.

I used to like professional basketball, but at some point I came to the realization that they are not promoting a game, as much as a series of players. They always need a larger than life personality, someone who can sell jerseys, shoes, cell phones, posters, and he needs to have the unique ability to polarize people. It seems to be a lot more about the players, and less about the competition. This is not really a criticism, they have a right to make the league as popular and profitable as it can possibly be, in fact that is their prime responsibility. But, it does not interest me.

And the NFL has always seemed too corporate, and packaged to be a sport. Microsoft vs Apple vs Google, and occasionally Samsung or Hewitt Packard will come through and grab that last wild card spot. Or Coke vs Pepsi. But, it is really hard for me to care, I find presidential debates more compelling. The smart money is on Coke and Apple, by the way, at least my money. Considering how well I did in every bracket I filled out this year my money, and the person carrying it, may not be all that bright.

So, I had to squeeze every last ounce of enjoyment possible (and another blog post or two) out of the Final Four, which was a little difficult since all of the teams I really like are watching it, too. Which, I guess, is kind of cool, I better get some more chips, and drinks, and better chips, and drinks.

But, it is time to start looking forward to next season, (college football, and basketball), when once again my teams will provide fresh hope and dreams, and all will be new, and wonderful. Of course, the new conference alignments are going to provide some intrigue. The Big Ten is adding some new teams, and realigning the divisions, and I don’t really have a handle on all of that. So, I will have to learn to say Go Big Ten Western Division, (or whatever they call it), I hope the Cornhuskers win all of the games against all of the opponents, whoever they are. I will elaborate on that as soon as I can figure it out.