Thursday, September 07, 2006

Football

Kasia left a comment on my last post asking which football team was my favorite. She also assumed I was talking about American football, not what the rest of the world calls football and we term soccer. She was right with her assumption. Having said that, internationally speaking, my favorite team is those dashing winners of the World Cup, the Italians. But then I've always had a thing about Italy. It's noted in my baby book that when I was first learning to speak, it was with an Italian accent.

Now when it comes to the rockum sockum game we call football I'm kind of having difficulty deciding on a favorite team. The first I rooted for were the Atlanta Falcons. That's because it was the closest franchise to the the then backwaters of Tampa Bay. And one must support the home team. Then came the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who lost every game they played for what seemed like an eternity. Even their orange and white uniforms were losers but they were our team.

I figured I was safe when I moved to Baltimore because the Colts had packed up in the middle of the night and crept out of town for better digs in Indianapolis. But then came the Ravens to "Charm City" and once again my loyalties were tested. But then the guys in purple and black won the the SUPERBOWL What a celebration. There is something about winning he Superbowl that puts a town on the map. Not long after Baltimore won it was named one of the top five tourist destinations in the world by Conde' Nast. And then Tampa Bay won the big kahunna and everyone who had even had the remotest thought about moving to Florida packed up and headed to the Sunshine state.

Now to complicate matters my friend Rob lives in Chicago and has season tickets to the Bears games. It is easier to buy a ticket to Mars than get seasons tickets to Soldier Field where they play. If the choice for an inheritance is between the family fortune and Bears tickets the stadium seats win out hands down. I must in deference to my friend respect "da bears". And besides the former gum sticking on the TV camera, Viagra selling coach, Mike Ditka was born on the same day as myself.

Now the closest team is the Carolina Panthers. But even so I can't abandon the loyalties to the other teams I've supported. I don't know who my favorite team is. I've met many of the players and coach's from many teams when working at hotels. Some that come to mind were Artie Donovan, Brian Bilek, Deacon Jones, Gail Sayers, Art Schell, Shannon Sharpe, Leroy Selmon, and others whose names escape me at the moment. They were all great guys. I guess I don't have a favorite team and would be hard pressed to name one. My only hope now is that Meadows of Dan or Floyd don't get a franchise.

So it's opening night for the new season, the National Anthem has been sung, the game is about to start. It's a tough sport and the physical punishment these guys take is unimaginable. So whoever takes that Lombardi trophy will more than earn it. I wish all the teams the best season ever and I know that whoever comes out on top will provide many exciting and unexpected moments as will all these guys who love to play the game.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I stay out of it...feelings are so high around here. lol

1:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to say this, preferably behind a mic from any news reporter:

"I have no comments".

But I have, just one tiny one:

"I prefer other sports".

Hope you two are having a wonderful sporty weekend :-)

1:55 PM  
Blogger The MacBean Gene said...

Hi Ally, that's as good a reason as any to root for a team. I think those tight pants they wear might have somehing to do with it also. Oh yeah that's Mrs L! ;)

So does Wanda 3C.

I'll bet you do prefer other sports, Mrs. L, but might want to check out my comment to Ally.

4:17 PM  
Blogger Sean said...

I played american football in high school, and before I quit high school at 15 years of age and joined the private sector (har har) I was pretty good, playing freshman football. I was 1st string offense, defense and special teams so I played usually the first 3/4 of the game. At that point we were usually so far ahead that the coaches put 2nd and 3rd stringers in to get some playtime. I really enjoyed playing the game, but I can't seem to enjoy watching it enough to become a fan. As a friend of mine used to joke, "I'm not an athletic supporter."

4:37 AM  
Blogger The MacBean Gene said...

Well, Sean, I had a lot of difficulty with sports. That ADD thing made it hard to stay focused. The best I could do was run which I did tolerably well over the mile. It didn't take any talent, just stamina. My position on most sports was "left out".

Spectators at our football games have a different kind of crazy than the soccer fans, Kasia. Here head butts are to be expected, the whole stadium breaking into song is not.

8:09 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You missed the Packers. So far they are losers big time. BUT Wisconsin fans don't fret, the Packers will still be loved.
I have one daughter that is a fanatic about them, the rest of the kids all love them but she dotes on them.
She will be going to Green Bay for one game that I know of. In between games she is moving and publishing a paper.
I have to say, I don't watch them. Dean does, and some of the family get loud and shout at every game. I guess they are enjoying it???

So, go Packers!!!
Betty G

8:16 PM  

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