Warriors, Gladiators, and Athletes
Comments (0)After a victorious Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, etc, we ask our sports stars questions about what it takes to get to the pinnacle of their profession. Then we listen as they talk about being “gladiators” or “warriors” or say that a “field general” took charge. Maybe they say it was a “fight to the death” but we won in the “trenches” or it’s a real “war” out there. And of course every winning team has a “hero”. We even hear it after regular season games. A pitcher will say he “battled” through a tough spot, a running back describing his touchdown as running through a “mine field” and on and on.
I’m not usually bothered by this. Let me repeat, I’m not usually bothered by this. But today I am. We celebrate Memorial Day to honor and remember those who gave their lives for us. They made the ultimate sacrifice for us all. When I think of heroes, it’s those who slogged through mud, and disease carrying mosquitos, or sand and searing heat, or bone-numbing cold and wind all the while not knowing what lay waiting for them. Some saved others at the expense of their safety, while some were victims of long range artillery as they ate their c-rations, or shot were down in a plane, or torpedoed on an ocean thousands of miles from home. Many were gung-ho to enlist, while others drafted into the the service of the country. They came from farms, big cities, the rich, the poor and in between. Some were brash, some were quiet, but all did what was necessary at the time.
Let’s face it, our language was hijacked a long time ago in every big city neighborhood, and common usage becomes the meaning for most of us. But for a little while can we lay off comparing sporting events to life and death situations? Stop calling ball players warriors, gladiators and heroes? It is a disservice to those we honor on Memorial Day.
Chicago style baseball fans
Comments (8)What are fans like in other cities? Do Dodger fans hate the Angels? Giant fans hate the A’s? Maybe so, but I’m not so sure it isn’t just for appearances. Met fans hate the Yankees and vice-versa? Of course they do. And I’m all for it!
Here in Chi-Town I’ll bet we have it all. When you’re a little fan, say younger than the teen years you root for your guys come hell or high water. But after that reality sets in. I’m laying off the youngsters and the naive, you know chicks that don’t care but root for (or against) the team their boyfriend does, etc. Old time Cub fans only hated the Cubs. They ignored the ChiSox. When the Northsiders were winning it was all good, yet they waited for the bottom to drop out. On the other side of town it was a little different but not much. White Sox fans were a little pessimistic too, and also hated their team, but spread it around more. They hated ALL other teams.
Then came these strange, gentler, new-age fans. Some of them actually root for both teams! That was rarer than the Do-Do bird, or rarer even than Dick Butkus eats his steak. Now it’s more common, and I think those people actually DO root for both teams. Sheesh, what’s this world coming to? I suppose that’s okay if you just want to chill, have a hot dog and a beer and watch a game, but then why not just go over to Eckhart Park and not pay the ticket price?
The worst of the bunch are the “fans” that root for out of town teams like the Yanks or Bosox or Cards and they lived here all their lives! I can understand the transplants cuz they’re still loyal to hometown, but gimme a break baby, rooting for the Redlips, cuz they finally can won? Or the Yanks cuz they have more money than OPEC to pay for a team? Or for the Brewers cuz they encourage you to pee your pants?
Let’s get back to good old-fashioned fandom. You know what I mean. I like the Sox or Cubs, so I either hate or ignore the team on the other side of town. That kind of fan. That’s what I’m talking about. So Go Sox! Yankees, Bosox, Indians, etc? They all can take a bite outta my @$$! The Cubs? Who cares?