On Fandom and Faith - Printable Version

On Fandom and Faith - Printable Version

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Re: On Fandom and Faith - Hank 91 - 08-19-2014

I'm not a religious person, but in recent years I've come to terms with the fact that sports -- specifically Stanford football and the New York Yankees -- have been my religion. I think that being a fan means allowing sports to be important and being okay with your level of investment in events beyond your control. I was at the game during my freshman year when Todd Lichti and company beat #1 Arizona at Maples, but that isn't my strongest memory of Stanford basketball. That was after the Siena game a year later. I remember I had biked to the post office to check my P.O. box, and I ran into a friend. She blathered on about this or that, and I wasn't listening to a word she was saying. Finally, she asked me what was wrong, and I told her that Stanford had lost a basketball game. I'll never forget her response: "Oh, bummer." I was stunned that this event, which honestly felt like a death to me, had somehow escaped her awareness and then meant absolutely nothing to her once it was explained.

This, I think, is what it means to be a fan. I don't think it's about blind faith. The Yankees are struggling through a mediocre season, and tonight they coughed up three runs in the top of the ninth, putting them behind, 7-4. I watched the bottom of the ninth, but not because I thought they would win. I watched because I knew they might. Being a fan is about embracing the possibility. Sometimes it's the possibility of winning a national championship, other times it's the possibility of finally getting a first down.

When I look towards this Stanford football season, I realize that there are probably two or three losses on the schedule, but when I look closely, I see that there isn't a single game that can't be won, and I don't think any impartial observer could argue that. And so I embrace the possibility of an undefeated season.

Re: On Fandom and Faith - martyup - 08-20-2014

(08-19-2014, 11:02 PM)Hank 91 link Wrote:I'm not a religious person, but in recent years I've come to terms with the fact that sports -- specifically Stanford football and the New York Yankees -- have been my religion. I think that being a fan means allowing sports to be important and being okay with your level of investment in events beyond your control. I was at the game during my freshman year when Todd Lichti and company beat #1 Arizona at Maples, but that isn't my strongest memory of Stanford basketball. That was after the Siena game a year later. I remember I had biked to the post office to check my P.O. box, and I ran into a friend. She blathered on about this or that, and I wasn't listening to a word she was saying. Finally, she asked me what was wrong, and I told her that Stanford had lost a basketball game. I'll never forget her response: "Oh, bummer." I was stunned that this event, which honestly felt like a death to me, had somehow escaped her awareness and then meant absolutely nothing to her once it was explained.

This, I think, is what it means to be a fan. I don't think it's about blind faith. The Yankees are struggling through a mediocre season, and tonight they coughed up three runs in the top of the ninth, putting them behind, 7-4. I watched the bottom of the ninth, but not because I thought they would win. I watched because I knew they might. Being a fan is about embracing the possibility. Sometimes it's the possibility of winning a national championship, other times it's the possibility of finally getting a first down.

When I look towards this Stanford football season, I realize that there are probably two or three losses on the schedule, but when I look closely, I see that there isn't a single game that can't be won, and I don't think any impartial observer could argue that. And so I embrace the possibility of an undefeated season.

Thank you.Â I started this topic with the question "What does it mean to be a Stanford fan?"Â Hank, IMO you have given the best answer.

Re: On Fandom and Faith - CornFed - 08-20-2014

Are you able to do this without the aid of technological devices?Â Or have you tried the gravitational manipulation helmet, which I am told can condense thought waves like a laser?Â If the former, you are a truly awesome dude!

What is "fandom"? - Redrum - 08-20-2014

What is an addict's relationship to his crack pipe?

I wonder about this only occasionally.Â The crack being good enough to get me through another week, another season.Â

It might be that back in the Pleistocene, when I transferred in,Â football was the only recognizable,Â positively re-enforcing thing that was readily accessible.Â Didn't know anybody,Â still sorting out my living situation,Â trying to simultaneously grasp and accelerate my community college academics to Stanford level.Â But Saturdays in Stanford Stadium was a complete, self-contained and satisfying experience.Â Pretty simple really.Â Just like puppies imprint on their early human contacts,Â I imprinted on Stanford football.Â Have remained hopeful and positive about other Stanford sports but it's merely a preference that they win and do us proud.Â Football, different story.Â I started following that master around when just a pup and now, when maybe people are whispering that it's time I be put down,Â I'm still loping along and wagging my tail.

I'll let garvin prosecute me for torturing that metaphor to death.Â At least it's not a real puppy.

God cares - Cowboy1 - 08-20-2014

God definitely cares about football. Why else would you see fans and players praying during games?Â God doesn't care about kickers though, else the Fiesta Bowl would have turned out differently.

Almost as important, players and coaches can hear you if you yell at your tv loud enough.Â This works even if you are watching a recording of a game (space-time continuum or something like that - missed that day of physics).Â However coaches are stubborn and will often ignore you.Â

Re: On Fandom and Faith - CTcard - 08-20-2014

Three deceptively linked posts ...

(08-19-2014, 03:37 PM)garvin link Wrote:I did, however, stay up into the wee hours of the morning East Coast time to watch.Â

(08-20-2014, 10:12 AM)garvin link Wrote:It is completely clear to me that my concentrated thought patterns affect Stanford play-calling. ... This is why I don't drink during games.

(08-20-2014, 12:11 PM)Cowboy1 link Wrote:Almost as important, players and coaches can hear you if you yell at your tv loud enough.Â This works even if you are watching a recording of a game (space-time continuum or something like that - missed that day of physics).Â However coaches are stubborn and will often ignore you.

Re: On Fandom and Faith - pefloresjr - 08-21-2014

(08-20-2014, 10:32 PM)CTcard link Wrote:Three deceptively linked posts ...

[quote author=garvin link=topic=10393.msg94706#msg94706 date=1408487872]
I did, however, stay up into the wee hours of the morning East Coast time to watch.Â

(08-20-2014, 10:12 AM)garvin link Wrote:It is completely clear to me that my concentrated thought patterns affect Stanford play-calling. ... This is why I don't drink during games.

(08-20-2014, 12:11 PM)Cowboy1 link Wrote:Almost as important, players and coaches can hear you if you yell at your tv loud enough.Â This works even if you are watching a recording of a game (space-time continuum or something like that - missed that day of physics).Â However coaches are stubborn and will often ignore you.

Given that the Greatest Upset Ever ended at 10:30 Eastern Time, I have to assume that either Garvin was drinking well into the wee hours in irrational celebration of the event, or he was using that space-time continuum thing to guide Tavita's throws on consecutive fourth down plays while watching a recording. But maybe that drinking thing was why he couldn't be bothered on first through third downs.
[/quote]

Garvin is from Miami.Â Early Bird Blue Plate Special is served at 5:00, Wheel is on at 7:00, loud snoring in BarcaLounger begins at 7:35.Â 10:30 is the wee hours for old dudes in white pants.Â :P
Cheers,
Pete F.

Old Miami dudes in white pants.... - Mick - 08-21-2014

(08-21-2014, 06:35 AM)pefloresjr link Wrote:[quote author=CTcard link=topic=10393.msg94815#msg94815 date=1408599125]
Three deceptively linked posts ...

[quote author=garvin link=topic=10393.msg94706#msg94706 date=1408487872]
I did, however, stay up into the wee hours of the morning East Coast time to watch.Â

(08-20-2014, 10:12 AM)garvin link Wrote:It is completely clear to me that my concentrated thought patterns affect Stanford play-calling. ... This is why I don't drink during games.

(08-20-2014, 12:11 PM)Cowboy1 link Wrote:Almost as important, players and coaches can hear you if you yell at your tv loud enough.Â This works even if you are watching a recording of a game (space-time continuum or something like that - missed that day of physics).Â However coaches are stubborn and will often ignore you.

[Image: 173978403-singer-ricky-martin-poses-in-t...q%2BQcwAIC]

I had an event in Miami and stayed at a hotel where Ricky Martin was performing.Â Very loud very long into the morning.Â And they looooooove him there.