I first became aware that there is a difference between being a head fan and a heart fan during the Western regionals for NCAA basketball back in the 90's. The tournament was held in the "Pit," home of the UNM basketball Lobos. One of the teams to make it to the regional was the New Mexico State aggies.
On my way to the game my friends asked me, "So who will you be pulling for, the Aggies or UCLA"?
My head tells me it would be a great thing for the state of New Mexico basketball if the aggies could pull off a win against the heavily favored Bruins. "I will be pulling for NMSU", I confidently responded. But inside the pit, when the aggies ran out onto Bob King Court in their fringed warm ups, I immediately switched allegiance. I have pulled for the aggies in the newspaper, and even cheered them heartily on television, but my heart would not allow me to pull for them in the Pit. No way Jose.
I have the same problem today with BYU and Utah. While undoubtedly they are Mountain West Conference leaders, along with TCU, and it helps the conference where the BCS is concerned for the Utes and the Cougars to win outside the conference, my head says GO! but my heart says NO!
I try, I really try to pull for the Utes. And that is the truth. How awesome that the Mountain West Conference is 6-1 against the PAC 10. If I could just wake up in the morning and read the scores and see that Utah beats OSU 31-28 my head can say, “YEA” But if I watch the game as soon as I see that stupid helmet with the feather Logo or Swoop that ridiculous feathered mascot, or hear “I’m a Utah man sir” I immediately revert to what I was born to be.
Funny isn’t it? My head says "GO"!, my heart says "NO"! I have the exact opposite reaction to the Texas Longhorns. I don’t want to pull for them. My head doesn't care if they ever win a game, but when they run on the field and I see that awesome Longhorn Logo, Bivo the majestic live longhorn steer, and hear “The Eyes of Texas are upon you” my heart says “hook em horns"!
I am just being honest here. It is something I do not fully understand. I may never have a Lobo football team to be proud of. But I am a Lobo none-the-less and three teams Lobos don’t pull for, New Mexico State, BYU, and Utah. “I’m a Lobo fan sir, I’ve been one all my life.” And that, is the rest of the story.
7 comments:
Very fitting. Clay and I have had this same discussion. I can't stand TCU and the Texas A&M Aggies. I don't care it it helps the MWC or Big 12. Just something about sending those fans lose makes my day. BTW Go Lobos and Hook em Horns...
It's is so phenomenal to me that I read that entire post, and it was if you were blogging in Russian. The whole thing was nonsensical. I don't know how your sport fanaticism managed to so completely elude my personhood, but I'm pretty sure it's at the genetic level.
the only emotions I ever feel about any of it is on game saturdays when I'm trying to get some work done and I have to get amy to drop me off on the outskirts of campus because you can't even park or drive anywhere near the music hall, and the longhorn band have devoured our building like a cancer and the whole building smells like cheap Bar-b-q and fruit punch and sweat, and I just long for an away game. My heart says, go longhorns go! To somewhere else.
So Nathan must be adopted RIGHT?
"stupid helmet" is pretty harsh.
considering that you have strong ties to the U from your wife being employed there and your daughter having received a degree there...You at some level can say that you are a Utah man.
I understand your point though as I am unable to pull for any other team in the AFC West, or any other MWC team.
P.s. The Utes logo is awesome!
Correction Sean,
My wife does not work for or at the University. She works at Primary, does that give me LDS connections?
And just because they got my money for my daughters education, doesn't mean they even touched my heart. My cash may say go, but my heart still says no.
Nathan,
If you think I am a sports fanatic you have never met one.
And I don't know how you missed it either. Your aversion to all thing sports can be traced to two things.
1. Losing a wrestling match.
2. Your first little league team was all 8 year olds playing against 12 year olds. You won 0 games.
After those two events, no more sports for you.
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