2008 Woodie Awards
Inside the Lines: An ode to the die-hard fan
Pat Slack
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Sports
Mornings like Wednesday make me wonder why oh why am I a sports fan, in particular, a baseball fan. The stock market is in turmoil, I have two presidential candidates telling me how terrible my life will be if I vote for the other, but all I can think about is my favorite team, the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to the rival Chicago White Sox Tuesday night in a one-game playoff to determine who would win the American League Central Division and advance to the playoffs, and who would be heading home for the winter.
In the grand scheme of things, it should be treated as a relatively small disappointment. Still, there should be no shame in labeling oneself as a die-hard sports fan during difficult times. At the risk of waxing philosophical, the passionate sports fan gets to experience life in a way that the average person does not and learn a few life lessons along the way.
Every spring, pitchers and catchers report for training camp, signaling a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to dream of World Series glory. No one is concerned about the fact that only one in 30 teams will win the ultimate prize and have their accomplishments enshrined in the record books for all time. Only eight teams, just over 25 percent, even make the postseason.
After training camp comes the joy of opening day, the first of a 162-game marathon journey that covers spring, summer and fall. With such a long season, baseball teaches the necessity to remain even-keeled and not sacrifice the future for just one game. Win or lose, you have to come right back the next day and try to be at your best.
However, when the season is winding down, it provides the perfect chance to cut loose and let your emotions hang on your sleeve. Last Tuesday, the Twins opened a three-game series at home against Chicago, knowing full well they had to sweep to keep any playoff hopes alive. They cruised to victory in the first game before scoring early and hanging on late in their second game, leaving them a half game out of first place.
The Twins dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to the rival Chicago White Sox Tuesday night in a one-game playoff to determine who would win the American League Central Division and advance to the playoffs, and who would be heading home for the winter.
In the grand scheme of things, it should be treated as a relatively small disappointment. Still, there should be no shame in labeling oneself as a die-hard sports fan during difficult times. At the risk of waxing philosophical, the passionate sports fan gets to experience life in a way that the average person does not and learn a few life lessons along the way.
Every spring, pitchers and catchers report for training camp, signaling a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to dream of World Series glory. No one is concerned about the fact that only one in 30 teams will win the ultimate prize and have their accomplishments enshrined in the record books for all time. Only eight teams, just over 25 percent, even make the postseason.
After training camp comes the joy of opening day, the first of a 162-game marathon journey that covers spring, summer and fall. With such a long season, baseball teaches the necessity to remain even-keeled and not sacrifice the future for just one game. Win or lose, you have to come right back the next day and try to be at your best.
However, when the season is winding down, it provides the perfect chance to cut loose and let your emotions hang on your sleeve. Last Tuesday, the Twins opened a three-game series at home against Chicago, knowing full well they had to sweep to keep any playoff hopes alive. They cruised to victory in the first game before scoring early and hanging on late in their second game, leaving them a half game out of first place.
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