What I Did For (Sports) Love

KeithK · August 03, 2005, 02:59:14 PM

Agreed. But you expect non-generic from Disnified ESPN? Of course not.

Jerseygirl · August 03, 2005, 03:30:20 PM

You know, I was thinking of submitting a Yankees story in hopes that it would have a better chance of making the column, but I haven't actively done anything crazy out of love for the team, things have just sort of happened by way of dumb luck -- like going up to the stadium by myself, getting offered a ticket 10 rows off the field and ending up sitting next to some club owner who gave me his card and was like, "Call me and I'll get you on a list when the Yankees come to my place." (I didn't -- I don't dig the "let's get dressed up to go admire famous people" thing.)

Of course I also woke up in cold sweats for months after the 2004 ALCS, after having nightmares in which the Yanks came back to tie it up, the game went into extra innings, and then they'd lose, or worse, they'd win, and I'd wake up and realize I was only dreaming.

And I didn't watch Aaron Boone's home run the year before because when I turned on the tv to watch the game, Soriano was at bat and struck out swinging on a pitch in the dirt. So I did what I had to do and turned the tv off, because obviously my tuning in was bad for the team.

I won't date people who are Red Sox fans. Seriously. I've turned down drinks (!!!) from guys who are wearing Boston hats.

I stopped talking to one of my best friends for well over a month after she jumped on the Sox bandwagon and was openly cheering for them on her online profile in the 2004 postseason.

Yes, I know, long post. I got riled up.

French Rage · August 03, 2005, 04:30:36 PM

The ones they published were so-so. We get it, people travel a long way and pay alot for their teams, but everyone has some story like that. You need something more, like the custom's problems with S-A-B's story. And the one about missing the wedding rehearsal was crap, unless he was the groom, who cares.

KeithK · August 03, 2005, 05:37:27 PM

My Cornell hockey stories are generally of the what lengths will I go to to get to the game variety. Long distance travel, cutting work, driving through whiteout conditions or on black ice. I have a lot more crazy emotional reactions to the Yankees, like putting a foot through the wall after a loss (in July no less) or breaking a baseball bat swinging it at furniture after an opponent's homerun (2001 series). The difference may come from the fact that Cornell hockey is more of a community thing for me. After a tough loss there's usually a group of fellow Cornell fans around me who I can commiserate with. Baseball has always been a more individual thing for me.

KeithK · August 03, 2005, 05:38:54 PM

[q]I won't date people who are Red Sox fans. Seriously. I've turned down drinks (!!!) from guys who are wearing Boston hats.[/q]While I respect that, I think you should accept the drink and then intentionally tell the guy what to do with his hat. Might as well get the free drinks, right?

Jeff Hopkins '82 · August 03, 2005, 05:44:33 PM

I've heard stories about Eagle fans who scheduled their wedding for the bye week so they wouldn't miss a game for their honeymoon.

Personally, I don't think what I've done for sports is too far out there but:

- Wearing an orange wig and a clown hat to harass Ray "Bozo" Casey when Princeton came to Lynah.
- Making a foam rubber #1 hand out of an old couch cushion since nobody made such a thing for Cornell back in 1980.
- Sleeping ouside during snow flurries in the season ticket line.
- Looking up the words to the German national anthem or to "O, Canada" in French so I could sing them when the pep band played them for the West German national team and the University of Montreal.
- Checking for Cornell scores online at a hotel lobby public computer in Shiwha, Korea or an internet cafe on Ambergris Key, Belize.

My personal favorite: We were playing Providence in the ECAC finals in the Garden in 1981. The Providence section was in the corner right across from the Faithful. There was a big sign on the railing that said "Go Friars! Beat Cornell!" I had some carboard and a marker to make impromptu signs, and made a sign that said "Off" I went up to the Providence section, and hung the "Off" sign so as to block out the word "Cornell!"

When they figured out what I'd done, they chased me halfway down the concourse. Worth every minute. :-D

KeithK · August 03, 2005, 06:24:56 PM

Well I would never dream of getting married in October. March/early April is probably out now too.

Jerseygirl · August 03, 2005, 08:44:48 PM

I don't even want to feign interest long enough to get the free drink, Keith. I have nothing to say to a man who likes the Red Sox.

cornelldavy · August 03, 2005, 09:18:39 PM

[Q]Jeff Hopkins '82 Wrote:

My personal favorite: We were playing Providence in the ECAC finals in the Garden in 1981. The Providence section was in the corner right across from the Faithful. There was a big sign on the railing that said "Go Friars! Beat Cornell!" I had some carboard and a marker to make impromptu signs, and made a sign that said "Off" I went up to the Providence section, and hung the "Off" sign so as to block out the word "Cornell!"

When they figured out what I'd done, they chased me halfway down the concourse. Worth every minute. [/q]

In high school, a bunch of my friends were on the boys' volleyball team, and so a few friends and I went to cheer them on at the state tournament. In the quarterfinals, the team they played was nicknamed the Rockets. They had a group of eight very burly guys, probably football players, spelling out "ROCKETS!" with paint on their t-shirts. Although our school's nickname was the Aces, three friends and I borrowed some tape from our team's trainer and instead taped "SUCK" on our shirts. Then we sat one row back and to their left. We made it through about three points before their exclamation point ran off to tell on us, and then a PIAA official made us take the tape off our shirts. I guess their football team wasn't that tough. I wish I still had the picture that one of the players' parents took of that one.

Will · August 03, 2005, 11:53:18 PM

[Q]jmh30 Wrote:

Nobody on this board has ever done anything crazy in the name of Cornell Hockey.[/q]

No, never, of course not. And certainly nothing illegal. Not to my recollection. ;-)

Josh '99 · August 04, 2005, 09:01:14 AM

[Q]KeithK Wrote:
... or breaking a baseball bat swinging it at furniture after an opponent's homerun (2001 series).[/q]Jeez Keith, what kind of cast-iron furniture do you own that the bat broke and not the furniture? ::nut::

Beeeej · August 04, 2005, 09:46:48 AM

[Q]jmh30 Wrote:
Sure, some of them are good, but some of them are terribly generic.[/q]

I can't believe they actually wasted space with an "I sat there and cried when my team lost!" story.

Beeeej

KeithK · August 04, 2005, 11:24:59 AM

My "coffee table" is an old steamer trunk that my grandparents used for transatlantic travel (not sure if it dates to when they actually immigrated or not). It's pretty much indestructable - and I have the notched bat to prove it!

Beeeej · August 04, 2005, 12:20:18 PM

Ah, but was their transatlantic travel specifically for the purpose of attending a playoff game?

Beeeej

RatushnyFan · August 04, 2005, 02:21:17 PM

I heckled Mike Gilligan (former Vermont coach) loudly. The unique part of it was that it was about an hour before the game and Grady (I think it was him, it was circa 1990) was interviewing him in the press/scout seats. There were about 10 people in the building and he just kept looking at me..........why on earth does this kid care this much? Kind of inappropriate I guess but I didn't curse and Grady managed to get through the interview.

Hey Section A - I am a HUGE Canucks fan, have watched every game since Brendan Morrison was traded there (went to Michigan for b-school, they won the national championship in '95-'96 when I was there). I am wondering what Nonis is doing, letting Malik go and trading Sopel. Good to get Naslund back but we need some defensemen!!