Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Swallow your pride, don't let your lip react, you don't wanna see my hand where my hip be at

Since I ranted at over zealous sports fans yesterday, I will list my favorite teams in various sports and other teams I could claim if I had really wanted to...

NBA Basketball - I could cheer for Indianapolis because they are the closest team to the city I live in, but I do not. I did love Reggie Miller and Rick Smits, but they aren't my team. I could lay a college claim to the Charlotte Bobcats or either the Lakers or Clippers, but I don't. Kobe is the best in the NBA though and the Lakers will win the title in 2009. My team is the Chicago Bulls. Yes, they had Michael Jordan, but I preferred Pippen. The real reason I cheer for them is that I watched all their games on WGN so I could follow them the best. I still root for the "baby Bulls" and Hinrich was my favorite college player. Which brings me to...

College Sports - The way I see it I have five options. I can cheer for Louisville or Kentucky because I lived here the longest. I really don't care between them and generally cheer only if I know someone playing ... which is less and less common these days. Both are out. My dad went to Missouri ... I hate Missouri. Norm Stewart was Satan. I went to NC State. I always hope they do well in every sport. They should be "my" team. However, I have cheered for the school my mom went to, the state school of the state I was born in, since I was in utero. So go Jayhawks. If Kansas and NCSU played each other for a NCAA title I would be severely torn (well since I know people at NCSU still playing I would obviously want them to win, this theoretical is after they are all gone) and probably end up going for NCSU. I still think Kansas is my team.

MLB Baseball -- I could lay claim to Cincinnati since they are the closest, but I do not really like them at all. I could claim the Dodgers for my one semester at college there ... but that is ridiculous. Besides, I love Barry Bonds. That's right. I still love Barry Bonds. My team is the Royals. Kansas City represent... yeah they suck. At least we have 1985 (sorry Cardinals), Bo Jackson, and George Brett.

NFL -- You see where this is heading ... Chiefs. I long for the glory days of Steve DeBerg, Christian Okoye, Derrick Thomas, JJ Birden ... maybe one day again we won't suck.

NHL -- I lived in Connecticut from ages 2-5 (approximately) and therefore my team is and always will be the Hartford Whalers. I cheer so hard for them that I cheer against the Carolina Hurricanes. Though it was cool when Carolina won the Cup and the celebration engulfed the area of town I went after watching the game on tv. So after Hartford's team was stolen I decided to cheer for the Penguins. No reason ... like the animal, like Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis was a Whaler who played for them. Now they have Crosby and are good again, so that is nice.

English Premier League -- I decided to pick a team because I like soccer, so I picked Chelsea. I didn't know anything about them, but I have a friend named Chelsea. I felt that was as personal of a reason as I would get. I later learned they have the highest payroll, which sucks. Oh well. Go Chelsea.

Golfer - Sergio Garcia ... why not?
Race Car Driver - I don't watch this "sport"
World Cup team - Italy ... if the Basques ever got their own country I would root for them instead, but I am 25% Italian which is as much one ethnicity as I get
Olympics - the only time in my life I think "Go America" with no other knowledge of what is going on

A quick rave on top of this: nothing will ever beat the moment Mario Chalmers hit the tying three-pointer against Memphis this year ... my mom's reaction was so genuine and amazing that it made me realize why people watch sports

8 comments:

Debbie said...

My DVR isn't working right, so last night I was checking to make sure my old recordings still worked. And yes, I watched that wonderful 3 pointer again and got goosebumps!

Anonymous said...

I hope you swallowed enough pine tar to coat your throat like pepto-bismol, preventing you from ever uttering anything near a whisp, not even a whisper, after that 1985 World Series reference.

Jay Schulkin said...

Are you aware that "baby bulls" refers to Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, in addition to Hinrich and the soon to be gone Ben Gordon?

Whale Cancer said...

anonymous -- it was 23 years ago ... get over it

jugs -- yeah, I am, but to me it now just refers to any Bulls team not involving Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen

Anonymous said...

why do you leave all of your posts at 2:22 AM?
any significance?

Mike said...

Barry Bonds and Sergio Garcia, eh? The next time I see you no words will be exchanged. A fork stabbing, however, will take place.

I always try to get into soccer, and decided two years ago to cheer for AS Roma, only because the first time I saw the name I thought of Ass-Rama, which, let's face it, is just about the funniest thing ever.

Whale Cancer said...

kitty kat -- yes there is a significance, but it is secret

mike -- i don't really follow golf, i like just to see close final days. I have liked Bonds since he was in Pittsburgh, know he cheated, but I still like him and feel like he has been unfairly singled out in this whole process.

Unknown said...

My favorite post of yours so far. Reasons:
1. it starts with basketball, a topic i have a slight interest in.
2. i got a real live shout out!!! woo hooooo! :) and i know nothing about soccer in america, england, europe, anywhere.. but chelsea is definitely my favorite team too!
3. i also got a semi shout out since i am a member of a group you mentioned (friend thats formerly a wildcat). even though your attendance brought no good things except for fun post game times.
thanks for the love chris!!!