This week, I did something that would be unfathomable to many of my brethren: I wore a Phillies hat, and I liked it. I had some work meetings in Philadelphia, so I went down a day early to go to the Sunday afternoon Phillies game with my friend Kate and her family. The plan was to meet at the seats, so I got there early to walk around and take in the atmosphere. Walking wasn’t easy. Even with a strong chill in the air, the concourses were packed with Phillies fans. It turns out it was the Phillie Phanatic’s birthday, and there was a substantial pre-game celebration.
"everything is sports" and "loving one team doesn’t necessitate hating your rivals" are profound statements and I hope everyone reads them in the broad, universal sense you meant them (as I read them), internalize them and use them to inform everyday interactions.
It's a great hat! I love the hat of minor league teams in the Seattle Mariners organization - the neon blue one with the tree frog (go Aquasox!) and an angy peanut hat for the Modesto Nuts.
I'm going to be in New York for the Yankees-Mets series in July. I'll cheer for the Mets for you :)
I think I started on this journey of non-toxic fandom earlier than you did, but I felt many of the same things and have had mirrored experiences. I love baseball. I will always root for the Mariners; I'll be disappointed when they lose and pleased when they win (Maybe, someday, I'll get to root for them in a WS). But, if they move to another city and become the, oh, I don't know, Oklahoma City Bottom Feeders, I'll still celebrate, watch, and follow baseball. Why would I rob myself of watching the great players on the Houston Astros or the Texas Rangers simply because they win more games than the Mariners? I am a happier fan celebrating great players and plays regardless of what uniform they are wearing.
Fanning your way to enlightenment.
"everything is sports" and "loving one team doesn’t necessitate hating your rivals" are profound statements and I hope everyone reads them in the broad, universal sense you meant them (as I read them), internalize them and use them to inform everyday interactions.
It's a great hat! I love the hat of minor league teams in the Seattle Mariners organization - the neon blue one with the tree frog (go Aquasox!) and an angy peanut hat for the Modesto Nuts.
I'm going to be in New York for the Yankees-Mets series in July. I'll cheer for the Mets for you :)
I think I started on this journey of non-toxic fandom earlier than you did, but I felt many of the same things and have had mirrored experiences. I love baseball. I will always root for the Mariners; I'll be disappointed when they lose and pleased when they win (Maybe, someday, I'll get to root for them in a WS). But, if they move to another city and become the, oh, I don't know, Oklahoma City Bottom Feeders, I'll still celebrate, watch, and follow baseball. Why would I rob myself of watching the great players on the Houston Astros or the Texas Rangers simply because they win more games than the Mariners? I am a happier fan celebrating great players and plays regardless of what uniform they are wearing.