Optimus-Pessimist. A sports fan's explanation

RrSports Fans

 

This isn’t an essay that’s going to label different types of fans and define them.  That’s been done.  They’re all true mostly.  This is an attempt to stick up for a certain type of fan.  A level a fandom that I fall under.  A level that I’ve named, the Optimus-pessimist.  The educated sports fan that can also identify an issue when it’s presented and also feel the potential impending doom if it’s not corrected.

 

This isn’t to say I’m just a big negative Nancy about everything.  I’m a very positive person in many aspects of my life.  I’m a Christian and hold those values true to my life in all aspects, except sports.  Perhaps it’s my downfall.  But I have a hard time letting up considering that from as early as my mind could comprehend what was happening in a sporting event, I’ve been a fan.  All Dallas teams are my teams.  I live and die with those teams and I’m not ashamed to admit that.  

 

The latest streak of Ranger games has resulted in the team losing a 3 game lead in 4 days.  This presents a concern.  I’m not sure how one doesn’t understand that, but there arethose that see nothing wrong with it.  Upon raising these concerns on Twitter I’ve had a constant stream of negative feedback.  People are saying that the group of concerned fans are “giving up”, or “throwing in the towel.”  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  Texas has a great team; they’re just slumping, at the worst possible time.  There’s also the group of fans that will say that they’re just “Happy to be competing in September” and that it could be “much worse.”  God bless those people.  If I had that mindset it would be much easier.  But in reality, that’s the same group of people that are happy with participation trophies and getting a ribbon for last place.  I hate to lose.  I don’t care if its beer league softball or watching my Cowboys get beat on Sunday.  It’s all the same.  I’ve developed a personal attachment to those teams that force me to feel the way I do.  

 

There are loop holes, for sure.  Take the Dallas Mavericks for example.  The 2 years after winning the NBA title they’ve been a mediocre team.  Sure, I’m upset about it.  But not nearly as upset as I would’ve been had they not captured the title in 2011.  So the last 2 years I’ve managed to deal with it and have defended the team on multiple occasions for blowing up that 2011 roster.  A great move, for the record.

 

But the Texas Rangers are a different animal.  They were locked in obscurity for years until that magical 2010 season.  Some say that we should be happy just to make it this far and be relevant for 4 consecutive seasons.  I find that mentality very weak, just my opinion.  ESPECIALLY given that the team was 1 strike away from a World Series, twice.  Also, they blew a division lead in the West last year with a week to play.  So when I see a developing slump in the last month of the season, like the one I see right now, of course I’m going to get concerned.  And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.  

 

Being the optimus-pessimist that I can be at times, I’ve learned that the wins are even sweeter.  The 2011 Mavs title was a glorious night.  The pessimist sports fan has a far greater passion for the game than the other fan types may realize.  When we win, it’s a release of built up aggravation, and in my case, in the form of sports tears.  Don’t ever question the fandom of the optimus-pessimist.  I never call out the positive rainbows-and-butterflies fan base until they attack the fans that show and admit concerns.  I don’t care if the team has had a winning record in August.  I don’t care if the team leads the league in runs.  I don’t care if the team has the lowest E.R.A in baseball.  All that matters is how they play these games in September. I don’t care what the saber metric spreadsheet shows you, it means nothing if you don’t win when it counts.

 

If moral victories are your thing in sports, then good for you!  But I don’t hang a newspaper clipping in a frame in my man cave for having a “winning record.”  I don’t/won’t tell my children, nieces/nephews, grandchildren of the time we almost made it.  I don’t tell them of the time we had a winning August.  The best stories are the ones where the team is holding the championship trophy at the end.  That’s what I care about. That’s what I want.

 

Perspective

I sat and watched my wife, Traci, and our daughter,Mackenzi, playing the other day.  Mackenzi was laughing and everyone in the room had smiles.  The cost?  Zero dollars.  

 

I walked outside at around 9:00pm one night.  It was warm.  It’s summer time and it’s to be expected.  The sun was giving its last breaths as it fell behind the horizon.  A few fireworks were spotted in the distance as 4th of July wasapproaching.  I smiled with contentment.  The cost? Zero dollars.

 

One morning I woke up and got dressed for work.  Before heading downstairs my youngest daughter, Piper, woke up and ran to me.  “Daddy, Daddy.” She said.  I checked her sheets, no pee-pee.  “You didn’t pee the bed Piper! Good job!” I said.  We high fived and laughed.  The cost?  Zero dollars.

 

Perspective.  It’s all about your perspective on life built by your relationship with Jesus Christ.  

 

Of course it takes money to pay the mortgage/rent/car note/groceries/bills.  We all know this. We can’t help but be motivated by money.  But it can’t rule your life.

 

The rat race keeps us moving constantly.  We chasepromotions, more money, better car, bigger house, latest fashion, and latest technology.  It’s all by design to take our mind off of things that are most important in our lives.  The chase of success turns into greed.  The greed turns into a variety of immoral decisions.  Wars are fought over greed.  Politicians are making important decisions that affect us all based on illegal under-the-table money transfers.  Hard working Americans are getting laid off due to companies employing outside of the country or going electronic all to save dollars.  Forests are being cut down to make room for shopping centers so that cities can become congested with population so that everyone makes more money.  Moms and Dads are traveling 200 or more days per year so that they can get that promotion at work, yet they’re missing out on their son’s championship game or their daughter’s balletrecital.  Is it worth it?  I’m not saying that you shouldn’t work hard or that you should drive your family to bankruptcy because you’ve taken less money or quit your job.  I’m only recommending that your focus not be on the financial gains.  Take a look at your parents, or grandparents.  Notice how they’ve slowed down?  Yes they’ve worked hard to deserve what they’ve earned.  But they realize that life is passing them by rather quickly.  

 

But why can’t we recognize this at a younger age?  

 

We’re all going to die.  It’s the honest truth.  It could be at age 99 or it could be in 2 hours.  It’s inevitable.  Where are your priorities?

 

“Set your minds to things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”  Colossians 3:2

 

“You cannot serve both God and Money.”  Luke 16:13

 

Isn’t that perfect?  God knew we as humans would be in this predicament.  He’s telling us to focus on him and on Godly things; family, love.  If your heart is elsewhere, then you’re headed down a slippery slope.  Take a look at today’s society.  There’s more focus on material possessions than ever before, and we’re in some of the darkest times in human history.  This isn’t a coincidence.Some people laugh at Christians when they offer 10% to tithe at church, as if the church is “pulling one over on those silly Christians.”  They’re missing the point.  God knows our heart is easily influenced by money.  If we’re comfortable enough to give 10% of the money we earn to the church, then we’ve successfully surrendered our dependency on money for the love of God.  That’s a win.    

 

Sometimes people think that being a Christian or that following the bible is just obeying a set of rules.  But I compare it to when my parents would tell me not to touch something hot.  It’s not because they were being mean, it’s because they loved me.  They didn’t want me to get hurt.  If they told me to be home by 9, it wasn’t to crack a whip and be a dictator.  It’s because they didn’t want me out at dark and putting myself into a situation where I might get hurt.  It’s because they loved me.  And God loves you.  

 

Imagine the thing that you love more than anything.  That’s God’s love for you.  That’s his love for everyone.  He’s laid the path and written the blueprint to show us how to live the best life possible.  He’s told us things to be aware of.  He’s told us what to avoid.  Life can be simple.  Everything, good and bad, can be beautiful.  It’s all about your perspective.