It makes me sick. I can feel the vomit slowly but surely making its way up my throat, knowing that a projectile of liquid could be coming out very soon. Luckily, I am able to hold it back, only to sadly know that the feeling will return very soon. Unfortunately the cause of this undeniably uncomfortable feeling is all around me and not leaving anytime soon. The cause?
The Florida sports fan-scene.
I moved to Florida three years ago to escape the depressing winters of Michigan and pursue a career in teaching. The fact that my new job was located ten minutes from the powdery sand of Clearwater Beach left me with no second thoughts as I jumped on I-75 and headed south. It was the best decision of my life, as I have created quite the niche in my career, social life, and friendships, assimilating almost effortlessly. Unfortunately, there is one thing that I can never assimilate into — the world of Florida sports teams.
My two earliest memories in sports that catapulted me into the obsession that I now have with are 1) my father coming home from Tiger Stadium with a Tigers pennant for me to put on my wall and 2) crying myself to sleep after the Pistons lost Game Two of the 89’-90’ Finals despite Bill Laimbeer’s three point onslaught. Since then, I have followed those teams with a passion that my ex-girlfriend questioned (hence the ex) and along the way picked up the Red Wings, Lions (a sickness in its own right) and U of M sports to include in my obsession. The sports teams and the around the clock coverage were honestly almost harder to leave than my friends and family, simply because friends and family can come and visit, but I don’t think the Pistons’ organization would be very intrigued by the idea of moving to Tampa.
Now I am surrounded by a plethora of bandwagon Rays, Magic and USF fans. Yes, I know that fans need to grow out of somewhere, but my complaint is centered around the idea that once you get on the wagon don’t get off. Too many people down here do that. Last summer people who didn’t even know who the Tampa Rays were suddenly became “die-hard” fans. I seriously felt bad for the twenty or so real die-hard fans who couldn’t get tickets to the playoffs because of all these new Rays fans who of course disappeared at the beginning of this year’s season.
USF fans are the same way. Good for you for supporting your University, but do it all the time. I suffered through Michigan’s awful season last year with my head held high and am willing to do so until the end if I must.
Magic fans are just downright soft. During the two Finals runs for the Pistons in 2004 and 2005 I was lucky enough to have season tickets and attend every playoff game. If you wore the other teams colors then you would hear it, through the whole game. In Orlando they don’t know how to cheer for their own team, let alone talk trash.
Bucs fans have credibility, Lightning fans don’t seem to exist (at least out of the closet), and the fans that make me the most sick actually have most reason to celebrate. Those are the Gator fans. All I can say about that is if I have to hear one more thing about how godly Tim Tebow is then I will go postal. I swear to god people try to bottle up the air he breathes and sell it on Ebay. Gag me!
So I end this somewhat lengthy post by saying, thank you Detroit4lyfe for letting me attach myself more to the Detroit sports scene that I love and thank you to all the Detroit sports fans who cheer through good and bad, because Detroit is one of the best sports cities in the world.
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