Anyone can tell you that some of the most heated moments in the life of a sports fan comes after the first five minutes of the final buzzer. It’s in that time capsule, that we (joesportsfan) unleash what I like to call the “wrath of all-knowing.”
You know, that moment when you’re hanging around the gang and that same person after every game says the refs are out to get your team? While everyone is reliving game scenarios that could of gone your team’s way, the slightly buzzed pal that never brings beer over mentions three times that player Y needs to go. Of course, that friend in a stooper only remembers one bad play as it streams through his sloshed consciousness.
Then there is the guy that you would swear had a tie and suit on, because he is the best damn coach of all the land. Hell, his clipboard has some drawn up play that works 100% of the time. As a matter of fact, in all of the games he’s coached watched — he’s undefeated.
Fuming — after watching the ugliest basketball game I’ve seen at any level this year, I found myself evolving into a combination of all the worst sports fans you can think of. It’s amazing how a silly game can turn a man into a monster. In the drop of the hat, you can become a different person.
Just ask my fiance.
Moments after Jared Sullinger’s worst game of his career, I slammed my laptop down after wrapping up the recap on the site. Turning towards our couch, I subconsciously grabbed the hat on the tap of my head and flung it across the room. As the script O spun in mid-air, nearly clipping the love of my life — it hit me.
No, not my fiance (thank goodness she was sleeping, and she is way to beautiful to call an it!). You know those rare moments as a man, where you actually feel guilty if you don’t admit that you were wrong?
Maybe I had a point when thinking that Thad Matta should have injected some more energy into the ballgame by bringing in Sam Thompson and/or J.D. Weatherspoon for a solid length of time. It’s very possible that moving Aaron Craft over to the 2 while bringing in Shannon Scott at the point could of gotten the ball off screens to the only semi-warm hand in scarlet and gray.
Hell, at one point I was screaming at my computer screen to take out Jared Sullinger for Amir Williams or Trey McDonald. After watching five minutes of the second half, I would of felt vindicated if Mark Titus stepped out of the crowd and hit the court. In my eyes, even the guy that asked his coach not to put him incould of turned things around.
Truth of the matter is that no matter what a coach, player, or fan does — sometimes things don’t go your way.
When you realize that you’re feeling the same anguish displayed on the face of your team’s top player, the spectrum becomes just a bit more clear.
No matter who is playing or coaching your favorite team, there are going to be things you disagree with. Excuses and devised strategy will be created by fans to fill the expectation of winning every single time our team takes the floor. Sometimes though, we have to take a step back and give props to the opposing team that imposed their game plan.
I was so angry at Thad Matta on Saturday night for not adjusting on the fly, that I woke up the morning after with a case of the sports fan willies. After Aspirin and a cup of nice hot tea, it finally hit me that I wasn’t looking at the big picture.
If we try hard enough, we can find the flaws in every single sports figure, not matter how impressive their track record is. Every single coach and athlete are human, with specific sports identities.
Thad Matta has and will always give minutes to the players he can trust. If you aren’t fundamentally ready to handle the ongoing contest on both sides of the floor, He won’t call your number. Sure, it can be frustrated in games where his team just isn’t responding. It often times leads to bone-crushing defeats hurting that much more (see Kentucky).
It’s that Identity though that has brought Ohio State back to where it belongs. Without it, this team doesn’t win the 39 straight games at home leading to Saturday’s contest with Michigan State. Without a doubt, it’s played a role in the Buckeyes being in the Big Ten hunt year in and year out.
The next time I’m reeling after an ugly loss, I can’t promise that I won’t be more sour than the three month old milk in my fridge. It’s human nature to believe we have all the answers and solutions.
I can guarantee though that I’ll remember we are lucky enough to have a program worth nit-picking about.
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