Over the last several years, I’ve become less emotionally impacted by the result of sporting events. Perhaps that means I don’t/won’t enjoy the good moments as much, but I’m glad that I’ve been able to make that change. With that being said, I am in no way criticizing those of you who are much more emotionally invested in these games. I think it’s cool that you experience the rises and falls that you do, as that is certainly part of being a die-hard fan. And I have to admit that watching this series has had more of an impact on me than I thought it would, in both a good and bad way. I was in high school during the 1995 and 1997 WS runs, and it wasn’t easy going through that; as I’m sure was the case for many of us. It’s been easier for me this time around, even though the series has been just as dramatic, if not more so.
I was watching Game 6 with my dad last night, and was a little surprised to see how bummed he was with what was happening. He wasn’t yelling at the TV, or anything like that, but he was pretty somber. He seems to be more into this series than he was with the Cavs, and that got me thinking as to why. I wonder if people from his generation (he’s in his mid-60’s) have deeper ties to the Indians than any other Cleveland team. Back in the 50’s and 60’s, baseball was truly America’s Pastime. The NFL wasn’t a juggernaut yet, and the NBA was still in its infancy. Baseball was the game that kids played “until the streetlights game on,” they would collect and trade baseball cards, and really follow their favorite players. It was also a big sport in the 30’s and 40’s, when their parents were growing up, so that fandom almost certainly got passed down to them.
When the Indians got past Toronto, and clinched the pennant, I was fortunate enough to share that experience with my dad, and he immediately started calling his childhood friends, doing shots of bourbon over the phone, and talking to them about how cool it was that the Indians were going to the WS. I didn’t really think much of it then, but after seeing him last night, and hearing him talk about “how these things always seem to happen to Cleveland,” it finally dawned on me how much people of that age really want to see an Indians WS championship. Heck, he told me how one of his friends couldn’t even bring himself to watch the game last night. I know that sounds crazy, that someone would be “scared” to watch a baseball game, but maybe it just means so much to them that it becomes a little overwhelming.
So, while I’d personally be bummed out if the Indians don’t win Game 7, knowing that my dad and his friends would be so downtrodden would be what really gets to me. Here’s hoping that things break Cleveland’s way this evening. Go Tribe!
I was watching Game 6 with my dad last night, and was a little surprised to see how bummed he was with what was happening. He wasn’t yelling at the TV, or anything like that, but he was pretty somber. He seems to be more into this series than he was with the Cavs, and that got me thinking as to why. I wonder if people from his generation (he’s in his mid-60’s) have deeper ties to the Indians than any other Cleveland team. Back in the 50’s and 60’s, baseball was truly America’s Pastime. The NFL wasn’t a juggernaut yet, and the NBA was still in its infancy. Baseball was the game that kids played “until the streetlights game on,” they would collect and trade baseball cards, and really follow their favorite players. It was also a big sport in the 30’s and 40’s, when their parents were growing up, so that fandom almost certainly got passed down to them.
When the Indians got past Toronto, and clinched the pennant, I was fortunate enough to share that experience with my dad, and he immediately started calling his childhood friends, doing shots of bourbon over the phone, and talking to them about how cool it was that the Indians were going to the WS. I didn’t really think much of it then, but after seeing him last night, and hearing him talk about “how these things always seem to happen to Cleveland,” it finally dawned on me how much people of that age really want to see an Indians WS championship. Heck, he told me how one of his friends couldn’t even bring himself to watch the game last night. I know that sounds crazy, that someone would be “scared” to watch a baseball game, but maybe it just means so much to them that it becomes a little overwhelming.
So, while I’d personally be bummed out if the Indians don’t win Game 7, knowing that my dad and his friends would be so downtrodden would be what really gets to me. Here’s hoping that things break Cleveland’s way this evening. Go Tribe!
