Football, Contrast Podcast-Style
The contrast podcast is all about football today, although depending on your location and inclination, it could be American-style (in honor of the Superbowl) or the-rest-of-the-world-style (no need to spell it out, is there?). Give it a listen right here.
Thinking about this subject made me realize what a long and complicated relationship I have with the game. I love football--American-style--and I even used to play in neighborhood games with my older brother and his friends. Not to brag or anything, but they used to call me Fran Tarkenton (yes, I am that old) because I had a pretty good arm--for a girl, that is.
Anyway, when I was about 9 or 10, I got tackled pretty hard and ended up spraining my arm and I think that was the last full-contact game I ever played. The guys were just too much bigger than me and it was starting to get dangerous.
My team, back in the day, was the Cleveland Browns. I loved them, knew every player, rooted for them religiously. Understand, they always, always let me down in the crucial games. I don't ever remember them going to the Superbowl. A couple of AFC championship games, which they always lost, but it didn't matter. They were my team.
Loving the Browns, however, meant that I hated every other team in our division, including most emphatically hating the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I mean despising them! So there is no way in hell, even all these many years later, that I could ever bring myself to cheer for them in the Superbowl.
Which puts me in a bad position for this year's game, as the Steelers are playing the Cardinals, who, as you may recall, beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game two weeks ago. (See, I live near Philly now and I support the Eagles, even though they--like the Browns--routinely disappoint me).
Who, then, should I root for? Certainly not Pittsburgh, but I'm not overly fond of Arizona either, so I am in a pickle. If I were forced to choose, I'd pick the Cards, as my philosophy is that you want the team that beat you to win, as at least then you know you lost to the better team. But truth be told, I don't really give a shit this year. If the Eagles were in it, I'd be very excited, but I think I may just sit this one out, unless I watch only in hopes of seeing the Steelers lose, but naturally they're favored to win.
So that is my long, sad, complicated story about my relationship with football, and I didn't even go into the bit about how Art Modell (go to hell!!) stole the Browns from Cleveland (under cover of darkness!!) and sold them to Baltimore, leaving Cleveland without a team for years. No, I didn't even mention that. Instead, I've chosen a depressing little song to illustrate my feelings about the whole thing and it will take less time to listen to it than it will have to read this lengthy, self-indulgent post!
All-Time Quarterback--"Cleveland" mp3 off All-Time Quarterback (buy)
p.s. That's my beloved quarterback Brian Sipe. Sigh. He was one good-looking dude and not too shabby a player, either.
p.p.s. I just realized that All-Time Quarterback is actually Ben Gibbard of Death Cab. Who knew? I guess I should have known!
Great track. The voice sounded familiar, but I wouldn't have made the Death
Cab connection.
Its really cold in Cleveland tonight, nice little song.
When I was a kid, we lived, for a time, near Cincinnati. Our family fell
in line behind the team Dad rooted for, so it was the Bengals and the
Browns. Sunday Masses were attended with game time in mind. I can't even
REMEMBER any players names from back then, so your memory is a lot better
than mine! When we moved to PA, we stuck with our OH teams for awhile, but
eventually morphed into Eagles fans, but our love for the Cincinnati Reds
hung on as long as Rose, Bench, etc. were players.
When I moved away from home, I picked my own teams, and I felt no loyalty
to any team but the Ohio State Buckeyes until we moved to New England! You
just cannot live here without getting behind the teams.
afm--i thought i recognized the voice, too, and when i went to do my buy
link, i saw who it really was.
I found the ATQ cd in my favorite record shop in my college town after
having JUST heard that BG had done this. It took a couple listens to grow
on me and now I just love that whole album. "Sock Hop", "Factory Direct",
and "Dinner at Eight in the Suburbs" being my faves!
james--i'm curious, is the whole album as stripped down and bare as this
song? coz it's a far cry from death cab these days, that's for sure!
It sat up till after 3am watching Superbowl 43.
i must admit, i got my hopes up near the end of the fourth quarter, but to
no avail. and you're right, the cards probably won't be in the superbowl
again any time soon! i'm very impressed with your dedication to the game,
btw, staying up till the wee hours like that! you are a true fan! : )
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