It's Just a Game

This post was inspired by attending the recent Cowboys – Giants game at Metlife Stadium. The key word being “game”. Many fans of these divisional rivals have strong feelings for their team and perhaps even stronger feelings against the other team, so I expected to hear a lot of trash talking back and forth and to see a lot of posturing. Both were going strong in the parking lot before the game and got stronger in the stadium. For most fans, the good-natured ribbing is part of the fun of the game.

For some reason though, there are fans who elevate the importance of the game to a level of life and death. A Giants fan sitting in front of us was constantly euphoric or bordering on clinical depression based on what his team was doing. It was fun to watch him and even his friend got some good laughs as he swung back and forth. While that’s a benign example, we saw several fights break out between fans showing their loyalty to their team. Of course, alcohol played a role in that, but those fans must have their lives manically connected to their team in the first place to take things to that extreme. It’s just a game, people, chill out and enjoy the show.

Seeing those confrontations brought back memories of when a friend who is an Islanders fan and I (a Devils fan) would wear our respective team jerseys to games at the old Meadowlands Arena; sitting next to each other and enjoying the game, no matter which team was winning. We frequently heard derogatory remarks toward my friend and I was often questioned about how I could sit with him. A few pretzel bits and other objects were sometimes tossed at him too. When that happened I addressed the offenders and attempted to explain that we are friends and the action on the ice is just a game. Some got it, some not so much. It’s interesting that fans often take their team loyalty much farther than the players. Back when fighting was common in the NHL there were many instances of players fighting during a game – doing their job for their team – then going out for dinner together after, as they were friends who happen to be on opposing teams that night. Friendship loyalty tops loyalty to a team playing a game.

Sadly too many people allow loyalty to a team, political party, cult of personality, or other “thing” to damage or even end friendships or family relationships. We’ve heard a lot about those who have taken political associations to the extreme over the last several years, even ending marriages over who voted for whom. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t comprehend that, especially in politics where both sides are supposed to be for freedom of speech and freedom to choose. The irony in that is too much for my little brain to take. As for team loyalty, thankfully there are many strong friendships and even marriages in which loyalty to different teams adds to the fun of watching games and sharing time together. Three cheers for all those who get that!

My message here is pretty simple. Lighten up! Sweat the big stuff like health and wellbeing, but let the little stuff, like which team someone cheers for or which candidate a person votes for go. Life is too short and precious to be that petty.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 10-03-2022