I’m a Giants fan, so I was always going to root against the Dodgers. But the Blue Jays made it so easy to not just want them to win, but to really care! Vladdy’s leadership is so fun to watch. This was a special team, and it sucks so much that it’s over now. 💙
Excellent post, Katie. I'm not a huge baseball fan (not one of my favorite sports, though, like Katrina, I will root for the Giants and root against the Dodgers). I was hoping the Blue Jays would win though, and your article is beautiful.
In particular, the last paragraph resonated with me: "The force the same across all of sports, no matter what you decide to call it. Not religious, heretically devout, an uncontested unanimousness. Knowing that everyone who roots for a team, a person, has felt that. Has made those little bargains. Felt the losses and great, rollercoaster-drop disbelief (a wedged ball?!) but felt too the giddy pop of joy at a game breaking how you wished it would, the certainty of your gut, the electric zips in the air on the night of a game that feels destined. There’s a lot there to go around."
I've certainly felt that. It's a powerful feeling and to feel it among fellow fans is amazing. Since my sports teams have been struggling, I've often taken that feeling for granted. I also didn't think about the differences between how celebrations are viewed in basketball and baseball. But, your article reminded me of one of the reasons why I love sports - this force that brings about this common, powerful feeling (like a feeling of community too) among athletes and fans. Awesome write as always, Katie!
I'm a Yankees fan, and I wasn't even that upset that if we had to lose, at least it was to this team. This is also spot on: " I feel anxious, nervous, I want very badly not only for my city’s team to win but for this exact version of it. These people." Even when teams 'run it back' it's often with some sort of change, a fix that marginally changes the vibes. The Celtics winning a championship with Marcus Smart would have felt very different from them actually winning a championship with Porzingis. This is one reason why people have weird feelings about the KD Warriors, too.
Hmmmmm…. I now wonder Katie, how you may write about the Jay’s lost. I look forward to that! I am sharing this newsletter with a university English student, so that she can read insightful, creative writing….. to be inspired by you and with possibility.
I’m a Giants fan, so I was always going to root against the Dodgers. But the Blue Jays made it so easy to not just want them to win, but to really care! Vladdy’s leadership is so fun to watch. This was a special team, and it sucks so much that it’s over now. 💙
Excellent post, Katie. I'm not a huge baseball fan (not one of my favorite sports, though, like Katrina, I will root for the Giants and root against the Dodgers). I was hoping the Blue Jays would win though, and your article is beautiful.
In particular, the last paragraph resonated with me: "The force the same across all of sports, no matter what you decide to call it. Not religious, heretically devout, an uncontested unanimousness. Knowing that everyone who roots for a team, a person, has felt that. Has made those little bargains. Felt the losses and great, rollercoaster-drop disbelief (a wedged ball?!) but felt too the giddy pop of joy at a game breaking how you wished it would, the certainty of your gut, the electric zips in the air on the night of a game that feels destined. There’s a lot there to go around."
I've certainly felt that. It's a powerful feeling and to feel it among fellow fans is amazing. Since my sports teams have been struggling, I've often taken that feeling for granted. I also didn't think about the differences between how celebrations are viewed in basketball and baseball. But, your article reminded me of one of the reasons why I love sports - this force that brings about this common, powerful feeling (like a feeling of community too) among athletes and fans. Awesome write as always, Katie!
I'm a Yankees fan, and I wasn't even that upset that if we had to lose, at least it was to this team. This is also spot on: " I feel anxious, nervous, I want very badly not only for my city’s team to win but for this exact version of it. These people." Even when teams 'run it back' it's often with some sort of change, a fix that marginally changes the vibes. The Celtics winning a championship with Marcus Smart would have felt very different from them actually winning a championship with Porzingis. This is one reason why people have weird feelings about the KD Warriors, too.
Hmmmmm…. I now wonder Katie, how you may write about the Jay’s lost. I look forward to that! I am sharing this newsletter with a university English student, so that she can read insightful, creative writing….. to be inspired by you and with possibility.