My Divided Loyalties
I’m not that big a sports guy anyway, and even less a football fan, but as much as I’ve been a fan this football season, it’s been of the New Orleans Saints. My friend Shaun lives here in Chicago, but is such a fan of the City of New Orleans that he got season tickets to this first-return-to-the-Super Dome-season of the Saints. Courtesty of his tickets, Erica and I got to see the Saints beat the 49ers and we were hooked. The city is in such a shitty state and the enthusiasm in the stadium was so infectious, there was no way we couldn’t be.
And until this weekend there’s been no problem being both a Saints fan and home-town-proud of the Bears for their accomplishments. I was even rooting for the Bears last weekend, even though their loss would have meant a home game for the Saints this week.
I just try to remind myself that neither team really belongs to their respective cities — how ever much we invest ourselves in them, they’re just employees of some corporations.
“they’re just employees of some corporations”
Yes, but so are we… Corporations, sports teams, you name it–all derive their value from what we invest in them. But when the community does make that investment, the value is real.
I’m not a huge sports fan either, especially not foosball. However, when your home team is doing well and you are rooting for them, it’s not just about the team… it’s about your community. The Saints were/are the nations darlings at the moment because of the enthusiasm they bring for a new vision of a recovering New Orleans… that’s a pretty big accomplishment for just a bunch of corporate employees, I think.
That said… Go Bears!! :)
Once the football season is over, no matter what the Saints do, it won’t make a difference in the rebuilding of the city. But if it helps them feel better in the short-term, hey i’m all for it.
I’ve had a lot of people at work give me shit because I don’t care about sports. I am jealous of people who like sports, but try as I might I find watching it to be pretty tedious.
For the last week, anyone who has asked me what I’m doing for the big game has been treated to answers like “not crushing the already devastated spirit of New Orleans.”