I Feel Sorry For Those NOT Passionate About Sports

Submitted by Enjoy Life on

After our final touchdown Saturday as I jumped up and down yelling like a crazy man and giving high fives to everyone in sight, I was overcome by a feeling of complete euphoria (an intense, transcendent happiness combined with an overwhelming sense of well-being).

This, of course, was not the first time I have felt this or the most pervasive feeling of euphoria I have had. It has happened dozens and dozens of times. But, I realize that virtually all of the times I have felt this way, it was because of my passion for sports (primarily U/M sports).

I have friends who question my sanity because I am so passionate about Michigan football. When I tell them every fall I will be gone most weekends for the next 3 months, they look at me in a very strange way. When I explain that I can’t go biking or kayaking or whatever because the M away game is on TV, they roll their eyes.

On Sunday morning as I prepared to drive the 250 miles north to our home in Boyne City, a thought snuck into my mind. How do all the people who are NOT passionate about sports experience life?

Are there really 100’s of millions of Americans who have never experienced the overwhelming euphoria that I (and many others) had experienced less than 14 hours ago? Is that really possible? Do they actually go through life without ever totally losing their minds in happiness and joy? How do they survive?

Really, I mean that: How do they survive?

EDIT: Since some have misunderstood what I actually posted. To Clarify, I never posted nor hinted that I have never experienced the joy of a sunset (I have hundreds of pictures of sunsets) or the overwhelming emotion of a child's first step or a million other wonderful things. But, I have done all that and have also gone bat crap crazy at a football game (many times). If you have not gone bat crap crazy at many points in your life, I repeat my question. "......"

Comments

Blue Durham

September 13th, 2009 at 7:30 PM ^

You mean how many revel in the absolute beauty of nature? The awesomeness of the universe. The incredible incomprehensible fact that the universe and its laws are comprehensible (Sagan quote)? How people revel in the masterpieces of music, art and literature?

The euphoria felt at the birth of your first child?

Other people have priorities, things that "sing" to them and have meaning. I guess for you that is Michigan victories.

I love sports, especially Michigan football, and I thoroughly enjoyed the win, as I have many countless times the past 3 decades. It was a great win, but come on Enjoy Life, get a life and don't make it out to be more than what it is.

Lordfoul

September 13th, 2009 at 8:23 PM ^

Be careful with telling this crowd to "get a life" ;). In all seriousness you are right though. Especially the birth of your first child. Nothing tops that.

I do get more of a thrill out of watching Michigan Football than kayaking however. And nothing feels quite the same as the afterglow from a win like this one.

Blue Durham

September 13th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^

are talking from experience. As for this here crowd, you know as well as I do that it is a sophisticated as they come on the intertubes.

I think it is a too easy to lose sight that these games are in the field of "entertainment" and we make a little more of them than what they are. They have no impact on the perceived quality of the educational institution, and have no bearing on our collective masculinity.

There are few genius' out there, but it seems in the sports world that word is bandied about on a regular basis on the tube. It was a very good win for Rodriguez, and greatly helped his program. For that, I am glad.

Seth9

September 13th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^

They are not depressed for the entire week after Michigan loses (or for several months in the case of last season, although the pain of last season just made beating ND feel that much better in comparison).

Tacopants

September 13th, 2009 at 7:45 PM ^

I love Michigan football. It is something I can enjoy with my closest 110,000 friends, and now that I'm not in Michigan anymore, I still love to see Michigan football on TV, and will be traveling back for games and traveling to some away games.

However, Michigan football does not define my life. I can get immense satisfaction from seeing Michigan, the school and team I love do well, but in the end, I don't live and die with my team.

When it comes down to it, I think I take more personal satisfaction from things that I personally accomplish. Finishing an important project, getting a good grade on a test, acing a key interview or presentation, getting a +1 on Mgoblog, those are all things that I put effort in and see results from.

I respect you for the amount of dedication you have towards Michigan football, but take a cue from your name, and Enjoy Life.

Enjoy Life

September 13th, 2009 at 8:15 PM ^

You gotta love it when people respond to something that was never posted nor implied.

What I actually posted:

"But, I realize that virtually all of the times I have felt this way, it was because of my passion for sports (primarily U/M sports).

I too Enjoy Life in many other ways as many have mentioned (although, no cats). But, I have rarely gone totally bat crap crazy viewing a sunset, listening to the symphony, etc. I have enjoyed all these Plus going bat crap crazy at football games

If you have not, then I repeat my question: "........"

BigWeb17

September 13th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^

seriously. I read this and I completely got it. For those of you that missed the point, sorry. Great post!! I have often wondered this myself. As a matter of fact I am going to send this post to some of my sport deprived friends, who will probably roll their eyes at me, yet again, and still not get it. But lucky for them I will keep trying. GoBlue!

Skunkeye

September 13th, 2009 at 9:18 PM ^

There are few things that bring with it the highs and lows of being a dedicated sports fan. Michigan sports does define our lives at times whether we admit it or not.

jsquigg

September 13th, 2009 at 9:30 PM ^

I have to say that when I read your diary title, I thought it was going to be "negbang time," but having read the whole thing I find that I can relate. I am in a ministry program to become a pastor and I make sure to do the work I have before Saturday rolls around. Given my beliefs (which won't be bumped here) I think my Michigan football obsession may be a tad unhealthy :-)

Ernis

September 13th, 2009 at 9:47 PM ^

I hear you, man. I completely lost it yesterday and my voice still hasn't recovered. I've probably convinced half the people in my department that I'm a complete lunatic. Football has a special importance to some of us, for various reasons ... and for me, it was apparently enough to sacrifice my professional reputation! Well worth it, though

Thrillhouse

September 13th, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^

What I don't get are the people who go to Michigan and couldn't give a shit about any Michigan sports. Amongst my first cousins and their spouses, I think eleven of us have gone to Michigan and I'm pretty much the only one who watches games.

MH20

September 13th, 2009 at 10:29 PM ^

My life revolves around sports and the teams that I follow (all of my friends know this), specifically Michigan football. The fall season for me is 12 glorious days and a bunch of others spent wishing it were Saturday.

To the OP, I know exactly what you are talking about. Thank you for posting this.

OSUMC Wolverine

September 13th, 2009 at 11:14 PM ^

I feel your pain for your sanity being questioned for being passionate. I am often accused of being too optimistic. I cant drive the middle of the road, moments of levity cause me pain. I hope for nothing less than Michigan to play to the best of their ability and to believe they can win. In exchange for their effort, I give my unwavering support. Go Blue

evenyoubrutus

September 14th, 2009 at 9:06 AM ^

it's those two senior citizens sitting behind me. They were griping the whole game, every time anything happened that was bad for Michigan or good for ND. They were complaining about Foricer. If Michigan had to punt, "now he's got a guy that's fit for his system and he still can't move the ball."

On the Koger wheel route on the second-to-last drive when Michigan had to punt, "If he had hit him in stride we would have six." Response: "If he had hit him in stride it would be the first time all day."

Start of the second half "Does this take the storm cloud away from RichRod?" response: "I don't care if they were up by twenty, the man has to go. He's an embarassment to the program."

And my all-time favorite moment was the end of the game, the entire stadium literally screaming and jumping up and down, but these two guys stood there, arms folded, smug looks on their faces and barely even a smile.

Those are the people I feel sorry for.

evenyoubrutus

September 14th, 2009 at 1:44 PM ^

I really wanted to say something, but I couldn't imagine what I could possibly say that would change anyone's mind. I was even very close to getting in their faces and smack-talking them at the end with something like "How do ya' like that embarassment now?" but that would be kind of d-baggish. I saw a couple of message-board posts on Yahoo where people said they had given up their season tickets because of their loathing for RichRod. I politely thanked them for doing their part in cleansing The Big House of people like themselves.

saveferris

September 14th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^

Reading stuff like this just makes my head want to explode; because I've noticed it too with some of the old-timers sitting around me. Somehow in their minds supporting Rich Rod equals turning your back on Bo which, to an old guard guy, is heresy. I don't know how you make that leap, but maybe I'm still young enough to accept change. My wife would probably dispute that. Frankly, if I ever become one of those guys described above, I expect one of you out there to put me out of my misery. The day Michigan is winning (particularly pantsing ND) and I derive no joy from it, I don't want to live anymore.

jericho

September 14th, 2009 at 9:23 AM ^

I find that I can relate to the OP as well. While I find deep satisfaction in many other things, there isn't anything that approaches the pure emotional frenzy of a Michigan game. Outside of watching a Michigan football game, I am a (mostly) reasonable and soft spoken guy. I practice my patience as much as possible and try to get along with my fellow man. During a game I'm a frickin lunatic. I'm screaming at the TV. I'm questioning the sanity and opthamology exams of guys in black and white. I'm rooting for the utter destruction of kids on the opposing team that put their heart and soul into playing a game. In short I make an ass of myself and I can't wait to do it again the next week.