Are you normally an optimist?
...but only when it comes to Michigan football. I have seen Michigan win so often over the years that it is like habit. I saw MIchigan play somewhere around a hundred times in the Big House over the years, and I remember less than ten of them being losses. When a pattern is so ingrained, it's really difficult for me to step outside of it. I was utterly shocked, for example, in 2007. I had no idea that the QB's at Michigan could ever be that bad. Even the year of Zurbrugg wasn't that bad.
I have a pretty firm belief in patterns, and that is why I am so constantly optimistic about Michigan's chances every year, including this one. The only time my optimism ever flagged was Carr's last four years, when it seemed like he found a way to lose four games with great personnel. And even a 2006 that looked like a possible National Championship year turned into a crappy year with the losses to OSU and USC.
Anyway, in my heart, I still feel they will find a way to win nine this year, including a bowl, but I can't bring myself to "realistically" predict more than eight. Hopefully, though, Michigan becomes "Michigan" again this year, and my head will tell me the same thing my heart does from now on.
The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
Oh, you meant sports-wise? I'm a Spartan fan and a Vikings fan. When it comes to football season, the optimism has been beaten out of me by watching my teams find new and more creative ways to blow games they should have won every year (this year's contributions being the Favre INT killing what should have been the drive that punched the Vikes' Super Bowl ticket when the entire sideline was wide open for an easy scramble and the CMU "oh thank God they missed the two-pointer OH SHIT WHY CAN'T WE COVER AN ONSIDE oh thank God they missed the FG OH SHIT WHY CAN'T WE STAY ONSIDE" debacle).
For providing an opposing fan's perspective on "Sparty no!" moments.
To answer the original question, no.
But I'd say I'm more a cynic than a pessimist.
plan for the worst.
Generally, I'm on the pessimistic side with a slice of realism. But on here I find myself trying to be more optimistic. I've seen the meltdowns, and I know I'm not like that. I may gripe about catching/holding onto the damn ball and such, but the next game offers the opportunity for a win.
Oh, and (see sig):
It depends I guess. I'd say I'm more of an optimist based on the 2009 season. After we started to slide last season, I was always the one who'd say "this is the week we get win 6" (i.e., to go bowling). Even before the OSU game, I predicted a win/believed a win was possible. It's possible that my optimism verges on homerism in that respect, but overall, especially with Michigan football in mind, I think that staying positive, within reason of course, is the way to go as a fan.
I now just tie off and inject it straight into my bloodstream.
with more accurate data.
The last three years have been extremely rough. Masters degree with a strong work history and constantly being told your overqualified for a job is really getting tired. I have bills like everyone else. Just offer me an opportunity with a chance for advancement and a decent wage.
Whan it comes to M football this year I would say optimist with some reality or 8 wins this season depending on injuries. For what it's worth in 2008 I expected a slice of humble pie, but got the whole damn thing shoved in my face.
I'm a ridiculously optimistic person about pretty much everything. People always told me it would wear off as I got older, but I feel like I've just gotten more optimistic.
In terms of football, I think this is why I never, ever leave a game early. I remember being at the Illinois game this past season asking my friends up until the very end, "Okay, so how can we come back? We have time, right?" I was watching a DVD of the '04 MSU game last night that I picked up at the M Den for $5, and with 8:47 left in the fourth the announcer said, "It'll take a miracle for Michigan to come back now!" Miracles happen and hope dies last.
I live in a fantasy world where that email from an Algerian Prince might actually be from an Algerian Prince.
Well, maybe I'm not that optimistic, but I try to mix optimism and realism in equal parts. I rarely expect the worst to happen (Except after the last two seasons...), and even when I do I keep my mouth shut about it.
...long term, quite optimistic. Short term, fairly optimistic. I see 8 wins this year, with the outside chance of 9 with a few lucky bounces.
My occasional snarkiness may suggest otherwise, but I'm pretty optimistic about most things, Michigan football included. I think that if - major if - we can get through those first two games unscathed, we'll have chance to do pretty good things this year (maybe even a NYD bowl).