"Can a Michigan Football Game Make Me Happy Forever?"
Fun article in the nytimes about the exuberance many of us felt during and after the OSU game. Explores some of the psychological descriptions of that sort of happiness. Struck a cord with me because it really is strange just how happy a win that I had nothing to do with can make me.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/04/opinion/michigan-ohio-football-happiness.html
December 4th, 2021 at 5:08 PM ^
No, but it can certainly prolong the inevitable soul-crushing disappointment.
The Void always beckons.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
Profound words Gordini
There was a carpenter from Nazareth who can fill this void.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:02 PM ^
Or a flying spaghetti monster.
Whatever floats your boat.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:05 PM ^
Exactly - just choose carefully
December 4th, 2021 at 6:41 PM ^
Spaghetti monster it is! Prego Blue!
December 4th, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
Why would you mock someone's beliefs like that?
December 4th, 2021 at 7:17 PM ^
It's not mocking, it's playful banter.
Pastafarian is actually a real religion fwiw.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:49 PM ^
I had spaghetti yesterday. It was good.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:09 PM ^
That's a pay site/link.
What does it say?
December 4th, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
Loved the article, outside of the exuberance that the author, like the rest of us, felt and wrote about, it was a very interesting article on happiness and the different levels or types of happiness.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
Never responded to a Michigan win with tears before last Saturday. That was definitely different and thus forever etched in my memory. That was a generational victory for this program. Michigan has clearly celebrated great success over time, establishing itself as both a dynamic program but one with tremendous character as well.
So, the answer for me to your question is a resounding, YES.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:48 PM ^
Forever? Nah. Just for one offseason. After that it becomes a pleasant memory but there are new games to play.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:55 PM ^
It was amazing to beat Seton Hall in the Championship back in '89. Incredible to beat Washington State to win the National Championship in '97. Looking back though, now, it's barely a memory. Just like a tragic or sad thing that happens in your life, it fades with time.
So, appreciate it now to the fullest, because it will never be this good again.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:21 PM ^
Nothing can make us happy forever. There has to be SOME ending to every emotion. Yup, a Happy Ending
December 4th, 2021 at 5:22 PM ^
All of us that were there did have something to do with it: 5 OSU false start penalties likely due to the rowdiest Big House crowd ever!
December 4th, 2021 at 5:23 PM ^
Why, yes it can!*
*Until the next loss
December 4th, 2021 at 5:24 PM ^
Forever? Maybe if I died as the clock ticked to 00:00.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:29 PM ^
I plan to live forever.
So far. So good.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:26 PM ^
It’s been working for at least a week now. Onward! Upward!
December 4th, 2021 at 5:35 PM ^
I always forget that Jane Coaston writes for the NYT now.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:36 PM ^
Whenever I think about our 2021 football game against The Main Enemy, I will forever be happy.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:39 PM ^
A New York Times article reminds me that what I most missed during Michigan's time in the desert was not being part of the national conversation.
Now we're back.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:42 PM ^
Shit, if Michigan wins the B1G tonight, I’m calling off of work on Monday due to my still present erection!
December 4th, 2021 at 5:49 PM ^
The memory can be happy forever but unless it was a dying wish you won't be happy if we suck for the rest of your life.
December 4th, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
Well, it's always going to be a hugely happy memory, one that I can retrieve (forever) on demand. So. Happy forever? Nah, some scheiss will happen sometime about something, guaranteed, creating bad feelings --- but those feelings don't last forever either.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
I've been thinking about this quite a bit this week.
I'm an intercultural executive coach working with leaders who take international assignments. My role is 1/2 cultural interpreter and 1/2 leadership counselor. A lot of my work is wrapped up in understanding the unconscious values of a culture. A lot of psychology. I consider myself an expert cultural psychologist.
I know the U.S. I've been a sports fan, player, and coach my whole life. But I think I have a blind spot about this topic - maybe I'm too close to it? I could tell you some cultural influences based on cultural dimensions (nerd stuff), but it doesn't add up to the whole. I had a session with someone from Pakistan this week and we got into the UM stompdown of OSU. He asked me why it mattered so much to me. I don't have a good answer, at least not a good complete answer.
But damnit, it is REAL.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
After reading the comments from that article, I can tell you who's not happy -- Ohio State and Michigan State fans. Hilarious, especially the one from the Ohio State fan who said "this is a building year" twice.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
I am convinced most on this board are 16 or younger' they never have, and never will, attend college, let alone Michigan
That's why this entire week has been one of lollipops and popsicles for threads
December 4th, 2021 at 6:58 PM ^
Is it wrong that 90% of my TV watching since The Game has been...uh...The Game on DVR? It's fun to cackle with knowing glee as the greatest hits are about to transpire all over again.
December 4th, 2021 at 6:59 PM ^
the better story is the psychological ramifications of losing 16 out of 17 when you've been a Michigan fan you're whole life.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:41 PM ^
Especially if you are of a generation to remember some of the many glorious years -- in my case, the great teams of the 80s and 90s.
The huge amount of malaise of so many years starting from when Tressel took over at OSU is hard to define.
Back to the topic, though, yes, a game can make me happy forever. I'll never, ever forget the Rose Bowl against Washington State. I was fortunate enough to watch that one with a crowd.
That game ranks right up there with the Tigers', Pistons', and Wings' championship clinching games.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
Waiting for the (appreciation for being appreciative) thread. BEAT IOWA!
December 4th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
I just found out it can make me very happy for a whole week and probably the whole off season if we win tonight.
December 4th, 2021 at 7:29 PM ^
Yup!
Sitting on the 50 yard line in the 1998 Rose Bowl watching Michigan win a National Championship.
When Michigan crushed Penn State, my brother called me.
"These guys can go all the way. we need to get tickets"
I always swore I'd never get on a plane to a game without tickets in my hand. But I did. The scalper dropped the tickets off at my brother's hotel room while I was in the air. The next day we're sitting on the 50 yard line 2/3rds of the way up and watched Michigan win.
So yes. A Michigan football game can make me happy forever, or at least never ever lose faith.
December 4th, 2021 at 8:00 PM ^
Win the game!
December 4th, 2021 at 10:39 PM ^
I read a book [holographic universe] that said if 100,000 people in a stadium concentrated hard enough on levitating a pickup truck that they could do it. It had some bs pseudoscience about quantum physics. Long story short you did have something to do with US beating OSU. Milk that shit for at least 10 years. Hopefully we kick the tar out of them again Next year so you don’t have to.