Monday, October 09, 2006
No Longer a Champion (?)
Now that the 2006 baseball season has come and gone without the Chicago White Sox in the playoffs and a chance to win the World Series again, my lifelong favorite sports team is longer the defending champion.
In 2005, MY favorite team was the one who won it all, for the first and perhaps only time in my life. Since then, until now, I've had the joy of seeing the World Series champion logo on their website. Also, the national media would talk about them as champions, not as Chicago's other baseball team. Seeing my guys celebrating on the field and holding the trophy was a thrill I never thought I'd see. In fact, my grandfather, who passed White Sox loyalty onto me, was born the same year the Sox last won, 1917, and he died seeing only one World Series, when the Sox lost to the Dodgers in 1959, at age 42.
Looking back, its been fun to be the winner for a change. Then again, I have a few nagging questions, such as, "Has the White Sox World Series championship helped me be a better person?" By extension, I wonder how me being a sports fan improves my quality of life and the lives I touch every day.
Sure, I've been happier, on occasion, and have had some pride, and a sense of loyalty and accomplishment, sometimes, but what is the correlation between the team I like being a champion and ME being a champion in life?
As it turns out, I can't figure out how this has made me a better husband, father, son, brother, businessman, neighbor, Sunday School teacher, churchgoer, follower of Jesus, or manager of my households finances.
In fact, I'm poorer now because I've bought jerseys, DVDs, and caps. One day I went to buy a White Sox cap, and I had to get caps for my son and daughter. So now I have a $60 White Sox cap, retail value $19.99
Maybe it is time to turn off the TV, turn off sports radio, quit my fantasy league, and spend that time with my wife, children, job, and Lord. Time is short, and there are people to love and encourage, work to be done, and real, substantitive joy to be discovered.
Goodbye sports, and hello real world. Sorry to keep you waiting.
