tfl: The Flatiron Life

Yesterday I hung out with some of the 3 guys in Jos’ family and we went to a Cubs game. It was a lot of fun. Two of the group are from St. Louis and we saw the Cubs kick the Cards.

Like I said, a lot of fun. However, as is often the case when I am with non-tech guys I begin to feel inadequate.

I like sports. I like to watch sport. I like to cheer for sport. I know the rules and can play sports. I know when something is a pretty good play in most sports. I even like to watch Sportcenter, if nothing else is on. But, I have never had any interest in following sports.

Usually this only manifests itself in people saying “Good/Tough Year for the Cubs/Hoosier” when I am wearing a cap. I usually just a agree or say “Oh, I didn’t see the game today.” Not a lie; I didn’t see that game, but I also did not see any of the other games, or read about them, or watch the highlights, or memorize the box scores like it seems like everyone else does.

So when I hang out with guys, they will start talking about some great trade some teams made, or how so-and-so is a on a streak. Oh, and didn’t he play on the Animals a few years ago. Man, the Nowhere Native are playing as well as they did in the 80’s!

I can follow along and pretend like I get it, but wow! The nerdy math part of sports appeals to me, but it is the formulas I am interested not remembering every pitcher’s ERA.

In the end I am torn. I understand the appeal of closely following something. It is a form of nerd, just not one I have ever found attractive. I think I would like to know more so I can participate, but every time I have tried in the past I have tried I just loose interested.

Also I think of the good points to not knowing anything. The best being when I watch a game, I have no idea how someone is going to do. As far as I am concerned every batter might hit a home-run. Every pitcher has a good change at a shutout.

I wonder if there ais an RSS feed I can read that would give me just enough info to take me to the next level of guy-dom, with very little effort.

Kris sends this along.  It made me laugh.

A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is an Indianapolis Colts fan.  She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Colts fans, too.   Not really knowing what a Colts fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.  There is, however, one exception.  Kelly has not gone along with the crowd.  The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. “Because I’m not a Colts fan” she reports.

“Then,” asks the teacher,” What are you?”

“I’m a Chicago Bears fan” boasts the little girl.

The teacher asks Kelly why she is a Bears fan.

“Well, my Dad and Mom are Bears fans, so I’m a Bears fan too” she responds.

“That’s no reason,” the teacher says. “What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot.  What would you be then?”

Kelly smiles and says, “Then I’d be a Colts fan.”

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!!!!!

For Hoosier-Chicagoans it is the perfect matchup. I would be happy to see the Colts win the Super Bowl, but I am going to be cheering for the home team. Bear Down Chicago Bears! The early odds are against them, but being a fan is not about the odds. In our team meeting this morning there was a lot of trashtalking against the Colts defense. Bear fever has taken over Chicago.

Now I need to decide if I want to spend $75 for the Adewale Ogunleye #93 jersey. Why Ogunleye? Not only is he a Nigerian Prince, but also an Indiana Hoosier that someone is paying to play football!