I have been very aware this past week that a significant part of the sports fan’s experience is the feeling of dislike. This is not Columbus discovering American, I admit, but it was a bit of a revelation for me. Most sports fans not only feel a strong allegiance to certain people, they also feel a strong dislike for certain other people.
In the wake of the Packers’ disappointment in Atlanta last Sunday, I heard a lot of Green Bay fans express extreme dislike -- contempt, really -- for Special Teams coach Shawn Slocum. Now, I don’t know Coach Slocum. I wouldn’t know him if he sat down next to me. And I have a hard time disliking someone who is as unknown to me as he is. If I had some exposure that prompted me to think he was a real jerk, then perhaps I could get on board with all the calls for his head. As it is, though, all I can conclude is that he doesn’t seem to be very good at his job. That doesn’t arouse much passion in me, however.
On the other hand, someone who does arouse a real visceral reaction within me is Randy Moss. Because I have felt such a strong dislike for him for so many years, I find myself truly relishing the way 2010 is playing out for him.
This past Sunday, Moss’ second team of the 2010 season (the Vikings) won a game under their new interim head coach. Likewise, his first team from this season (the Patriots) also continued their winning ways. His most recent squad (the Titans), however, lost again on Sunday. Indeed,Tennessee is now 0-3 since acquiring the talented cancer.
SI.com has an excellent piece on Randy Moss.
They also have an interesting piece about another hotly disliked athlete today -- LeBron James. His much-anticipated homecoming is tonight. It will be interesting to see the ratings for that event: in other words, how much public interest will there be in a basketball game when the game itself is of no natural interest?
Another polarizing athlete is Michael Vick. On the one hand, he became a pariah a few years back when his involvement in dog-fighting was revealed. On the other hand, he became the hottest commodity in the NFL after his astonishing performance in the first half of the MNF game against the Redskins a few weeks back. Oh my, all the talk about Michael Vick! He was the greatest player the NFL had ever seen! The position of quarterback would never be the same!
I was reminded of Pontius Pilate’s words to Ben Hur after his great victory in the chariot race: “You are the people’s one true god, for the time being.”
Well, Vick was unspectacular in his win against the Giants the following week, and he was absolutely stymied by the Bears in Philly’s defeat this past Sunday.
Oh, well. Easy come, easy go.
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