Good Sports, Bad Sports, Out of Sorts

[BobN]

Ah yes.  It's that time of year when I can be positively ebullient in my joy.  Walk around so positive and cheerful that people want to get their blood sugar checked right after shaking my hand.

Oh, it's also that time of year when I can be so miserable to be around that Ebenezer Scrooge would walk an extra mile to avoid me, fearful that I might bring his mood down.

In other words, it's football season.

The people closest to me in my life have told me that during this time of year, my walking mood can swing wildly depending on how my team does.

Some weeks, I look like a model for the happy face icon.

Other weeks, I walk around with a dark cloud over my head that could practically scare the paint off the walls.

Now, those of you who know me know that I'm a big New York Giants fan, which tells you all you need to know about how my moods have been running lately.

As of this writing, the Giants are oh-for-the-season.  A rather stark turnaround from a couple of years ago when they won the Super Bowl.

When they won, I was pre-retirement, still working.  And I was amazed at how many people hit me up for a raise the following week, apparently trying to take advantage of my good spirits.

Can't really blame them, they figured they'd get it while the gettin was good.

But, here are some examples of the difference in personal interactions when I encounter people nowadays, depending on my team's result the previous weekend.

Passing a stranger on my morning walk.

After a win:

Stranger:  "Good morning.  How are you today?"

Me:  "Absolutely couldn't be better.  And how are you this fine morning?"

After a loss:

Stranger:  "Good morning.  How are you today?"

Me:  "What's it to ya?  What are you, some kind of mood stalker or something?"

Meeting the mailman outside while doing chores.

After a win:

Mailman:  "Here's your mail today sir."

Me:  "Oh, hey thanks.  You guys are great.  Always on time no matter what the weather.  Have a fantastic day."

After a loss:

Mailman:  "Here's your mail today sir."

Me;  "Geez, can't you see that I'm busy here?  And you wanna get off my lawn?"

Of course, later on, after calming down some, I feel pretty ashamed of acting up like this, and I start thinking that I take my sports a little too seriously.  I always promise myself that I'll do better going forward.

Then, when the game comes on that Sunday, I'll be calm for maybe the first five minutes.

But after that, I'll convert to the same old crazy, irrational lunatic who swears that screaming at the TV makes a difference in the game's outcome.

So, here's hoping the G-Men get their first win soon.  Otherwise, the mood police might be sizing me up for a padded room somewhere.  Oh boy...


Follow all my blogs and "What's New?" posts at www.bobnortham.com

[obsidianom]

I am a Patriots fan first , but a Giants fan second. I used to watch YA Tittle play as a kid.   I love when the Patriots and Giants are  both winning. Too bad this year its only the Pats. 

[YLGuy]

Looong time Giants fan. BTW, we just signed another RB.  When my kids were little my ex would take them out during the games.  I was pretty sure that if I jumped up and yelled at the TV that the coach could hear me.  When she came home I would be wearing 1 of 2 hats.  If I had my Giants hat on she would know the Giants won.  If I was wearing my Grumpy hat from Disneyland she would know that the game did not go well.  Crazy season.  At what point do you start hoping for a 1st round draft choice?

Check out my avatar. Me and my kids.

[BobN]

obsidianom, currently living in New England, rooting for the Patriots as my secondary team.

YLGuy, love the picture.

[Joe]

Been a Raiders fan since the late 60's, so you know how my mood is right now. Since we live in Colorado now, the Broncos are my second team. Gets interesting when they play each other

[NDXUFan]

Ah yes.  It's that time of year when I can be positively ebullient in my joy.  Walk around so positive and cheerful that people want to get their blood sugar checked right after shaking my hand.

Oh, it's also that time of year when I can be so miserable to be around that Ebenezer Scrooge would walk an extra mile to avoid me, fearful that I might bring his mood down.

In other words, it's football season.

The people closest to me in my life have told me that during this time of year, my walking mood can swing wildly depending on how my team does.

Some weeks, I look like a model for the happy face icon.

Other weeks, I walk around with a dark cloud over my head that could practically scare the paint off the walls.

Now, those of you who know me know that I'm a big New York Giants fan, which tells you all you need to know about how my moods have been running lately.

As of this writing, the Giants are oh-for-the-season.  A rather stark turnaround from a couple of years ago when they won the Super Bowl.

When they won, I was pre-retirement, still working.  And I was amazed at how many people hit me up for a raise the following week, apparently trying to take advantage of my good spirits.

Can't really blame them, they figured they'd get it while the gettin was good.

But, here are some examples of the difference in personal interactions when I encounter people nowadays, depending on my team's result the previous weekend.

Passing a stranger on my morning walk.

After a win:

Stranger:  "Good morning.  How are you today?"

Me:  "Absolutely couldn't be better.  And how are you this fine morning?"

After a loss:

Stranger:  "Good morning.  How are you today?"

Me:  "What's it to ya?  What are you, some kind of mood stalker or something?"

Meeting the mailman outside while doing chores.

After a win:

Mailman:  "Here's your mail today sir."

Me:  "Oh, hey thanks.  You guys are great.  Always on time no matter what the weather.  Have a fantastic day."

After a loss:

Mailman:  "Here's your mail today sir."

Me;  "Geez, can't you see that I'm busy here?  And you wanna get off my lawn?"

Of course, later on, after calming down some, I feel pretty ashamed of acting up like this, and I start thinking that I take my sports a little too seriously.  I always promise myself that I'll do better going forward.

Then, when the game comes on that Sunday, I'll be calm for maybe the first five minutes.

But after that, I'll convert to the same old crazy, irrational lunatic who swears that screaming at the TV makes a difference in the game's outcome.

So, here's hoping the G-Men get their first win soon.  Otherwise, the mood police might be sizing me up for a padded room somewhere.  Oh boy...


Follow all my blogs and "What's New?" posts at www.bobnortham.com

ND:

I am a rabid, rabid Notre Dame fan and when they do not win, I have a major temper issues.    One time, during a game, my sister said that "They do not want to hear you in China."