Fire from the Hip: Thoughts on Sports & Real Life

This week, for the first time in a long time, I have been reminded about why I am proud to hale from the Midwest. There were three specific instances that occurred over the past seven days where I said to myself: "Only in the this part of the country." I'll first start with Browns fans. We are an interesting lot whose psychology deserves further research. Like this intrepid guy (see photo) last December, Browns fans, not all of them mind you, tend to get caught up in the moment and fail to realize that a situation may not warrant a certain reaction. An excellent case study for this behavior would be "Bottlegate," which occurred in December 2001. Reacting to a poor officiating job that cost Cleveland the game, fans reacted by throwing all sorts of projectiles, mostly bottles, onto the field. The atmosphere bordered on riotious. With that as my lead, I offer my three special Midwest moments of the week.

1. Friday, November 3

While at the Toledo Storm game selling foam pucks that fans throw on the ice at intermission to win prizes, a rather heavy-set man, wearing a Browns hat and sweatshirt approached me. "I want some pucks for the kids," he said. Isn't it surprising the joy that some people get from launching projectiles towards an object? As he put down his 32 oz. beer, I noted the two little girls who couldn't have been over ten years old standing at his side. Fumbling with his wallet as he also held a one or two year old kid in his arm, I placed the pucks inside a plastic bag. As I took the money and handed him the bag, I commented: "Thanks for coming out. Go Storm tonight and go Browns on Sunday." He turned to me without hesitation and said: "F#@#$* A right." I couldn't help but laugh in astonishment as I stared at this man with three kids under his watch, and a 32 ounce beer in his hand.

2. Saturday, November 4

As I watched regional college football action last Saturday at a sports bar, I happened to glance over at the Wisconsin game. Coming in to play quarterback for the Badgers was a guy by the name of Tyler Donovan. As they went over his scouting report, his hometown and major appeared on the screen. Out of Hartland, Wisconsin, Donovan was an agricultural journalism major. You will be happy to know that I vigorously pursued more information about the agricultural journalism department at Wisconsin,. But I was unable to find even the slightest mention of the concentration. Still, the irony of a guy from Hartland, Wisconsin studying agricultural journalism at the University of Wisconsin should not be overlooked. My assumption is that this major is not offered at say, Boston College.

3. Wednesday, November 8

Along with the thousands of others sprinting out the door at 5 P.M. in Toledo, I waited in my mini-van, revving the motor at the last red light, seperating me from I-75 and home. And then I spotted him again, standing right next to the onramp, waving and holding his sign. For three or four weeks prior to November 7th, I had seen this man, Joe McNamara, standing at that very spot, waving and holding his sign as he campaigned for a Toledo Council position. Following his victory on Tuesday, to see him out there holding a sign that said, "Thank you Toledo" filled me with happiness. Talk about a true grass-roots campaign. You certainly wouldn't see Jim Webb holding a sign on I-95 outside Richmond at 5 P.M. at night. Only in the Midwest, I swear.

# posted by Nate @ 9:05 PM