February 2nd, 2004

Pick A Side

Well, the Super Bowl is over and the Patriots won, dang them.

I didn’t really watch that much of the game – I had it on in the background, and I watched the last quarter, but that’s about it. I didn’t have much interest in who won, but I was hoping the Panthers would win.

I don’t know if other people are like this, but I can always pick a “favorite.” I’ve been like that since I was a kid – give me a topic and I’ve got a favorite. Here’s a sample list from my life, circa 6th grade:

Football team: Dallas Cowboys

Baseball team: Milwaukee Brewers

Basketball team: Dallas Mavericks

Golfer: Arnold Palmer

Semitruck: Kenworth

…and downhill it goes from there. My reasons? I couldn’t tell you – the Mavericks were because I liked the Cowboys. Arnold Palmer? I have no idea. I didn’t even watch golf and didn’t know the slightest thing about golf. The Brewers were because I went to a few of their games and I was young enough to think baseball was neat. In high school I attended a Brewers game and fell asleep in the bleachers. Kenworth? Trucking was a big thing at that time in my life – there were a few men in the church who were truckers, so we all got interested in trucking. In fact, I went to summer camp one year, and when I got back, my mom and a friend of hers had wallpapered my bedroom with semitruck wallpaper! It was so cool!!!

Of course, when I was a freshman in college and still had it, it wasn’t as cool.

Name any two teams that are about to compete and I can usually tell you who I am rooting for, and it usually has no basis in anything. Examples:

Hawkeyes versus anyone except maybe Purdue: I’ll choose the Hawkeyes because I had a huge crush on a girl in high school who was from Iowa.

Green Bay Packers versus, oh, the Tennessee Titans: The Packers, because my mom and brother like them so much.

Chicago Bulls versus pretty much anyone: The Bulls because I got to see Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman play at the United Center once.

Minnesota Vikings versus New Orleans Saints: The Vikings because I watched them play an incredible game once. They lost, but they played so well, even in defeat. Of course, that was 10 years ago, but old loyalties die hard.

It’s not just sports, either. Academy Awards, Grammies, Top 10 Lists – I have a favorite something almost everywhere. Give me a list of semi-related things and I’ll put them in order for you.

Are other people like this?

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