We have Virginia/ Virginia Tech, Georgia/ Georgia Tech, Auburn/ Alabama. Some great battles of the south, mainly. Some century long American institutions, that have lasted from the turn of the century (and before) through today. Every Saturday, those guys are out there. Without fail, if it's Autumn, they're playing. Someone new may be winning this week, or this year, but football is dependable. With the exception of the BCS controversy, it is not as ambiguous as the rest of the world we live in. During the women's suffrage, there was football. World War One; still football. Throughout the Depression, boys kept playing, the spirit remained. I could continue forever, but no matter what, I'm still watching Georgia Tech as they are about to take out their arch rivals today. November 29th, 2008.
It would be cliche to suggest that college football is essentially American. But I've already made thousands of cliche references and statements, so what's the harm in another. Damn. As Georgia scores again. Football, crowds, the stadium, the food, the passion. The screaming until you're lightheaded, and the tailgating, and the crying until you have nothing left. Bragging rights. What an excellent thing to be grateful for.
The commitment and dedication to your alma mater, or maybe your dream school. The friendships, the triumphs, the heartbreak. All the things that make the Olympics great, but boiled down to the American essentials. The legacy as love of the sport is passed through the generations. (Oh if I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in white and gold; and put her on the campus to cheer the brave and bold. But if I had a son, sir, I'll tell you what he'd do; he'd yell "TO HELL WITH GEORGIA" like his daddy used to do.) We can even be thankful for those loud, noisy commercials! Laissez Faire, capitalism, free market trading, the American dream. Consumers. The stereotypical Americans. Hey, more consumers = more faith in the economy and greater money flow, right? So who's complaining? The ideas in some commercials are new, revolutionary, innovative. Some bring people together, some reflect traditional American ideals. But as Jonathon Dwyer makes another nice cut up the middle, lets return to the game. I've digressed.
The stereotypical American guy (you know, the one with the beer belly, who invites all his friends over and tells his wife to go make pizza, without taking his eyes off the screen?) has it right. Although not characterized as the smartest guys around, they recognize something maybe we should all take a minute to see. Football is simple, but, boy, football is grand. Football is just one consummation of everything to be thankful for. You're watching the American dream, and living it by simply being able to watch it. So even if football isn't your thing (I may not be able to respect you- just kidding!), there is something just as elementary out there that you enjoy. And, if, in the single entity of college football, there are so many things to be thankful for, think of how much there is to appreciate in just one other thing you enjoy.
Plaxico Burress supposedly done gone and shot himself at a club last night. Probably spent too much time playing for the Steelers; drove him crazy. And he beat the Pats for the Super Bowl last year, so no pity. The good news? He should be okay. Perfectly okay in barely any time. Good luck and good health. Another thing to be grateful for. (And the refs whistle the end of the game; I don't know about their engineering skills, but those guys sure are helluva football players!) But even Plaxico Burress is great in a way. Where else could you find an uneducated guy who shoots himself at a bar but still manages to make millions of dollars a year? And plus, I guess you have to have the bad guys, and the teams Plaxico plays for, to get the whole picture of what makes football great. Hey, even this genius is something to be thankful for.
Well, I've got to go for now. Alabama/ Auburn is on. Roll, Tide Roll!
Plaxico is an idiot. No way around that. What was he thinking!
ReplyDeletehahah yes you would be right. He is an idiot; I was trying to find some good in him while being a bit facetious, but I know that's a hard thing to convey through writing.
ReplyDelete