Photo credit via thebaseballzone.web101.hubspot.com
I’ve been kind of in a sports slump. I think televised baseball is excruciatingly painful to try to pay attention. Actually going to the games is a different story, because at least there’s good food. The NBA seems to go on FOREVER and honestly, I always seem to forget about hockey.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind watching the NBA in the slightest, but it’s nearly impossible for me to really pay as much attention as I’d like to give to the entire season because it would take away from my NFL, college football and college basketball time. Also, if someone asks me who my favorite team is, I don’t know which of three answers I would give you based on the day. The Bulls, the hometown team, I’ll go for them if they’re playing. I like the Rockets simply because they’re from Houston… plus, James Harden’s beard is entertaining enough to watch, regardless of how the game is going. Finally, here we go, call me a bandwagon-er, but I do love to watch the Clippers play. Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin… how do you not love to watch them play? I have driven to Houston and Milwaukee to catch Clippers games, so, 99.999999999% of the time I do claim them as my NBA team because I feel I am partially entitled to it due to my dedication to getting to games. But again, there’s a lot going on and I’m all over the place with my NBA watching, so it gets to be too much for the entire 9 months of the season.
Photo credit via noticiaaldia.com
Recently, I’ve had my annual change of heart on these sports. It takes me a bit to start really watching NBA and NHL playoffs because I’m usually too busy whining that all my favorite sports aren’t in season. But, this week, I actually sat down and watched all of it and it’s actually pretty awesome. I come to this same realization year after year. I go through the same sports slump, continue through my whining and denial phase and then eventually ease into playoff season, or the “Bandwagon Stage.”
Photo credit via razorgator.com
This is the time of year I am dragged onto the NHL bandwagon. I’m originally from the Chicago area, so naturally, I become an avid Blackhawks fan for a few weeks. I will completely admit that I’m a bandwagon-er on this one. I will never argue with you that I’ve paid attention all season and I am their number one fan. However, this is the one sport where I am genuinely happy that my hometown team is doing well in sports. I’m the biggest anti-Chicago Bears fan and do not have any allegiance to either of the two Chicago baseball teams, so for once, I do support Chicago. Also, I just recently found out that my family has 80 bazillion connections to the Blackhawks and somehow I’ve never even been brainwashed into being a legitimate Blackhawks fan before. I think that gives me some sort of an idea that I have a right to like the Blackhawks because it’s a “family thing.” Personally though, I feel like I don’t have to defend it as long as I admit that I’ve hopped on the bandwagon. I’ve accepted it and so should everyone else.
Photo credit via frontrowbros.com
Anyway, my whole point of this is that you should go take some time and watch the NBA or NHL playoff games. I’m not huge into either one, clearly, but they are so freaking awesome to watch during playoffs that I even second guess why I don’t watch all season long. There is plenty of time to get in on the action! There’s still room on the bandwagon, so jump on in! But, please, if you’re going to be a bandwagoner, just admit it and enjoy the games! Don’t bother trying to take the crown of #1 fan from the people who proudly have held their nine-month-season dedication to these sports. You’ll probably be kicked off all the wagons.