Cheering for a professional sports team can be both highly rewarding and bitterly disappointing. When your favorite team wins, there is a feeling of euphoria that overcomes you. But if your team loses, melancholy often sets in.
Such was the case this past weekend as the New England Patriots played in the American Conference Championship hosting the Baltimore Ravens. With a win, the Patriots would advance to the Super Bowl for the second straight year.
Sadly, a victory was not to be.
“Why do you get so worked up over a game?” my wife often asks me. Honestly, I don’t know. I blame “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” for this one. Watching this show as a youth, the words of Jim McKay extolling the virtues of “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” clearly made an impression on me.
When my favorite team wins, I’m as happy as a clam, but if the team loses, I become a sullen, sad sack who often mopes around for a day or so. At least I can admit it, so that’s a start.
Watching the game at my friend Karter’s house was a treat of the taste buds as there was a ridiculous array of tasty treats to eat. Chicken wings, chili, meatballs, hotdogs, taco dip, chicken stew and pizza were consumed in large quantities by the dozen or so people in attendance. It was a spread truly worthy of a football party.
The tasty treats almost helped take the sour taste out of my mouth after the game ended in another loss. Once again, I will likely also avoid social media for at least a couple of weeks and any e-mail from friends soliciting a reaction from the game will go unanswered. Mercifully, my coworkers here at the paper went easy on me Monday.
Such is the life of a sports nut. I am starting to think my wife has been right all along and that the emphasis is placed on nut.
Three cheers for Houlton
Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not head to Bangor to root for the Houlton High School cheerleaders as the squad participates in the Eastern Class C competition. Starting at 9 a.m. at the Bangor Auditorium, the Shires are one of 12 squads competing in the event.
On the line will be an opportunity to advance to the state competition, which is something the Shires have accomplished 15 of the last 16 years. The Class C competition features squads from Orono, Mattanawcook, George Stevens, Calais, Lee Academy, Central (Corinth), Narraguagus (Harrington, Bucksport, Penquis (Milo), Sumner and Dexter.
For anyone who has never been to a cheering competition, come prepared to hear plenty of high-pitched screams, lots of loud blaring music filled with enough sound effects to put any rock concert to shame. The only thing missing, really, is pyrotechnics.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.
