Eternal Optimism as a Fan

Remember Arsenal? Yep, I'm obsessed. The sport of soccer has consumed me. Arsenal Football Club occupies a large space of my thought during the day, while my other sports teams occupy the rest. Just kidding. But this does illustrate my fandom for the club. Arsenal has been lighting the league up this year so far. To the point where an already optimistic fan like me is beeming with exuberance. Unlike other aspects of my life, I'm eternally optimistic when it comes to my beloved sports teams. When the Twins were down and out in early September, I said "eh they still got a month". Lo and behold, the Twins stormed back and beat the Tigers in a one game playoff in what was one of the finest experiences of my life. Back to something no one will care about. Arsenal have had a bit of a trophy drought. Their last trophy was won in 2005. I became a fan in 2006. You do the math, I've never experienced great success as a fan. I firmly believe that this is the year it will happen though. I said I'm optimistic as a fan, but this is something else entirely. Going into the 07/08 season in the NBA, I believed the Lakers could suprise people. I was optimistic for a good year. Once they got Pau Gasol, I was optimistic for a title. Long story short the Lakers fell short to the Celtics. Going into the next year, I had a completely differet feeling. Sure I was optimistic, but this was something else. There is a moment a fan gets when he realizes that "this is our year". I felt that with the Lakers, and it all came true. That story is for another day though. I've gotten that moment with Arsenal. If you don't know Arsenal you should, because they could simple handedly make you a believer in soccer. Their entire philosophy is based on fluid movement, precision passing, and clinical finishing. Quite simply, they play the game the way it should be played. The amount of attacking talent this team has literally leaves me speechless at times. They've had 6 goal, 5 goal, 4 goal games galore this year. I have my hopes so high for this team, but that's what being a fan is all about. You put yourself out there. Sometimes it works out and you experience a euphoria that can be found nowhere else. All the stress, devotion, and effort you put in to the team is rewarded. Sometimes it doesn't work out. You put yourself out there, believed it could happen, and allowed yourself to get hurt. They couldn't pull it off. But if you don't put yourself out there you don't even have the chance to feel that euphoria. That's called being a casual fan. This seems to also be a metaphor for relationships. Didn't intend that. I love the dynamics of being a fan. The anxiety I'm put through with each coming game. The way a game in which I have no control over can ruin my day. The never ending cycle in the pursuit of a title. A friend and I discussed this and came up with the metaphor that a playoff run is like a summer fling. This mostly pertains to NHL and NBA. The playoffs take place in the summer and you roll with your team and see where it can take you. Sometimes it takes you far, sometimes it flames out. Just like a summer fling. Sometimes that summer fling repeats itself the next year, because you know you want it to. Who knows? Maybe it'll work this time right? Great metaphor.

Remember that test I studied for at 3 in the moring? 54/60. Looks like I won't be changing anytime soon.

Also, here's a link to a video which showcases the season Arsenal is having. It's an excellent encapsulation of the team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gljnXzUZjTk