The laughter subdued, children were shushed, and even celebrity small talk trailed off as the Staples Center quieted down to a muffled hum.
All 20,000 pairs of eyes in attendance were intently focused on Chris Paul, the darling point guard of the home team Clippers. Calmly, he began his free throw routine.
One bounce of the ball. A glance at the rim. A slight bend of the knees. It was a regular home court free throw — easy and relaxed…until it wasn’t. As Chris Paul went into his shooting motion, a loud heckle shattered the silence.
“HEY CHRIS! YOU’RE WORSE THAN CLIFF FROM STATE FARM!”
It was a pathetically lame jab (even to those who understand the reference), but the free throw rimmed in and then out. The bellowing mad man, donning a size way-too-large Nowitzki jersey, pumped his fist, clapped a couple of times and with a satisfied grin on his face, sat down. You guessed right, it was me.
My suitemates, in the seats beside me, had seen it coming. One mouthed, "Really?” and gave me a look of genuine disgust. The other couldn’t help but chuckle as he buried his head in his hands. They’re well familiar with my fanaticism when I cheer on my favorite team, the Dallas Mavericks.
Which brings me to the topic of my Odyssey debut. I want to share with you the seven feelings I experience as an overwhelmingly passionate sports fan.
1. Alter-Ego Takeover
I’m not quite sure how to explain this one, but it’s the only reason a normally reserved guy like me is daring enough to bellow at Chris Paul in his home stadium. It’s quite a transformation, to say the least.
2. Utter Dejection
When the Mavericks lose a frustratingly close game, I can become totally inconsolable. I simply sit on my couch with a stone cold look and eyes that say, “Don’t bother me while I mull over every bad call and missed free throw for 15 minutes to a couple of hours” (it depends on the magnitude of the game). If this symptom persists for over 4 hours, my suitemates remind me of my homework due the next day.
3. Bizarre Superstitiousness
Like many athletes, I’ve become quite superstitious when it comes to sports. My antics can range from a rather normal crossing of the fingers to quasi-voodoo rituals. Don’t ask, I’m not sure you want to know.
4. Burning Rage
I’m fairly certain that at some point, my neighbors have been alarmed by loud thumping and expletive-laden insults coming from my apartment. It’s usually just me, making a ruckus over a blown call or a bad turnover.
5. Anxious Adrenaline
In the tense moments of a close game, the tightness in my chest and excitement running through my fingertips is exactly what makes sports so captivating to me. The uncertainty of each moment makes me giddily nervous like the little boy above.
6. Pure Bliss
Off the top of my head, there are few things in life that consistently bring me as much joy as a Dallas Mavericks victory. Needless to say, I was beyond ecstatic when the team brought home a championship in 2011. I was legitimately on cloud 9 for an entire month, scrounging YouTube for every highlight video and ordering way too many commemorative T-shirts.
7. Immense Pride
Last but not least, I have been a loyal Mavericks fan for 14 years and bleeding blue has become an important part of my identity. At the end of the day, no matter win or lose, I am proud to be a Mavs Fan For Life. #MFFL
