With the NBA Finals coming up and the wait for the upcoming NFL season, I decided to do a fun list about passionate fans and the friendship that forms.
Some people have friends that couldn't care less about any sports. Others have friends that don't have a particular team to root for and just watch for fun, but there's nothing like having someone who is just as passionate about their teams like yourself.
As a Chicagoan, I am naturally passionate for the teams here. The Chicago Bears (NFL) aka "The Monsters of the Midway" and Super Bowl XX Champions in 1985. The 2x 3-Peat (1991-1993 and 1996-1998) NBA Champions, the Chicago Bulls. And the Chicago White Sox, the 2005 MLB World Series Champions. I got to hype it up, you know. Then there's my best friend, Jay. He's from Houston, so I always have to hear about the Rockets (NBA), Texans (NFL) and Astros (MLB)... all the time. James Harden this and J.J. Watt that, it never ends. I'm just kidding, I do the exact same to him. That's our relationship, we talk trash, but it's out of love because we're just two passionate fans for our city teams.
Here's the things that usually happens with two passionate fans that are friends:
1. Any Game Day becomes a "Study Session."
Studying the TV if our team is in the big, syndicated game (We're in Arkansas, where both our teams don't have much love). Look at our phones to see the score if our team isn't on the local channel. Compare wins, losses, and rankings in our teams' divisions, then argue. It gets that real.
2. Jabs or roasting sessions (based off your preference)
As long the jabs are from a good place, they're fun to throw. Never throw insults from a dark place, it ruins the fun, little rivalry you made with someone.
I am a victim and an offender of this. My beloved teams haven't been doing so well (except the White Sox, they're fine), so I become the butt of Super Bowl, NBA Championship, and World Series jokes. "Ya'll haven't won a Super Bowl since 1985." "The Bulls can't relieve those Jordan days." "Why Chicago fans always have to live in the past?" I take the jabs with a head nod. I shed my lonely tear with my head up high to whisper, "There's always next year." Usually, I keep it moving... sometimes.
My jabs can get a little brutal, especially towards Jay. I can't help it, I am a lethal weapon. "The Rockets need to thank Michael Jordan for those two championships ('94-'95)", "The Texans don't have a Lombardi Trophy though," and my personal favorite, "The Astros got beat at their own stadium by the White Sox in 2005. Come to Chicago, the banner will remind you." He gets frustrated, then says, "What about the present?" My quick response, "You're just mad that you don't have any dynasties!" These jabs goes on until one of us gets tired, but they're still refreshing.
3. Mutual respect
You have to have mutual respect for each other's teams and their passion for them.
As much as I tease about Houston, I truly respect the sports scene there. Jay hates the Dallas Cowboys just as much as I hate the Green Bay Packers (Do your research: Governor's Cup: The Battle of Texas and 10 Facts about the Bears-Packers Rivalry). Hakeem Olajuwon was their equivalent to Michael Jordan with the joy he brought to that city. They respect the hard work that Earl Campbell and Warren Moon has given that city, just as we do for Walter Payton or Dick Butkus.
4. The rivalry strengthens your friendship (in a strange way).
The point of sports rivalries is to have fun, especially with friends. Jay is still my boy even though his choice of teams is piss poor (just kidding), but it's our love for our respective teams that actually strengthens our friendship. For him, finding a girl that knows what she's talking about and is really interested. For me, having a guy respect my knowledge and listens on what I have to say. We love to talk trash to each other. We love comparing our teams' roster standings. It's fun for us.
Well, that's my list! *checks Chicago Bears' 2016-2017 Schedule* Hold on, the Bears go against the Texans in September? Oh snap, I need to get new material for this.
