I suppose a good chunk of the country is discussing Boston's triumph -- sorry to say I didn't even know what teams were playing until I visited my grandma's house last week and watched an inning with her. I was, in fact, kind of ticked that football fans were punished because the World Series was on <Sunday Night Football got the boot>.

I don't watch a lot of football on tv, but I do enjoy watching Sunday and Monday Night Football with my mom as a social activity. Of course, when my boys the Broncos are playing, matters are a little more serious. Friday night's victory over Fresno State was a bit less stressful than the past two games where I felt rung-out by the time we squeaked a W. I've got my t-shirt...and my slippers...and my reversible beanie that I keep flipping from blue to orange and back again until the boys find their rhythm. :p

A couple weeks ago I got to wondering about the rabidness of sports fans. I've basically grown up in Boise and always cheered for the Broncos, but only in recent years would I say I've become rabid. I think there's something primal here -- something about screaming for your team and wearing the colors and planning your schedule around the games.

It makes me think of the old Greek city-states that used to gear up for battle every so often. We don't war against each other any more <except on a global scale>, but that primal urge is still there...and when your side wins it feels oh so good.

Last night on the news I saw Boston fans celebrating in the streets -- I remember watching the same thing happen, on a much smaller scale, when the Broncos brought home a victory in the Fiesta Bowl last year. What a beautiful thing! Of course I'm not talking about the drunkenness and debauchery that sometimes accompany such gatherings...but what a simple, chilldlike joy to hold the hand of a stranger and jump up and down while laughing your heads off!

I imagine that's what the ends of World Wars I and II were like. I've experienced widespread grief several times -- the Challenger explosion, 9/11 -- but personally I've never experienced widespread giddiness in any context other than sports. Maybe that's why I'm a fan.