Why I'm Raising My Kids Philly Sports Fans

Shame and pride

Before we get to our little reunion (I know you missed me, but I have a life, my computer was broken. Seriously. Thanks to the Dawg for fixing it), I wanted to give a shameless self promotion special thanks to newest Twitter follower (link) and fellow blogger Philly Gambles for doing a quick blip on a recent LB tweet. Check the post here and let this be a reminder to you that my Twitters are awesome and I never miss the chance to tell you I’m right promote other people’s cool stuff.

Being raised a good Catholic, I must confess when I sin against my fellow Man, in this case, my fellow Detroit sports fans. I guess this isn’t so much confession as it is explanation for why I’m choosing to parent my kid into following my rules of sports fandom (link) versus having her break them like I do. I mean, God forbid she fly into the wind and become a fraud Notre Dame or Cowboys fan. So, with all apologies to the D, it’s with a heavy heart, I admit... 


I’m going to raise my daughter a Philly sports fan.

Mind you, some people in this town (read: Eagles fans) would call that child abuse. They’d have a point. So would Lions fans in Detroit. I actually started this post before said computer broke down, and told a couple friends in the D while we were visiting it was going up. The Dawg especially seemed shocked, stunned, really, and just said, “why?”  I explained it to him, and he said it made sense.  But allow me to explain...

- The difference between being an out of town fan versus a home town fan is drinking with the cops after a championship versus being in the drunk tank for DUI. 

Currently served in LB beer fridge

- It's the difference between jumping around celebrating drinking your commemorative Labatt's Tigers cans while Valverde somehow mows down three Y*****s in a row in Game 5, texting your friends while trying not to wake up the wife and kid, and being at the bar hugging random strangers. 

- It's the difference between setting up two outings to see games with your friends while you're in town (I... fucking... love... those games.  I seriously have the best friends and family in the world.  I love all of you), and renewing your season tickets together.

- It's the difference between planning to drive two days out of four to see a World Series game versus having your playoff tickets in hand because of said season tickets.

- It's the difference between putting your Michigan flag outside your house versus going to tailgates where your buddy is in charge of beers and grilling, goes to the parking lot for every game for the past five years, but, I just found out this last trip, doesn't have season tickets and just goes for the experience!!!  Side note - our kids will be Michigan fans - both parents graduates.

Doesn't do it for you?  Okay, how about a couple stories?

How can you not see???

- JB and I recently had free tickets to a Phillies game during the recent heat waves.  He being a Red Sox fan, having grown up in South Philly (ummm...), and I are both out of town fans for that one.  We went in the game in the 2nd, left in the 5th and went to the air conditioned beer bar.  During this past trip, we went to a Tigers day game that started at 1:05, eventually delayed until 2:20.  We stayed in the bar waiting for it to start, then sat through 9 innings of 100+ degree heat index.  See now?  No? 

- Cool bar question from the trip - What is your most memorable sports moment in life?  All of us answered with home events we attended, with the 1997 Michigan v. Ohio State game leading the pack (lots of Mich grads at the bar that night).  All of us even remembered where we were sitting, with who, etc.  You don't get that watching from your couch in Montana.

The beauty of sports is it brings us together... in good times, for good health, and for the sense of community.  It's why I root for the non-Eagles Philly teams after mine - I care for the wife and for the good of the city.  What's that?  Another story?  Who are you, my two year old?  Fine...

My buddy, quite possibly the smartest man on Earth/full of random facts (those who know him should know who I mean), started to get into sports maybe 5-7 years ago.  He was a participant in my yearly NFL suicide pool, which has a small entry and a big prize.  One year, he goes out, and sends me this email - "I just lost in this pool, my fantasy baseball team lost in the playoffs, and my fantasy football team all lost in the same day.  I feel super depressed and this completely ruined my week.  I love sports."


Agony

I absolutely guarantee you there were at least a million people in the country who could relate immediately that week, and about 20 million who could relate completely.  See, what fun are sports if we can't share in the agony joy together?  I could never deny my kids the joy I had celebrating Stanley Cups, national titles, playoff games... well, maybe not Stanley Cups and Super Bowls.  This is Philly, after all.

And now, just for gicks and kiggles, (editors note - editor is on vacation), here is a look back at our MLB picks for 2012, with who I’d pick from here in. Because you care.

AL Central - Detroit Tigers. Now - Sticking with this one, they are HOT!!!!  Yee-haw!!!

AL East - Tampa Bay Rays. Now - Ugh, I guess I’d have to pick the f**ing Y*****s.

AL West - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Now - Going with the Rangers now.

AL Wild Cards - That Team, Texas Rangers. Now - I correctly predicted Pineda would be a bust for That Team, hahahahaha. Gotta give me that, I’m still puking in my mouth a little. I guess I kind have to pick the Rays, and I'll go with ...Anaheim?  How about Boston with a 2nd half charge? Can’t go chalk, let’s say the White Sox fade and it's the Red Sox?... Put it on the board, Yes!!! (God, I hate that guy...)

NL Central - Cincinnati Reds. Now - Reeeeally pulling for the Pirates, but I’ll stick with the Reds.

NL East - Philadelphia Phillies. Now - You know it’s bad when they’re talking about trading Cole Hamels and secretly hoping Utley retires. I’ll take Atlanta and also predict the Nats suddenly “forget” Strausberg’s innings limit.

NL West - San Francisco Giants. Now - Staying with it. Still predicting most of you can’t name three teams in this division.

NL Wild Cards - Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins. Now - Nats and... Pirates! What the hell, right?

Awards - Typically good at these... let’s see!

AL MVP - Albert Pujols, LA Angels (dark horse - Carlos Santana, Cleveland). Now - I’ll go with Josh Hamilton by a nose over Robinson Cano. Out of principle. The darkhorse was a WEE bit off.

AL Cy Young - David Price, Tampa Bay Rays (dark horse - Brandon McCarthy, Oakland),. Now - If Price wins, which he very well may, that would be 3 straight AL Cy Young picks for LB. Juuuust sayin’.

NL MVP - Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies - took him last year, going back for more (dark horse - Geoncarlo Stanton, formerly Mike Stanton, Miami, and Jay Bruce, Cincy Reds). Now - No more picking CarGo. Joey Votto, no one’s even close. Stanton is having a nice year. Who else did I say?

NL Cy Young - Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (dark horse - Madison Bumgartner, SF Giants). Now - Hamels having a nice year, but this field is loaded. I’m rooting for R.A. Dickey and Jason McDonald. Strausberg has a shot if the Nats let him go.

As for the champs, I had the Rays over the Giants, with the Braves as an NL darkhorse. I gotta stay with my pick, since I think all three make the playoffs. If I were in Vegas, though, I think it’s the Rangers year.

We are champions, Tonto!

Got a few ideas in the hopper, but it’s summer time people, so these are gonna be spread out. (TWSS). You can get constant LB at www.twitter.com/logicalbetting and contact us with ideas and comments at logicalbetting@gmail.com. As JB said awhile back, “he does shut up eventually).