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http://www.columbussports.com/content/teams/columbus_clippers/thumbs-up-thumbs-down----the-oscillations-of-a-col.shtmlThumbs Up, Thumbs Down -- The Oscillations of a Columbus Sports Fan
Where my current sports interests are coming and going
So much in the sports world, so little time. What's a fan to do? Well, I'll make the best use of my very few free moments to ruminate on my personal ups and downs with the athletes and teams that I and so many others out there are following this time of year. To indicate whether my interest is waxing or waning, and in a nod to our board busting Blue Jackets, I'll employ a "plus/minus" system to gauge the direction my eyes, ears and heart are going.
The Massive -- (Thumbs Up -- Plus 1) -- Last year really solidified my deep support of the Massive, as Columbus Crew fans and the crazies of the Nordecke have come to call our banana-kitted bashers. The only reason this one isn't higher in the plus range is that I was already pretty into the Crew last year. This season just kicked off with a 1-1 draw at Houston Saturday night before 16,000 balmy and boisterous south Texans who came out to see their contenders match with the Massive. One of the main reasons the Crew are so fun to watch is the skill and smarts of 2008 MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and the Argentine star looks like he's ready to shine again as he put in a late goal to salvage the opening tie and a point in the standings. Columbus seems poised for another great run this year, despite the loss of Coach Sigi Schmid, who's been replaced by fan favorite Robert Warzycha. Those who read my Crew columns last year know the extent of my support for the black and yellow and the details of the massive 17-7-6 regular season run to the MLS Cup championship and the Supporters' Shield. Some come on, let's get some fan fannies on those Crew Stadium benches this year!
College Basketball -- (Thumbs Down -- Minus 3) -- If you've read the writers' prediction article that's been posted, you'd know from the comments that I've enjoyed a fine bracket this year, sitting today (Sunday 3/22) at the 99.79 percentile on ESPN's challenge. Now here's the real news -- it's all dumb luck, and I put very little thought into it. I've gotta say, college hoops has just not succeeded in truly holding my interest this year, and I've really been suffering through that frame of mind since the beginning of the season. Ohio State gave me a little initial joy at 10-0 with nice wins over Notre Dame, Miami and Butler, but the Big Ten season was flat and uninspiring. The recent losses to Purdue and - gulp - Siena to end the year did not help my attitude, and neither does the certainty that another work in progress center is one and done for the Buckeyes. It's the trifecta!! Hey, I wish B.J. Mullens well and completely understand why he would leave, so no sour grapes here, but it just does not increase my dedication to the sport, which right now is waning like the setting sun.
Chad Ocho Cinco -- (Thumbs Down -- Minus 2) -- I've never been a basher of this brazen Bengal, and some readers here might presume I've got orange and black striped boxers, but let me set the record straight -- I don't even have scarlet and grey ones!! Let me also make this clear -- Chad's sideshow is a little old, though pretty harmless. And Ocho Cinco means "eight five" in the castellano, not eighty-five, but whose getting picky, right? What I need this fall is a nice 4-0 start to the year with Carson Palmer going strong. What I don't need is the receiver formerly known as Johnson creating his own spectacle instead of catching the ball and heading downfield when we've just lost T.J. Houshmandzadeh to free agency and the Seahawks. It's going to be rough going against Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC North in 2009 (notice I left out one team), so I've got to see Ocho Cinco playing with he determination and prowess we used to see, if he's playing in Cincinnati at all. Something tells me he will be. Hopefully I'll want to watch.
Cincinnati Reds -- (Thumbs Down -- Minus 1) -- I almost gave my Redlegs an "even" push on the interest meter until I started reflecting on the lack of any true postseason hope as spring training winds down. The tradeaways of Griffey and Dunn last year didn't help my viewpoint. I kind of understood the Griffey move, especially monetarily, though I love the guy and he's an MLB legend especially in the face of the steroid era. Still, it didn't make me want to follow the Reds more. The Dunn deal took the cake, though. Once Cincinnati had already dumped a bunch of salary, why get rid of a year in year out 40 homer basher who has a .385 on base percentage every season? Oh, the glove and the strikeouts, that was it, I remember. Details, details -- from a fan point of view a firesale does not help morale, especially when we see the power potential flickering for 2009 and we're stuck playing in a home run hitter's park. I'm going to watch the Reds, though, and I have some hopes for our starters in Cueto, Volquez, Harang and Arroyo. Phillips, Votto and Bruce will be there for me too, but I'm afraid there will be too little relief and too little management money being spent to make this season a promising one.
Columbus Clippers -- (Thumbs Up -- Plus 2) -- Just so you get it that I'm not down on baseball as a sport, let me profess my excitement for the new Huntington Park in the Arena District. The Clippers have some nice new digs to go with their crowd-pleasing affiliation with the Cleveland Indians, and local fans are going to love it. Word on the street is that general admission prices are not rising, still about $6 if I remember right, and that's good news when the wallet's getting light. There will be many great, warm summer nights spent at the new ballyard, both with friends and family. We may not know who any of the players are, but we'll have a great time not having to worry about what's lurking in the graveyard next door. The ghosts of affiliations past, you say? Another reason why the contract with the Indians may be almost as important as the new park . . .
High School Sports -- (Thumbs Up -- Plus 1) -- I do a lot of writing on this subject as many of you know, and I primarily follow the big two, football and basketball. I do it because there are so many great stories out there and so much raw, genuine heart that goes into each game and each team's makeup. The games I see are generally at Upper Arlington, but it's the same at all of our local schools be they OCC, Central Catholic, Mid-State, City League or otherwise. These are kids playing for their own pride, their own desire, their own schools. Most will not play organized basketball or football again after graduation, but that does nothing to diminsh the dedication. I already enjoy high school sports, so again it's not rising dramatically on the scale, but I can't encourage enough that every sports fan get out to their local stadium or gym and catch a few games next year, or even next weekend as the state basketball tournament invades the Schottenstein Center at OSU.
The CBJ -- (Thumbs Up -- Plus 2) -- This goes without saying, I guess. The whole city is wrapped up in the continuing success of the Blue Jackets and count me in. I've only been to one game this year due to the expense and other obligations, but I've watched many others on the tube and find myself reading every day's articles and columns in the Dispatch with renewed vigor. Saturday night's comeback win at Florida just fanned the flame even more, as did the 8-2 bruising of Detroit and the recent Blackhawk beatings. What will the city be like if we actually have a top level professional team in the playoffs? The Crew gave us a great taste last year, but the Blue Jackets have a much larger fan base. Also, let's face it -- though I love the Massive, the MLS is not the NHL whether you look at the history, the crowds or the dollar signs. So here's to our favorite hero Rick Nash, but also to our unexpected ones such as Steve Mason and Antoine Vermette, respectively our rockin' rookie and our brand new boy traded to the CBJ from Ottawa. I'll be riveted to the screen until it's over, Stanley Cup or not, and who knows -- maybe I'll even get out to another game at the barn.