Now I know some of you are thinking that the good comes with the bad. Professional athletes are treated like gods, and with the cheering and the autographs come the comments good and bad. I’ve heard from fans that are singing someone’s praises one second and then ready to rip his head off the next. It may be true that this goes with the territory and I just don’t get it. I just believe in supporting the team, win or lose.
Does this mean that I don’t yell helpful hints at the players on the ice during the game? Of course not. I’m very vocal. And I think that statistically, I’m due for a profound bit of insight that should be shared while the RiverKings are down by two, on a power play. But what I am most often yelling is “Go ‘Kings!”
I guess the moral of the story is this: treat athletes like you would like to be treated. My mother told me if I didn’t have something nice to say, shut up and smile. In the IT department, I don’t work under the same scrutiny as the RiverKings. When I don’t finish setting up that printer, or fix someone’s email, or figuring out why they’re not connecting to the network, I don’t get booed. No one spends anytime wondering about what a loser I am, or if I was tired or distracted. What about when I fix someone’s mysterious shutdowns, or get their graphics looking beautiful? I get no applause. I would like to.
I want to get treated like Hank from that Starbucks commercial. I want my own personal cheerleaders. But with the cheerleaders and fans come the living in a fishbowl feeling, and I know I couldn’t deal with that. So as long as these guys are brave enough to get out in front of everyone and play, I’ll keep cheering. And on those rare occasions when I’m not thrilled with the way our team played, I’ll just smile.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
I would like to counter this sentiment with that of paid attendant Homer Simpson:
"This ticket doesn't just give me a seat, it also gives me the right -- no, the DUTY -- to make a complete ass of myself."
2 - Stephanie S.
Great Job Chris!!!!!
3 - Kristin Grey
GREAT read!