Barb’s Burblings

I went to my first professional basketball game tonight, watching the Trail Blazers lose to the Grizzlies. (But I got to wear my awesome Przybilla jersey!) The Blazers were pretty sloppy for most of the game, and at times trailed by over 20 points. (They wound up losing only by 10 points, 106-96, and at times were as close at 8 points.) They had a really, really bad first half. But anyway, it was a good time–very loud (my throat’s a bit sore), entertaining.

What got me, though, was the guy in the row in front of me. By a few minutes into the second half (after they had FLY BALL during halftime! EPIC WIN!), the guy was sitting there, head in hands, clearly unhappy. And I looked him and thought, I know that feeling. How many Orioles games have I gone to and wound up in that position? It was actually liberating to watch the game, rooting for the Blazers but not being that involved in the outcome. I could enjoy the random stuff going on, cheer the team on, and leave the arena having had a great night, even though the team lost. Sure, it would’ve been better if the Blazers had won, but ah well.

Seriously, it’s nice to just not have that pressure. Fandom can be so trying sometimes.