The second sports matter is Hockey. I don't think I'm going to up and start watching it now--I probably already watch enough TV and sports as it is--but I realized today it is kind of an under-appreciated sport. I don't know if there is a more on-the-edge-of-your-seat event out there. For 68 minutes (or however long it was until Syd the Kid's darn shot) I was just antsy and anxious hoping that USA could pull it out. Canada would come down and I would just pray they'd miss each attempt, and then when we'd finally get it back on our side I'd feel as relieved as when that teacher who calls on students randomly doesn't call on me after I realized I haven't been listening to a thing she said--okay, maybe a stretch, but I couldn't think of anything that makes me that relieved, and I hate those awkward situations. Anyways, it was just one of the most intense sporting events I remember watching in a long time. I'm sure a lot of it was just what was at stake and the fact that I really wanted the US to win, but still, I think I'm going to stop hating on it and appreciate hockey a little more.
The other intense sport that never lets me down, is college hoops. I can tell it is March already. Upsets are happening, hearts are being broken, "onions" are growing, and kids are just going all- out already. I went to the New Mexico-BYU game on Saturday and in the words of Musburger, "We had ourselves a dandy." The outcome was no good, but it was an awesome game. Both teams played really hard and had some unlikely players step up big--and good job Mike, way to 'rep PV' (our high school). It was too bad we couldn't pull it out in the end, but I still had fun watching it.
Really, it's the after-the-buzzer ending that I really want to vent about though. I haven't been to very many games this year, and I was reminded why I don't go a lot during and especially after this game. I love BYU sports teams (even though I still got that place in my heart for the Runnin' Rebs), but I can't stand a lot of the fans. I know all sports teams' fans are pretty classless most of the time, but I've always hoped the church's school wouldn't be that way. During the game, you always get those annoying fans that yell and make comments at the most ridiculous plays or calls by the ref, when you can tell that they know hardly anything about the sport. They might as well just scream, "I'm an idiot, I'm just really mad right now and want to yell something at someone." Then sometimes you overhear their conversations and they're telling the person sitting next to them some random thing they think they know about the team or one of the players that is usually just bogus too.
They really frustrate me; but yeah, I know, those things aren't that big of deal and I need to learn more patience with people. There are a few other things though, that don't just annoy me, but just make me almost ashamed that we call ourselves true Christians. The boos just echo throughout the whole gym during the games. I wish they could all read the talk Elder Holland gave in 86 where he says he can't comprehend how any Christian could boo any one for any reason (I've always agreed and haven't booed since Junior High, but I'm not saying I'm any better than any of them; I still got other problems).
Even worse than the booing and complaining and degrading the refs and other team all game is when they think they have some right to throw stuff out on the court. In my four years at BYU, there hasn't been a year where I haven't seen this happen at a basketball game at least once. This last game was the worst though. Our team fought really hard with our star player out. We finished a well-fought game, and we came up just a tad bit short. And it's not like this game was life or death or anything; it really won't even have a huge effect on tournament placement (I think we would have been a 4 or 5 no matter what). But then, those 'dumb people' again thought two good defensive plays by New Mexico were fouls (no good ref would ever call those at the end of a game; you let them play unless it is blatant). In uncontrolled, idiotic anger a couple fans threw stuff at the court, New Mexico players, and the referees; and of course, a bunch of followers then thought it was okay for them to follow their example. It's ridiculous and classless, and this time it really saddened me because a cup actually hit a ref. It's isn't like it hurt him, but imagine what that ref now thinks of Mormons. Yeah, you really showed him, 'cup-thrower'. I'm sure next game, now he'll for sure call two players going for a loose ball with .6 seconds left a foul and give us three free throws to win.
Sorry, that was really long and a bit harsh, but I just don't understand those fans. Their anger just amuses me. It's a little funny, but at times like this one, it's also sad. Especially when we are supposed to be the true representatives of Christ's restored gospel. Good job BYU fans! You really came through on that one (that was facetious).
