COLUMN: Forgive and forget? Not so much in sports

HOME STRETCH COLUMN
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     In general I try to be a good person. I slip up sometimes, like all of us do, but I try. It’s all we can do, right?

     One of the areas in which many of us struggle is forgiveness. When it comes to real life and things that really matter, I generally don’t have too big a problem with this. Like I said, I slip up too.

     When it comes to sports, though, it’s a little tougher. I’m working at it, but still finding it hard to forgive:

     • The Chiefs, Dolphins, Steelers and Raiders for beating my Vikings in their respective Super Bowls all those years ago.

     • Any other NFL team that has ever beaten the Vikings in a game of significance. Which is to say: any other NFL team.

     • Jesper Parnevik, who blew a three-shot lead in the final round of the 1997 British Open, thus taking away the $30 I would have won in the office pool. And Justin Leonard, who rallied to win it.

     • Joe Theismann of the Redskins, for attempting a swing pass late in the first half of Super Bowl XVIII, from inside his own 10-yard-line. If Theismann takes a knee instead, my pool numbers hold up and I win $50. Instead, L.A. Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek picks off the pass and trots five yards for a score. And I get zilch.

     • Fans of the Chicago Cubs who berated, ridiculed and threatened Steve Bartman in 2003. The apology and olive branch that are apparently going to be extended to Bartman now that the Cubs are world champions is hypocritical. And late – by about 13 years.

     • NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. When Minnesota was waffling on whether to build a new stadium for the Vikings, Goodell stormed into town and gave a speech declaring that there would be “serious consequences” if the state didn’t pony up.

     It wasn’t the result that bothered me; the stadium kept the Vikings in Minnesota, and to this point hasn’t cost me a dime. It was the gall, that he could cause an entire state to drop to its knees and say, “Yes, sir, Mr. Goodell, we will buy your stadium for you.”

     That he is signing off on ripping teams from their loyal fan bases in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland hasn’t done much to change my view.

     • The NHL’s Stars, who were the Minnesota North Stars but bolted for Dallas in 1993. The current Minnesota Wild team is fun, its arena in St. Paul is awesome, and the team is quite good this year.

     But for many up there, the Wild is simply a replacement, and it will never be the same. I don’t share that sentiment, but I get it.

     • The two NFL teams who played a Monday Night Game (I don’t remember which teams) in the 1990s, when I was still involved in fantasy football. Due to rosters, tie-breakers, etc., I just needed a single point by either kicker in the fourth quarter, and I would have made my league’s playoffs.

     Neither team scored. I haven’t played fantasy football since.

     At least I’m over it.

 

Category:

Subscriber Login