Reflections from a 65 year fan of Syracuse

[baggerbob]

I turn 72 in a few months; please indulge me in a few memories and a little philosophical musings.

It is clear to me that the NCAA tournaments I have in front of me are far fewer than the ones I have seen in the past. Thus, I feel that being a fan, I have learned, is highly subjective and, in my case, age dependent. In the old days, I was passionate about the ebbs and flows of Syracuse basketball and football to the point where, when I was a junior in high school, I decked a Boston College fan standing in front of me in Archbold Stadium for screaming that Jim Brown was a dumb ni_ _ _ er; it was caught on national television. Once when I was a kid I pounded the radio (one of those plastic jobs shaped like Nash Rambler) so hard while listening to an away football game I broke the thing in half, vacuum tubes broken all over my bed; later, I usually got depressed or knee-walking drunk when the basketball or football team lost. I listened on my handheld shortwave radio to the Syracuse-Indiana 1987 final on the rooftop of the apartment building where I was living in Barcelona, Spain. I lost the signal with about two minutes to go and had to wait until the next morning to buy the International Herald Tribune to find out the Cuse had lost. I was disconsolate for days.

These days, I seem to savor each game as it comes. Last night's victory over the California Bears, though not the prettiest exhibition of a tournament game, was a sweet experience for me. Sure, I get mad at our guys when they pull a bone-headed move, but I always try to remember that they are playing for my team and thus offer encouragement rather than condemnation. I haven't lived in Syracuse for over 40 years, but, in many ways, I've never left the city with two seasons: winter and the Fourth of July. It will always be my town and my team; my blood leans toward Syracuse and its people and to the university for which I've rooted since I was a boy and from which I graduated. I've recruited fans from Mexico to Dubai and many places in between. My caveat is that once SU is eliminated (if they don't win it all), I lose all interest in the tournament. I don't stay up all night (like I do here, when the games are on the internet in the middle of the night) to watch teams I don't care about, nor can bear to see. It is the Cuse that has my heart. Always has. And always will.

Magnificent post you've got me by 6 years, but we had the opportunity to see the football program with Ben be relevant, the basketball team with Vinnie Cohen, Manny Breland , and Jim Brown was good. We saw the down periods, but the upswings always came, and made being a fan worthwhile. The key as we age is to not get to high or to low, but the times when both programs are good is great. When you look at the great basketball and football programs over the past 60 years, we are one of the few that have been good in both.

 

[85SUAlum]

In the old days, I was passionate about the ebbs and flows of Syracuse basketball and football to the point where, when I was a junior in high school, I decked a Boston College fan standing in front of me in Archbold Stadium for screaming that Jim Brown was a dumb ni_ _ _ er; it was caught on national television. Once when I was a kid I pounded the radio (one of those plastic jobs shaped like Nash Rambler) so hard while listening to an away football game I broke the thing in half, vacuum tubes broken all over my bed; later, I usually got depressed or knee-walking drunk when the basketball or football team lost. I listened on my handheld shortwave radio to the Syracuse-Indiana 1987 final on the rooftop of the apartment building where I was living in Barcelona, Spain. I lost the signal with about two minutes to go and had to wait until the next morning to buy the International Herald Tribune to find out the Cuse had lost. I was disconsolate for days.

I can definitely relate to your passion for the Orange. Me and a friend wore black arm bands to school in high school when Georgetown snapped the Manley Field House win streak. In '87, I came very close to throwing my TV out the window. I'm still not over that loss (although 2003 definitely helped). I'm 50 now, and still haven't quite mellowed. I still yell and scream at the TV, throw things when they lose. I kicked the coffee table in the 2nd half of the BE champ game this year and nearly broke my toe (as it is, it has a wicked bruise and still hurts).

These days, I seem to savor each game as it comes. Last night's victory over the California Bears, though not the prettiest exhibition of a tournament game, was a sweet experience for me. Sure, I get mad at our guys when they pull a bone-headed move, but I always try to remember that they are playing for my team and thus offer encouragement rather than condemnation.

I get mad at bone-head plays too, but I'm beginning to find the chat rooms almost unbearable during a game due to the really negative comments towards some of the players by some of the participants. The negativity expressed by some members really takes away from the enjoyment of watching the game while live chatting with other fans.

 

[GardenOrange]

Nice Post. I too would like to graduate to being a more mature fan. Way too much yelling and throwing of things when things go wrong. Someday I may get there.

 

[SteveC]

I get mad at bone-head plays too, but I'm beginning to find the chat rooms almost unbearable during a game due to the really negative comments towards some of the players by some of the participants. The negativity expressed by some members really takes away from the enjoyment of watching the game while live chatting with other fans.

I'm making myself avoid the computer when watching a Syracuse game. So much negativity EVERYWHERE.

This post was amazing. I'm hoping some people (nobody in particular) read it and realize it's alright for our players to screw up (on the court) every once in a while.

 

[manleyzoo]

Tom, while you may be dismayed to learn that last Thursday I elected not to hoof it over to Joe's (not enough time between game sessions) in favor of Henry's HiLife (right around the corner from the arena) and its incomparable rib eye steaks and scotch, I did refer a number of out-of-towners with time on their hands to OJ's where I'm told a fine time was had by all.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Muhammad Ali..brat! DOWN GOES BC FAN! DOWN GOES BC FAN!!

 

[JoeCollege]

Such a great post, Tom. Thanks for sharing. One of the best things for me about this board is when folks with the first-hand history like you and Joyce share little snippets of your experience with the rest of us.

Safe travels, and keep on posting!