Hip-Hip, Hypocrisy?

On Monday night, most of us gathered around our living rooms and we watched something greater than sports.

The New Orleans Saints were playing their first home game of the season in a dome that a little over a year ago served as a shelter to tens and thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors.

The Saints were the one pro team in a city that fell victim to America's largest national disaster and now, a little more than a year later they were going to play their first home game under America's biggest sports stage: Monday Night Football.

U2 performed a rendition of "Beautiful Day" in the pre game show, replacing the song's original words for words describing New Orleans.

I had the chills. I'm talking the mondo chills.

From there, a movie unfolded. The Saints, a slight underdog in the game went on to dominate. Their new leader, Drew Brees, who came to New Orleans to be part of not only a team, but a city, led the way.

Their savior, Reggie Bush had a solid game as a player but an even better game as a leader. He was the one uniting the sideline, getting the fans involved. He was the first to pickup a teammate.

The game was sports at its purist form.

New Orleans as a city is the nation's biggest underdog. We all know how devastating Katrina was from the news. They experienced it.

This was Rudy, Rocky IV, Major League and every other underdog movie combined.

Which is why it was so special.

I was behind the Saints. The broadcasters were behind the Saints. America was behind the Saints.

America must be a pretty big-hearted place then, right?

Not so fast.

America is full of shit.

One day America is rooting for the New Orleans Saints, the next day America is rooting for the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are the British to baseball's Colonies.

They have all the money and power in the world to just dominate. There is no fear and famine, there is power and prosperity.

There is no opportunity on this team. You make the Yankees if you perform well enough elsewhere so that you are eventually acquired for more money later in your career. (Don't make Wang or Cano arguments. They got turns at a time of intense desperation last summer when the Yankees were in third place and decimated by injuries.)

There is no heart whatsoever to the Yankees. There is no feel good story or character that overcame adversity to finally make it.

No, the Yankees are the Anti-Saints.

Shouldn't we hate them then?

Is it possible to love two extremes?

Can you go into Rocky vs. Drago and honestly say that you are just rooting for a good fight, because you can relate to or feel for both boxers?

It just makes no sense.

Unfortunately, this paradox is indicative of American sports culture.

Fans' interests are fleeting. Like heroin, sports serve as a quick fix to cleanse our egos, our hearts, or our consciences.

If this makes people happy, then good for them.

But that is not the reason we play sports.

For anyone who has ever competed a day in their life, we know that sports is about working hard and growing with your teammates so that you can get better and then finally one day win.

Sports are a marathon not a race.

But now it all kind of makes sense to me.

Last night, I sat there and rooted for the Saints. That was all fine and good. And today, yeah I am happy they won, but it really isn't that important to me. Not even as important as the lack of toilet paper in my bathroom.

But every single moment that we share with the Mets lasts with me.

Every waking experience remains in my head.

Over 20 years of vivid memories remain a thought away in this otherwise average size brain of mine.

For most of us here, those dedicated enough to read this obscure little Jawn on the internet, just cause you want a little bit more about the team that you have loved for so long, you understand what sport is all about.

And that is why we enjoy them more.

Sports and our teams are not about one day or one season.

Sports are a lifetime connection. A connection between us and teams, stadiums, fans and each other.

Yeah.

VCD,

SM