This Just In: I Love Football, Don't Care What You Think

Football is fantastic! I love everything about it, except for really bad refs making horrible calls that cost the best team in the league a game against an over-rated eventual 2nd place finisher. I'm speaking hypothetically, of course.

I love the freshness of the new season, the tension of each game, I love the athleticism, I love everything about it. It's a long season, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. I still hope against hope that it's my year.

In full disclosure, here are my week 4 revised finish prediction for the AFC West, the only division I really care about. I'll post my original idea and what I think after watching three games from each team, and see what was closer when the season's over.

ORIGINAL:

1. CHARGERS, 13-3

2. Broncos, 8-8

3. Raiders 6-10

4. Chiefs, 5-11

NOW:

1. CHARGERS 12-4

2. Donkeys 11-5

3. Raiders, 6-10

4. Chiefs, 2-14

A Lifetime of Losing

I've definitely earned the ridicule of having everyone on the planet ask me about the Padres being in last place. I could attempt to analyze their destruction, but I know it sounds like making excuses, so I won't. Instead, I'll say it: they are awful. And embarrassing. And hard to watch very often, even when winning.

But I have a secret: I'm used to it, and I really don't care as much as you might think. Le tme explain, though.

I'm 30 years old and the Padres have been to the World Series twice. The first cam when I was 6. I do remember pieces of that - like their broadcaster Jerry Coleman's daughter was my teacher that year and we got to watch the Padres in class a few times, and Steve Garvey's  homer to win the pivotal game of the series against the Cubs, and the Cubs Busters shirts, and the record album my Dad had of all kinds of goofy songs from the radio station KFMB about the team (I stole it from my Dad after he started cheering for the Rockies and then the Twins ... don't tell him), and a whole bunch of other random junk. The next time they made it that far I was 20 years old, and obviously I remember a whole lot about that. It was fantastic and I felt just as happy and caught in the moment as I did as a little kid.

The thing is, the Pads are 1-8 in World Series games, and even taking certain at-bats and bad calls frame-by-frame (which I have done and will gladly do for you anytime if you'd like to see Tino Martinez strike out in Game 1 of the 98 Series although it was called a ball and he subsequently hit a grand slam off of Mark Langston) they weren't close to winning at all. The team has been in last place more times than I care to look up in my lifetime, there have ben years where there was little to be excited about besides Tony Gwynn (and yes, he's fat. He also rakes like mad). Basically, I'm used to it. Oh - and in some sick, weird way, I love it!

I love underdogs, so much so, in fact, that I often cheer for them even when I hate the team or don' t want them t win. I'll even start pulling for a team that I wanted to lose when they are down in the late stages of a game.

I never liked Michael Jordan. Ever. I can go on about it, but it will seem crazy to you.

I detested Kobe before he even got charged with factual crimes that he subsequently got away with (editorial opinion/"fact").

The Patriots are the worst thing to ever happen. And Red Sox fans weren't obnoxious until they started winning.

The site of a single Yankees hat makes me vomit.

Sometimes, the idea of the Chargers realizing their potential and winning the Superbowl makes me sick when I think of all the front-runners that will wear their gear afterwards. (NOTE: I'd get over it. This is an allowable paradox. I do want to win ... I just like the suffering on some level).

All this to say, I'm not bothered b it. It's one year. The Padres have had moderate success lately, and maybe we'll figure stuff out next year, who knows? All I do know is that I'm loyal, I'm used to the losing, and I love my Padres even more every time they lose. Call me crazy, but I will follow these losers everyday until I die, even if they kill me early.

Carmelo Anthony doesn't want to be my friend

So, I love sports - maybe too much sometimes. A couple of weeks ago I had a great couple of days in regard to running into athletes, whom I have built into quasi-gods.

First, Dan Issel (Issel the Missile), who both played for and coached the Nuggets was in front of me in line at the Castle Rock post office ( I was there to pick up a sweet new authentic Antonio Cromartie jersey, just to brag). I stalked him towards the door for a second and then said "Dan Issel!" He gave me a warm smile and shook my hand and said, "Glad to meet you." That was sweet.

A few days later, the real prize sighting occurred though. Josie and I had to return something to Target, and we were in Highlands Ranch so we went for it. We were walking around when there, right in front of me was Carmelo Anthony and his lady, the chick that used to be on MTV. I almost fell over. I wanted to call everyone I knew and tell them, I wanted to go up and try to be his best friend, I wanted to hug him and thank him for saving my favorite team from being crappy.

But there was a problem: he didn't want to do any of those things. At all. In fact, as I walked my third loop around him, he pulled his hood over his head and looked down, seemingly looking for an escape route. And who can blame the guy? He was just buying some video game action and probably went to the specific ghetto Target instead of the nice one a few miles away to avoid being followed by 30 year-old men in throwback jerseys.

The problem with hero worship is that we think we know people because we watch their movies or listen to their music or follow their careers. But we don't at all. We know a distortion of them - sometimes better and sometimes worse than who they actually are. In admiring them from a distance and locking in on the positive attributes that make us feel a certain way, we see them as something they are not.

And it's been bothering me since then that maybe I do this with God a lot. We all do. We are so sure of who God is by the limited interaction that we've had with Him, and we keep him at a safe distance. Maybe we want everything to be static and clean and easy, or maybe we just don't know how to let an invisible God closer to our heart than we do. But God is not a distant celebrity that can only be reported on in part.He is up close and personal and has already laid his heart and love and plan out bare to us when Jesus suffered a slow, painful, and necessary death for us. Giving him access to my deepest thoughts and desires isn't a religious act - it's an absolute necessity to live.

Chargers@Patriots ... Oh well

We have to play the undefeated Patriots (whom I HATE after last season's playoff debacle, where we gave them the game and then they danced on our logo and mocked us) this Sunday. I don't really expect to win the game, but I'm crazy enough to believe that it's possible. If the Bolts can run the ball well, which is probably a big if against this team, and can at east semi-lockdown the Patriot passing game, I think we can win a 27-24 type of game. However if Brady comes out firing like he did last week and the Chargers play as tight and intimidated as they did last year, the Patriots will make them a speed bump and win something like 35-17.

Come on boys ... I want a championship so bad!

San Diego Super Chargers

will beat Tennessee 27-17.


Oh yeah.