If anyone knows what Atlanta fans are feeling after the most improbable collapse in Super Bowl history, it’s us, Metroplex.
In this millennium alone, we’ve watched the Dallas Mavericks squander away a 2-0 NBA Finals lead, the Cowboys fall flat on their face in 2007 after one of the best regular seasons in team history, the Cowboys lose a division-winning game three seasons in a row, and the Rangers come within one strike of winning the World Series in 2011 – twice.
Even the Stars and FC Dallas let us down last year by falling in the second round despite being the top seeds in their conferences.
(So who hates me now that I’ve brought up those wonderful memories?)
Look, sports can really suck. They have the ability to absolutely break your heart. It’s in their nature, especially if you’re emotionally invested like many fans are – myself included. And the worst part? About 95% of sports fans end their respective seasons as losers in one way or another.
Talk about depressing.
But the beauty of all sports is that, like everything else in the world, the show goes on and you always come back. There’s always next year, and however many tiny pieces your sports heart is broken into, they’ll be patched back up again come Spring Training, or Training Camp, or whatever preseason events your favorite teams have. It’s because as a sports fan or anyone who bleeds competition, there’s no greater rush than winning and getting a return on something you’ve emotionally invested in, even if just for one night.
That feeling doesn’t go away just because of one game – no matter how big or small.
And no, there’s nothing wrong with emotionally investing in a sports team. It sure beats investing in a no-end-in-sight political squabble on Facebook. At least there’s a chance of somebody winning in a sporting event.
I won’t sugarcoat it, Atlanta — you’ll never forget Super Bowl LI, even if you win the next three Lombardi trophies (which, you won’t because, well, Dak Prescott). It’s just like I have never forgotten where I was, who I was with and what I was wearing in 2011 when that ball went over Nelson Cruz’s head in the bottom of the 9th in St. Louis, or in 2006 when Dwayne Wade and the Heat somehow came back in Game 3 to shock the Mavs. Even though the Mavs got redemption against Miami in 2011, the summer of 2006 will always be part of the conversation.
But you’ll be back, just like all of us in DFW were. It’s in our blood as sports fans to ride the emotional sports roller coaster – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Don’t let “sports muggles” tell you otherwise.