I came to this conclusion while nursing a hangover and watching the Badgers' defense get smoked like a joint at a Phish concert last Saturday against the Gophers running attack. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't for two reasons.
One, I was there for the paper so I had to watch the defense get pummeled. Two, well, simply ... they're my team. They've always been my team. Ever since I began watching college football, I was raised a Badger fan. And while it hurts right now to see them on another three-game skid, they're my team, and I wouldn't want to leave even if I could.
You know, there's a thin line between being critical and being a crybaby. And lately, I've seen a lot of crybabies on this campus. They huddle in bars and talk about how the Badgers are the worst team in college football. They chant Matt Schabert's name every time Jim Sorgi doesn't hit the receiver perfectly. And oddly enough, they're the same folks who would chant Sorgi's name when Bollinger would take a sack last year.
Being critical means you see their potential, but you're also frustrated that they aren't performing like you have seen them do before, and either way, you're still pulling for them. Being a crybaby means that you refuse to cheer for anything except perfection.
Who's the more loyal fan? The guy who wears the apparel every day until the day his team gets eliminated, and then begins talking about how much they suck until they make another playoff run? Or the guy who is quietly resolving to get season tickets for next year without making much of a fuss about it?
I think it's the latter, the one who cheers for his team without crying about how long it's been since they've won any sort of championship or bowl game.
They're the Tim Duncans of the world, those who have a calm outside, yet possess a fierce drive and loyalty to what they do. And they'll never cry about something, but you know they have a zeal for what they do.
My point is that having loyalty is a lot tougher than you might think. Anyone can cheer for the Badgers when Sorgi is finding Lee Evans for a touchdown. Or when we stymie Ohio State and we're storming the field. But now, when the team has hit a rough spot, and is going up against a tough Michigan State squad, will you be at Camp Randall? Or is it not worth your time?
Mike Jones is a senior majoring in political science and international relations. He can be reached at mikejones@dailycardinal.com.
