Waking up

LONDON – Friday morning began just as 18 others had.

I woke up, realized what time it was and punched in the password to my laptop. I waited for Yahoo! Sports to come up, crossing my fingers and hoping the result wouldn’t make me cry.

As the page began to load, I saw the photo of Kobe and then the headline: A Return Trip.

The Lakers, my favorite team, had defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-92 in win Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals and advanced to the NBA Finals.

I jumped. I yelped. I woke up my roommate.

As happy as – I assume – she was for Kobe and co. to make it to the finals for the second consecutive year, I don’t think she wanted to be awakened at 6 a.m. to hear the score.

But that’s just one of many problems I’ve had being overseas during the NBA playoffs. The five-hour time difference between London and the East Coast means every game starts between 1 and 3 a.m. Then every game ends around 4 a.m.  

I am a dedicated fan, but with work and classes at 8 a.m., I need to sleep.

Now that the finals are starting Thursday, though, I need to change my schedule. I’ve tried waking up at 4 a.m. to check the scores, but it’s never worked. I’ve tried pulling all-nighters, but I usually fall asleep early into the third quarter. And checking my computer when I wake up at 7:30 a.m. won’t be enough.

What to do instead? I could go to bed at 8 p.m., wake up at halftime and go to bed after the game’s over. I could wear my Lakers T-shirt every day, though it might violate my office’s dress code. I could make posters and proclaim my fandom near the Houses of Parliament.

What makes a good fan? Is it the Chelsea supporters who were drunkenly yelling at the TV inside a pub as their team beat Everton in the Football Association Cup Final? Is it the fans who supported Manchester United on May 27 during its 2-0 loss to Barcelona?

When does fandom get out of control? While I value the Lakers and how much joy they’ve given me throughout the years, I also can’t stay up to watch ESPN Gamecast for every game. Even during the school year, I’m too busy sometimes to keep track until the fourth quarter.

Does that make me a bad fan? Do I not have my priorities in order, or am I just making enough time for my team? In nith grade I didn’t study for my biology final so I could watch game six of the Lakers vs. Timberwolves Western Conference Finals. The game was one of the best of the year, and I’ve never regretted the C that I got in the class.

But now I have more obligations, responsibilities – all those things you’re supposed to have when you’re 30.

So has my love diminished? Will I care if my team fails to bring home a title? More importantly, will I wake up to see the result or just read about it days later?

As my roommate will probably guess, the mornings will begin like all the others.