We’re all going to die.
No matter the year or how we go out — getting hit by a train, fighting a lion, getting hit by two trains — it’s ultimately going to happen to all of us.
That optimistic and sanguine outlook on life brings us to the Atlanta Falcons. A team that led 21-3 at halftime in the Super Bowl and 28-9 at the end of the third quarter. Matt Ryan, Migos and the entire city of Atlanta were 15 minutes away from jubilation.
They lost.
34-28.
In overtime.
In the most painful way possible.
With 4 minutes and 40 seconds left in the game and the Falcons leading by eight, wide receiver and animatronic robot Julio Jones, specifically created with football in mind, made a spectacular toe-tapping catch at the 22-yard line to essentially clinch a victory for the Dirty Birds. Just run the ball three times and kick a field goal. Kick a field goal on first down for all I care.
An 11-point lead with minutes left is essentially the clincher. You won. Enjoy the confetti, Gatorade shower and trip to Disney World.
Instead, Atlanta went for the jugular by throwing the ball to cement a win and wound up losing more than 20 yards on a sack and penalty.
Atlanta screwed up, as it has done on an almost yearly basis.
When you think of the worst sports cities, Cleveland used to be the crown jewel, but with the LeBron James resurgence and the Indians not being half-bad, it’s time to induct a new best of the worst.
The winner is Atlanta, and here’s my take, the hottest take of all, which also brings us back to the opening sentence of the column.
You don’t always have to root for the same team. It’s not worth it.
Yes, you want to connect to your family and hometown on a greater spiritual basis. Yes, the tradition of starting a season with a team with hope and confidence is exhilarating. Yes, it’s what you’ve done your entire life.
It’s not worth it.
The annual heartbreak, disgust and broken remotes isn’t worth the small semblance of a chance for success.
You have so much life ahead of you.
“Stranger Things” season two is coming out soon. Go read a newspaper. I’ve heard people enjoy running for elongated periods of time.
Do something else besides donning a football jersey in sub-zero weather for a collection of individuals who don’t care how many times you chant their names.
You don’t need to live and die with your team, no matter the city.
And, if you’re going to stick with sports because you’re lost and broken, here’s some advice. Root for the Patriots, Warriors, Yankees, Kentucky basketball and Alabama football. At the very least, you can expect to win some big games and be relevant late into the season.
On Sunday night, Atlanta lost in a humiliating and mortifying way. If you are a die-hard Falcons fan, call it quits. Any victory in the future is not worth feeling that small.
We all have an expiration date, so don’t do something that’s going to cause more pain than happiness year after year. It’s borderline sadistic.
With that said, I definitively believe that next year is the year for the New York Jets. We’re unquestionably going to go 12-4 and win the Super Bowl. I’m all in.
gigottfr@indiana.edu
@gott31
