…Until I’m blue in the face…
- 02.03.10
- Blog
- 12 Comments
I’m back! Yes, it’s me. In a shocking turn of events, HFO hasn’t been updated in almost four months. I can offer no apology or reason, all I can say is HFO got shuffled back in priority. No excuses…
However, recent events have pulled me out of retirement to address a situation that has me shaking my head and blue in the face with bewilderment. That issue is the perceived notion that Colts/Purdue fans have this internal struggle on who to root for in the Super Bowl. I have a few opinions on this, and I’m going to do the best I can to express them in a clear and concise manner. Although they are flowing through my mind like a faucet, so this could get ugly…quick.
First and foremost, I’ll address my own personal opinion. I can’t speak for the rest of the writers (we have writers?) on HFO, but my heart, mind, and body will all be pulling HARD for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday evening. To put a little spin on this opinion, I will tell you that one of my most prized possessions is my personalized, signed, and framed Drew Brees jersey hanging in my house. However, the jersey has the Purdue logo on the front, not a New Orleans Saints logo. I do not own a Saints jersey, a Saints hat, or Saints underwear.
When I am watching NFL games, I am rooting for the Colts, and only the Colts. If I’m “rooting” for any other team, its because that team doing well could benefit the Indianapolis Colts (Home field advantage etc…) I avidly root against the New England Patriots like every good Colts fan does, and I have a special hatred for the Chicago Bears. My hatred for the Bears is mostly due to their mishandling of the Kyle Orton situation and then the perceived crowning of their lord and savior, Jay Cutler. He of 25+ interceptions last season. They have a mightier than thou attitude in the city of Chicago and haven’t done much since 1985 (See Notre Dame fans) But I digress…
When I’m rooting for College Football, Basketball, etc…I am only rooting for the Purdue Boilermakers. The only time I would root for another team is if it would benefit the Purdue Boilermakers in some fashion (See the Wisconsin Badgers last night)
When I’m rooting for Major League Baseball, I’m only rooting for the Chicago Cubs. The only time I would root for another team is it would benefit the Chicago Cubs in some fashion. (See anyone who plays the Cardinals..hah)
So, to review, here are my allegiances in the sports world.
NFL Football —– 1. The Indianapolis Colts
College Sports —– 1. The Purdue Boilermakers
Major League Baseball —– 1. The Chicago Cubs
So my list does not read like this…(in no particular order)
1. The Purdue Boilermakers
2. The Indianpolis Colts
3. The Chicago Cubs
So when someone questions my “love for Purdue” because I’m rooting for the Colts…they need to understand its not that I’m rooting against Drew Brees…I’m pulling for the Colts….and frankly I hope its not close. You’re comparing apples to oranges. I will subscribe to the John Kreese school of competition “We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition: A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy”. I wish no harm on Drew Brees, but I truly hope he is on the losing end of the stick on Sunday. I don’t see a Purdue jersey, I see a Saints jersey. ***See disclaimer at bottom***
Now, with my opinion out there, I will address a few of the problems I see with this discussion.
When the Indianapolis Colts came here in 1984, they were moving to a city that never had an NFL team. Most people in the state of Indiana were either a Bengal fan or a Bears fan. That’s just the way it was, you followed one of those two teams. When the Colts started to become “competitive” several years after they moved here, the fan base grew, but are FAR from being the type of fan base that have followers of 40+ years (See the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins) This fan base is just now starting to really get a following of “true blue” fans.
So the “haters” want to say, well, you’re just jumping on the Colts Bandwagon. Although I see where this statement could originate, there isn’t much of a history to really jump OFF the bandwagon. Personally, I’ve followed the Colts since day one. I’ve not strayed, I’ve not put my emotion into another team (Save a brief moment in my teens where I followed the Raiders because all the cool kids did…didn’t last long) This can also be said for the Boilermakers and Cubs (My second grade picture was taken in a Cubs Jersey)
My frustration with this discussion is the notion that I’m less of a Purdue fan because I’m not pulling for Drew Brees to win the Super Bowl. As you can see, Drew Brees doesn’t play for Purdue anymore, and doesn’t play for my NFL team. Some of you Purdue/Colts fans say “well, the Colts are my team, but I can’t root against Drew Brees..” Okay, that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean you’re a Colts fan…and in my eyes, you shouldn’t tell people you are. This is Apples and Oranges folks, and you’re either a Saints Fan or Colts fan. However, I will caution you, once Drew Brees retires and/or leaves New Orleans, you will no longer be a Saints fan. Therefore YOU will then be “jumping off the bandwagon” just as you accuse Colts fans of when the Colts do well. Who is the bandwagon jumper? The one who roots for the Colts for 25 years no matter who they’re playing, or the one who moves around rooting for teams that have former Purdue players?
Honestly, I’m proud of the fact that I follow MY teams through thick and thin. The people who only continue to root for “best team out there” are the losers who want to follow a winning team so they can say “YEAH MY TEAM WON” almost every single year. Its cheap my friends, and shows absolutely no backbone. These are the same people who play NCAA football on their playstation online against other players, but constantly pick the Floridas and Texas teams of the world because they want to win. Truth be told, when I used to have free time and played football online, I always played with Purdue, and although I may have lost more than my fair share, I was still Purdue.
Let me also say, I don’t have a problem with people who follow Purdue players from team to team and “root” for that team…to each his own, but don’t question others love for Purdue because they don’t follow those teams. This isn’t a question of my love for Purdue, Purdue isn’t playing in the Super Bowl. This is more about my love for my teams in each respective category. Perhaps the “haters” should be more impressed with the unwavering support for the Colts knowing that if this were a college game, I would have the same unwavering support for the Boilers. Afterall, I may be wearing my Colts jersey for the game on Sunday, but it will be covering up the Purdue tattoo I have on my right shoulder blade.
In review…Peyton? “Sweep the Leg” my friend, sweep the leg.
***As a disclaimer, the ONLY time I would truly emotionally care about another team was if my own child was playing for that team***
gaelgwen on 
Kay Mansfield
Tap, tap, tap. Excuse me, but one of your “writers” has a few thoughts…….
I am a proud, born and raised San Diego girl. My siblings and I are 6th generation Californians (and yes, I still consider myself a Californian even though I live in Indiana). I grew up watching the Padres and San Diego, but never at a fanatical level. My father played pro ball, as did my brother– and throughout the years I could never attach myself to a team unless I personally knew who was playing on the field.
Fast forward a couple decades.
I can safely say since approximately the first week in September 2002, I bleed black and gold. I went to the University of Arizona my first year of college, then transferred to Purdue and found my real home. Since then my allegiance has been with Purdue in every single NCAA sporting competition.
However, when it comes to professional sports– my allegiance is with individual players who I personally know, my husband played with at Purdue, or I grew up with in San Diego.
I had a HORRIBLE time during the Saints/Vikings game because although Drew Brees is a Purdue God, Ray Edwards is a good friend of ours. He and Nick played together for years, and we spent a quality amount of time together during our college years…………………..I was personally hoping that Drew through for 6,000 yards and Ray had 12 sacks! Impossible, yes. But I love my boys even when they leave Ross-Ade.
So for me, I root for MY people. Not Colts, not Chargers, not Saints…….but for Drew Brees, Landon Johnson, Ray Edwards, Nick Hardwick, Niko Koutouvides, Shaun Phillips, Mike Otto, etc.
Thank you, and goodnight.
Kristen, I completely value your opinion and see where you are coming from and wouldn’t question your statement. I think it makes sense. And, I don’t see you walking around touting the San Diego Chargers every single second, and then completely shut it down when Drew Brees plays against them. Your list would read like this…
NFL Football
1. Purdue Football Players.
And that’s awesome and I applaud you for being such a great friend. And I’m sure you don’t question my love for Purdue because I’m rooting for the colts.
Great Comment.
NFL
1. Purdue Football Players
2. Poway High Football Players
NBA
1. Purdue Basketball Players
2. Friends of the family in the league
MLB
1. Family, Friends
2. Poway High Baseball Players
3. Purdue Baseball Players
4. Anyone who disagrees with AstroTurf in professional baseball.
Kevin, I would never question your loyalty as a Colts/Cubs/Boilers fan. I have witnessed your fanaticism first hand and know that you bleed all colors of above teams.
I, personally, have no real vested interest in this game. I grew up a Bears fan (and personally hate the way the Orton/Cutler deal went down), and will always be a Bears fan, much like I will always be a Boiler fan, and a Cubs fan until my dying day.
My wife’s family is a group of diehard Colts fans (save for my mother-in-law and one uncle) and I will probably attend some sort of function in which many of her family members will be present. Does this mean I cheer for the Colts? Absolutely not. Do I cheer for the Saints? Absolutely not. Will I cheer for DB? Probably due to the Purdue tie. And if the unthinkable happens and Curtis Painter gets pulled into duty, I’ll also pull for him. It’s just strange when your team isn’t in it, isn’t it???
I have absolutely no problem with Purdue fans cheering for Brees over the Colts, but I, like Kevin, draw the line at someone questioning my loyalty to Purdue because I’m cheering for the Colts to demolish the Saints on Sunday, sack Drew 6 times, force him to throw 4 picks… whatever it takes.
I don’t fault Kristen for cheering for her people first. I don’t know Drew Brees personally, so to me his “personal” value is about the same as the person I sat next to at the stoplight this morning.
However I do acknowledge that one can’t hope for a better ambassador for Purdue than Drew Brees. I cheer for him every chance I get, because I think he deserves good things and his success means good things for the Colts. I cheer for him every week. Every week except this one, and I’m not about to second-guess myself because some two-bit Purdue fan thinks I should. They can go to hell for all I care, because I don’t need their validation.
That should’ve said “… means good things for Purdue…”
OK, so I was about to get all upset and write a really snarky blog responding to yours, Kevin, until I realized that you were writing specifically to people accusing you of NOT being a Purdue fan by rooting for the Colts, as opposed to people like me who really could give a shit about the NFL until I have Super Bowl squares that I want to win.
That being said, I’d really like for Drew to do well, he is a great ambassador for both Purdue and the city of New Orleans, (though I really wish he’d cut that hair). But I also like Peyton Manning and the Colts. (That Saturday Night Live skit from a few years ago with the kids?? So friggin’ hilarious.) So it’s a win-win for me.
Also, I would like to say that I hate the Bears, and have hated them for approximately 5 years, which is about as long as I have lived in an area where I only can watch Chicago TV and listen to Chicago radio. I love nothing more when they lose, and lose repeatedly, so their fans are so dejected they don’t talk for hours on end about them. And how they were once great. You know, once upon a time. Back in the 80s. Which was almost 30 years ago. I feel the same way about Notre Dame fans, unless they live in South Bend, in which case I understand rooting for the hometown team. But at least root for ALL their sports, not just football.
So I’m glad you are a sports fan, just don’t forget those of us that aren’t quite as crazy as you:)
After having relatives that have worked in professional sports, I know almost all of these guys think of their game as a paycheck. Not ALL of them, but the vast majority. Their loyalty is to the highest bidder. And that’s fine. But don’t ask me to have any loyalty to a professional team, then.
My only loyalty in sports is to Purdue University or any tie to Purdue in the professional game. I have somewhat of a rooting interest in the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, Capitals and Red Sox, just because of how many games I’ve witnessed of those teams. But that was when I was a wide-eyed child who didn’t realize that the majority of these players are playing for money. I ended up at the end of the yellow brick road when it came to professional sports, pulled the curtain back and saw the wizard. I’m surprised you haven’t, Kevin. If it came to Drew Brees vs. the Patriots in the Super Bowl, or Carl Landry vs. the Celtics in the NBA Finals, you can damn well bet that I’d be cheering for the Purdue star over some group of guys that are “playing” for “my city”.
How many Colts games have you gone to in the past five years? I’d wager a guess that it’s not nearly as many as Purdue games. I don’t question your loyalty to Purdue, I question your naivety and [in my opinion, displaced] loyalty to a sports franchise. I bleed Gold and Black. I know you do too. I’m surprised the Colts are higher on your priority list than Purdue.
Mark, your reading comprehension is wicked horrible. The Colts aren’t a higher priority because they aren’t in the same category. Period. You’re entitled to your own convaluded opinion, but in this case they are two different things.
And it makes NO difference how many Colts games I attend. They are on Sundays and are almost four hours from my house, and I have three kids. We NEVER miss the games…and make plans around watching them just like we do Purdue games and Cubs games.
You’re way off base.
Mark,
I would suggest you are pretty naive if you think college sports isn’t about money these days. Sure, it hasn’t hit Purdue yet, but look at Kentucky. They are basically an “extended training camp” for Walls and Cousins to prep for the NBA. I have worked in sports marketing around both pro and college level sports for years. It is a business at all levels.
Your loyalty argument is well grounded, but I would ask how much you know about the Colts? Peyton Manning is as loyal to the Colts, Indianapolis, and the fans as Brees is to NOLA and Purdue. Tony Dungy was and is still extremely loyal to Indianapolis and expected the same from his players. I could not support a team whose players are only loyal to the” kwan”. That is one of the things that sets the Colts apart. It’s also part of why Edge and Harrison no longer wear Colts jerseys.
Finally, tonight’s game isn’t about Purdue v. Colts. It’s the Saints playing this game. There are former Boilers on both sides of the football. You should take a look at Drew’s charitable giving in the last couple of years. He has supported Purdue and has given a great deal of money. However, I would bet his has given more time and money to charities in NOLA. His loyalty is to that team and that city now. If you live in Indiana, you benefit from tax revenue generated from fans going to Colts games, buying Colts merchandise, events held at Lucas Oil etc. The incredible rise in popularity the Colts have seen in the last few years has drastically increased that revenue. It goes a long way to influencing my loyalty.
I never said college sports wasn’t a business. But Drew Brees, who graduated with his GPA, Purdue degree and has gone on to be one of the greatest, if not THE single greatest, Purdue ambassadors doesn’t fall in your “Look at Kentucky!!!” line of thinking.
Neither does Carl Landry, Brad Miller or Shaun Phillips. Dustin Keller or Brian Cardinal. They are quality ambassadors for a place I spent seven and a half years. I’ve met all but two of them and can tell you they are polite, friendly and great representatives of a university and school that I BLEEEEEEEED. So yes, I will cheer for them over a collection of individuals who were signed by some owner as the highest bidder for their athletic services. Absolutely I will, ten times out of ten.
Maybe it is because I never lived in China and have only lived in extremely popular cities that didn’t need this kind of revenue boost to make the city more desirable. I dunno.
I don’t really think anyone is less of a “fan” nor will I spend time gloating or calling people out, but I do think that valuing a professional sports team over a tie to your university is difficult to understand.
Kevin, you have a Purdue tattoo on your shoulder, yeah? I remember this. It is badass. Purdue’s greatest son just won on the biggest stage in America. This is a great day for EVERY Purdue fan and alum, especially one that watched Drew put the 2000 team on his back and carry them to a Rose Bowl.
Correction. I live in China. I have never lived in Indianapolis.