Since getting married early last August, I have been without any form of television or reliable internet, which for my bride’s and mine relationship has been wonderful, but for my sports knowledge, not so much. What I know is primarily what I read on various Twitter feeds and Facebook posts. Not good enough for someone who used to TiVo the L.A Clippers vs. the Milwaukee Bucks just to see what Mo Williams did for me fantasy wise that night.
This past year was declared by many to be the Year of the Underdog. In the NBA, Dirk and his Mavs were finally able to break that menacing glass ceiling that had held them back for so many years, and obtain that first Championship they so desperately wanted. Beating LeBron and the Miami Heat along the way made it that much sweeter.
In the MLB the Texas Rangers made it to the World Series for the second year in a row, however this time they were the favorites against the quiet St. Louis Cardinals. In both Game 6 and Game 7 the Rangers were just 1 STRIKE away from winning it all. Not inning, not out, one, single pitch away. The Cardinals had a hometown boy rise to the occasion and the Rangers fell for a second straight year.
These stories were also found in the NHL with the Boston Bruins handing the Canucks a game 7 loss that sent the entire city of Vancouver into a fit of rage. The NCAA tournament which saw Kemba Walker lead his UConn Huskies to 10 straight wins, from the Big East Conference Tournament to the NCAA Championship, a feat no one (but myself at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas) saw coming.
These “underdog” stories were everywhere, and they seem to be shaping up again in 2012, even though the year is in it’s infancy The Denver Broncos are making a strong push for the Super Bowl, the Los Angeles basketball scene has been flipped on it’s head with the Clippers dominating and the Lakers slumping, and Murray St. keeping it’s NCAA title hopes up by being the only undefeated team in the nation at this point.
The term underdog gets thrown around easily these days. The worst example recently is that Drew Brees in an underdog to win NFL MVP. He’s such an underdog, that he’s projected to finish second in the voting. Really? We as a society find words we like, use them until we’ve said them so much it sounds weird coming out of our mouths, and then find a new word to replace it with. Underdog has lost it’s true value. The 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs were underdogs. The 2001 New England Patriots were underdogs. The 1983 N.C. State Wolfpack were underdogs.
These recent teams weren’t underdogs, they were merely under-valued. The Mavs have Dirk Nowitzki, arguably the greatest European player in NBA history, hardly a surprise he got a ring. The Cardinals had Albert Pujols, who could be not only this generations greatest hitter, but its all around best player. It’s no surprise he added another ring to his collection.
This years sports trend is far from being determined, but I’d like to throw my two cents in early. I declare this to be the Year of the Under-exagerated. Let’s not lose our minds when lowly Kansas City beats previously undefeated Green Bay, and instead remember that the Chiefs are a professional franchise with some of the highest quality athletic talent on Earth.
Realize that teams these days are burdened with talent. Gone are the days where the NBA had a dozen stars on 10 teams and acknowledge that, if the Minnesota Timberwolves of a top 10 player on their roster, they don’t get to be called underdogs.
Embrace the fact that watching the Carolina Panthers play the Seattle Seahawks isn’t bad. You will be on the edge of your seat waiting for Cam Newton to blow your mind like no rookie QB has done before, and wait for Marshawn Lynch to bulldoze a couple linebackers on his way to six points.
Embrace the burden sports fans, because we’ve never had it so good!
