Some of my friends puzzle me with their connection to a college sports program. They have no real basis to root for a team. I have friends who are huge Notre Dame fans because they are Irish, yet they didn't attend the university, aren't Catholic, and haven't even been to Indiana . . . or Ireland for that matter. Others are mysteriously aligned to the top seeds in the tournament because they "have always been fans." They will then brag if the team wins (as if they somehow contributed to the win) or mourn the loss. This has always bothered me, and I have no idea why.
On the other hand, I have some friends who are major KU fans. They went to the University of Kansas and live and die with the Jayhawks. I admire their consistency, and while I often tease them after a KU loss, I secretly envy them. Well, I guess it isn't a secret any more. Seriously, their devotion is pure. They even have a flag. Just as I have no reason to be annoyed by a person's random loyalty, I equally have no rationale for being awed at a person's perfect passion for a sports program.
It really doesn't matter. If it did, I'm not sure I would have the guts to devote four paragraphs to it. The crazy thing is that we have strong feelings about the best soft drink (Pepsi, hands down), greatest superhero (Green Lantern, duh) or the tastiest condiment (Plochman's yellow mustard) yet many of us refuse to take an open stand on moral and spiritual issues. Sadly we are more concerned with what people think of us than their spiritual condition. I believe Jesus is the only way to God. I don't say that arrogantly, after all, it really has little to do with me. I'm not offended if anyone disagrees with me, but I don't think I should apologize for pursuing what I believe to be the meaning of life with the same fervor that others follow their favorite athletes. Rather than see my team win and another team lose, my hope is to make more fans.
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