I just got back from a quick trip to the Camp Hill Giant and I witnessed something that I found to be interesting, odd, disturbing and quirky all at the same time.
You see, I’m not a football fan. Never have been. My attention span is mighty short (look! a bird!) and I’ve never been one for competitive sporting events so what I saw made me wonder just how deep this nations love of football really runs.
As I waded through the aisles, impulse purchasing some killer cookies, ice cream and chips, I passed no less than six couples- perhaps they were all married- but these six couples were all wearing matching Pittsburgh Steelers attire.
Matching jerseys. Matching tee shirts. Okay, some didn’t match- but nonetheless, they were both wearing some sort of Pittsburgh Steelers clothing.
I don’t get it, man. I just don’t get it.
You rarely see couples wearing their favorite band’s tee shirt to the concert.
Hardly ever do you see couples coordinating their wardrobe to watch a sitcom.
But something about those Steelers must really bring a couple together.
I just…Don’t. Get. It.
Hey Jersey,
While we agree on a lot of things, you don’t get because you’re from Jersey. A state whose only real professional team is the Devils. While the Giants and Jets play in Jersey they are inherently a New York institution. Being a Steelers fan, and converting Hill to the black and gold has allowed me to, and i think men everywhere, not feel guilty about indulging in their youthful passion because they are sharing it with the one they love.
The best thing is when you’re actually in (or around) Pittsburgh on game day. Forget couples, even the grocery store cashiers are in Steelers gear – and it’s considered accepted uniform on Game Day Sundays.
Andy and I don’t have any MATCHING Steelers paraphernalia, but we were both in black & gold yesterday!
I don’t get it either. Youthful passion? What is youthful about sitting around on your butt watching someone else get some exercise? I’m a do-er and I’ll take my sports participatory anyday.
“just how deep this nations love of football really runs.”
what house did you grow up ?
really?
i know your not a fan-but you have been around a solid 5 people whose lives basically revolved-revolve around football season for a huge majority of your and their lives,how do you not get it?have you ever thought about how many friday nigyhts and saturdays mom has spent ,watching her kids games ?as a seventeen year old,the way the numbers have worked,i was at my first game when i was two months old and have yet to miss a football season yet,whether it was me chris or billy.and couples these days,well maybe not in p.a.,but here in jersey its easy to catch matching giants or jets attire,anywhere you go on game day.
to tony sirloin:” A state whose only real professional team is the Devils”if you are basing this statement soley on the fact that the NEW JERSEY NETS hardly have a winning season-dont.Laws state that if you get paid for what you do you are “techinically”a professional.They get paid to play basketball,just because they do not win,does not mean you should not count them under the “professional sports list”for New Jersey.
Sis- I grew up in the same house you did- but in case you’ve forgotten, I wasn’t the football fan.
And it’s “you’re” not “your” –
Try to get that right if you’re going to comment here.
“You’re” is “you are” and “your” is possessive.
You’re lacking in your grammar.
In response to Josh, apparently you missed my point. I used the term youthful passion, because it relates to the mere fact that as a child I looked at professional athletes as heroes, men who defied all odds. The Michael Jordan’s, Joe Montana’s etc. Now instead of glorifying them as demi-gods I watch for their above avge athleticism and sometimes it takes me back to my youth, i.e. youthful passion. You know when times were simpler. Thanks for participating in this discussion.
To Jersey’s sister:
I do truly apologize for my oversight and hope that the following words can convey my deepest regret: My bad. You are right the New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team, I just forgot about them.
Tony- please don’t apologize to my sister.
She’s seventeen and loves to argue for the sake of hearing herself talk.
Argue away. I’ve got your back.
(And her grammar and spelling sucks.)
(Love ya, V)
Sports do bring people together. The kind of communal spirit you felt at the Hold Steady concert? That’s the feeling I get every Saturday when I go to Penn State games or the occasional Sunday I make it to Washington to see the Skins.
If this is a phenomenon you’re trying to understand, Penn State would be a good place to start. It’s fun to get drunk, scream, jump, and intimidate the other team with 106,000 other people.
Oh, and the Nets will be in Brooklyn before you know it, so they won’t count for long.
Forget the Camp Hill Gicantic, for real sports insanity go to the Middletown Store. Those folks take it all to a new level of crazed. Think of an entire trailer park whose residents start drinking cheap beer early in the morning, then as one decide that THEY HAVE TO HAVE A FOOTBALL PARTY RIGHT NOW.
And everyone knows that you can’t have a football party unless you are appropriately attired in the colors of said favorite football team. Right down to the painted faces, and various body parts.
THAT, my friend, is the epitome of Central Pennsylvania fandome.
namaste.