Exhilaration in sports is unmatched. But, like a drug, it’s rough trying to recapture it. I was at the Penn State-Ohio State football game in 2016. I’ve been to several games since. But idk if anything will ever replace the pure exhilaration me and 110k other people had when that field goal attempt was blocked. For me, it was the return that was the best part. And the moment Grant Haley crossed the goal line, the place exploded. I was lucky to experience it, even if it means I’ll never quite have that feeling again.
Absolutely true. My most recent experience wasn't even in person, and I actually hate to bring it up in this instance because I don't want it to sound like I'm rubbing it in- I swear I'm not- but as a lifelong Notre Dame fan, it was definitely the end of this year's CFP semifinal game.
🤣 I mean that makes sense. But that’s the interesting thing: specifically for Penn State football, I’ve experienced the exhilarating moment but also the complete opposite (walk-off loss to Michigan in ‘05). So it’s almost like I can never get that high or low again no matter if it’s a national semifinal or a conference game in September. (We’ll see if it holds up if they make a natty.)
In baseball, I think I’ve reached both levels, too: Boonie’s walk off against Boston in ‘03 was high. The emotion in that series is something I’ve never felt again. Low was Gonzo’s walk off against Mo in ‘01. It happened so fast and it’s still kinda hard to wrap my head around all these years later.
I’m not saying the Penn State loss wasn’t a bummer, or the Yanks blowing Game 5 last year was easy to swallow. It’s just I wonder if I’ll ever feel as low or high as I did for those particular moments. I didn’t talk for hours after that Penn State loss in ‘05. But this column really made me think. Thanks for writing it! Highly enjoyable!!
I don't think it ever hits quite the same as when you're young. Lots of reasons for that, but mainly, if your priorities are straight, you have more things to care about the older you get. Doesn't mean you still don't feel it, and if you follow a team long enough, they'll take you to heaven and rip your heart out many times over (hopefully more of the former than the latter, but I can personally attest it doesn't always work that way), and it can happen in championships or seemingly insignificant games, but you get better at dealing with it. Or, if you don't, you become that guy who takes it way too seriously, and no one wants to watch the game with that guy. Thanks for reading!
The A's should have won that game but our closer was a mutt. The catcher was trash too with his noodle arm. I don't think either were in the squad the next year.
I mean, they had a four-run lead in the eighth, so I can't argue they shouldn't have won that game. But it turned into one of the great moments in KC sports history.
Exhilaration in sports is unmatched. But, like a drug, it’s rough trying to recapture it. I was at the Penn State-Ohio State football game in 2016. I’ve been to several games since. But idk if anything will ever replace the pure exhilaration me and 110k other people had when that field goal attempt was blocked. For me, it was the return that was the best part. And the moment Grant Haley crossed the goal line, the place exploded. I was lucky to experience it, even if it means I’ll never quite have that feeling again.
Absolutely true. My most recent experience wasn't even in person, and I actually hate to bring it up in this instance because I don't want it to sound like I'm rubbing it in- I swear I'm not- but as a lifelong Notre Dame fan, it was definitely the end of this year's CFP semifinal game.
🤣 I mean that makes sense. But that’s the interesting thing: specifically for Penn State football, I’ve experienced the exhilarating moment but also the complete opposite (walk-off loss to Michigan in ‘05). So it’s almost like I can never get that high or low again no matter if it’s a national semifinal or a conference game in September. (We’ll see if it holds up if they make a natty.)
In baseball, I think I’ve reached both levels, too: Boonie’s walk off against Boston in ‘03 was high. The emotion in that series is something I’ve never felt again. Low was Gonzo’s walk off against Mo in ‘01. It happened so fast and it’s still kinda hard to wrap my head around all these years later.
I’m not saying the Penn State loss wasn’t a bummer, or the Yanks blowing Game 5 last year was easy to swallow. It’s just I wonder if I’ll ever feel as low or high as I did for those particular moments. I didn’t talk for hours after that Penn State loss in ‘05. But this column really made me think. Thanks for writing it! Highly enjoyable!!
I don't think it ever hits quite the same as when you're young. Lots of reasons for that, but mainly, if your priorities are straight, you have more things to care about the older you get. Doesn't mean you still don't feel it, and if you follow a team long enough, they'll take you to heaven and rip your heart out many times over (hopefully more of the former than the latter, but I can personally attest it doesn't always work that way), and it can happen in championships or seemingly insignificant games, but you get better at dealing with it. Or, if you don't, you become that guy who takes it way too seriously, and no one wants to watch the game with that guy. Thanks for reading!
The A's should have won that game but our closer was a mutt. The catcher was trash too with his noodle arm. I don't think either were in the squad the next year.
I mean, they had a four-run lead in the eighth, so I can't argue they shouldn't have won that game. But it turned into one of the great moments in KC sports history.