I love sports, arguably more than most women. I used to work as a sports reporter for a local newspaper, played a sport throughout college etc etc. Yet despite my love for the competitive, I recognize the stark difference between being a sport participant and a sports spectator. A fact, which my date, had difficulty understanding.
Let me set the scene. The Pittsburgh Penguins have just won the Stanley Cup. The city of Pittsburgh is in a state of euphoria. Strangers high-fiving on the streets, couples making-out, bellows of “Let’s Go Pens” from intoxicated, pot-bellied men in Pens jerseys. However, despite this display of community love, I seem to have found myself on a date which the only yinzer not wishing to participate in the joyous festivities.
Rathering than hugging his neighbor, my date finds the only Red Wings fan in the entire city, puts him in a sleeper hold and demands he rip up his Red Wings jersey. Now not moments ago, I had thought this was a relatively normal man, obviously a sports nut, but someone who seemed to have things under control. Now within mere seconds, he’s transformed into a wanna-be Steve Austin in black-and-gold.
When I casually mention that putting complete strangers in sleeper-holds because of their sports allegiances may be a little uncouth, I receive a reply of “He’s in my city.” I then was promptyl knocked to the ground and stepped on as the Red Wings fan finally broke out of the hold.
So knocked down, stepped on and unaware of my presence in “his” city- I leave my date to his rightful obligation: to protect Pittsburgh from all Red Wings fans.
Sounds like a keeper! I predict that romantic dinners will escalate into domestic violence..