True Rivalry

Rivalry is common in many areas of life. Whether in the workplace, school, or on the sports field, rivalry can be a motivating factor that brings en-heightened excitement to regular competition.
You know that you have a true rivalry when the fear of losing is greater than the joy of winning. The prolonged embarrassment from losing does not fade quickly.
On the sports field, rivalry often reaches its peaks. Though fans are merely bystanders cheering on a team, fans see the victory as much contributed by their cheering as to the athletic ability of their team. In a real sense, the team's victory is their victory; the superior team reflects the superior fan.
An anticipated war on the field took place a few days ago between two arch-enemies, The BYU Cougars and the Utah Utes. This is a true rivalry because it lives true to the definition defined earlier, the fear of losing is greater than the joy of victory.
This rivalry is especially intense for me, an open Utah Ute fan living in the cougar's den of BYU fans. My future for a few weeks time is dependent on the outcome of the game. When we are defeated, I become the scape goat of laughter. When we are victorious, I become the must-avoid friend.
I was at the game on Saturday between the Cougars and the Utes. Though I am, as Bill Cosby would say it, an "intellectual, that attended college, mind you," that understands that this match is merely a game that has no intrinsic future value, I become emotionally evolved with these three hours of football. Each play, each mistake, each bad call tugs at my heart strings. The score was 13-0 at the half for the enemy, the faces of the fans were as dramatic as veterans seeing ghosts of war memories.
The 3rd quarter begins and ends with no change. The hope of even the biggest fans begin to dwindle. The 4th quarter starts, and the Utes score! Though it is just 3 points, hope is renewed. A turnover by BYU, followed by a Ute touchdown! The scoreboard reads, 13-10. BYU drives towards the in-zone. They are stopped! They kick a field goal, it's good, 16-10. The Utes get it...turnover! The anger of the hopeful fans thunders. BYU drives forward...turnover! The cheer of the mob is deafening. Utes push forward, and forward. Jordan Wynn passes long....touchdown! The Utes take the lead 17-16 with four minutes left to play. BYU receives the kick...they push down the field. A third down and long...converted. BYU enters the red zone (20 yards from the in-zone), 1 minute left to play. Jake Heaps passes to the inzone....incomplete! Another 3rd and long for the Cougars, every fan is off their chair. Stopped short! The time keeps ticking...40 seconds, 30, 20, 10, 4 seconds and BYU calls a final timeout.
BYU just needs a field goal to win, it all comes down to this last play. The thoughts of every Ute can unites, "block the kick, block the kick," consistent like the beating of every heart. The match can't end with a simple field goal. Despite the odds against missing or blocking the field goal every Ute fan knows the season can't end this way. The ball is snapped. The kicker thrusts his leg and makes contact with the ball, it launches forward and upward. Brandon Burton lunges forward...arms stretched out. The ball hits his arms, the kick is blocked! The kick is blocked! A cheer erupts from the crowd, shaking the stadium with its earthquake force. A sea of red fans break over the barrier and cover the field. Utah wins, Utah wins!
Though it was merely a one-point victory, the fans don't care. A win is a win. Arguments about bad calls, injured players and other game factors is sure to follow, but the end result will stay the same.
In the end, a true rivalry brings out the best and worst of each team. Each team plays at their best, and their worst in the course of the game. BYU's special teams fumbled a punt, had a field goal blocked, and the quarterback threw an interception. Utah's ranking offense didn't score until the 4th quarter, the quarter back threw 3 interceptions, and special teams never returned a kick pas the 20-yard line.
The reason a true rivalry will always be exciting is because despite each team's ranking, and past losses or victories, the game will always be determined in the exciting final minutes of the game. That is what makes a rivalry an anticipated and exciting game. Go Utes!

Christmas Music Protocals

November 2nd, two days after Halloween, I went to the store. I was greeted by Santa Claus, and cheery Christmas music. Too Soon? Maybe.
When can you listen to Christmas music and not feel it to be too soon? Like with everything, the opinions vary. Some say Christmas music should only be played in December. Others say that it can be played after Halloween. The happy medium, and average answer, was that Christmas music is okay after Thanksgiving, but not before it.
As an avid Christmas-music listener, it can almost never be too early. Two years ago, I started listening to Christmas music around mid-September. Crazy you say? Or is it that I just have more Christmas spirit and everyone else is a scrooge.
However, I even admit that it is strange that every store after Halloween has decked the halls with Christmas merchandise. What about Thanksgiving? While I love Christmas, it falls to second place in my favorite holiday's list. Stores, in an effort to get as much holiday buck as possible, have cleverly tossed Thanksgiving aside. It is merely a roadblock to the "money making" holiday.
Hence, the only clear solution to this conundrum is to create and market a series of Thanksgiving songs. If Thanksgiving is to stand a chance, we must have Thanksgiving music that carols the holiday's presence.
Thanksgiving day songs? Yes. Just think of the possibilities. Songs can be written about turkeys, yams, and most importantly football. Aged, 'has-been' bands like N'sync can come out with Thanksgiving albums. And don't think I forgot about Manheim Steamroller. I anxiously await there Thanksgiving album, along with a performance from Trans-Siberain Orchestra.

It's not you, its me...

"It's not you it's me," may be something everyone has said at one point in time. We may have said it in a joking matter amongst friends. But sometimes it is said in a car, a quiet sullen conversation we all dread.
"The chemistry just isn't right," a select choice of words that is meant to delicately say, "I have lost all attraction for you." This particular phrase is usually followed by "it was bad timing," equivalent to saying, "more time will not make this work."
We all know that these phrases are cliche, and they mask the real truth. Often I hear that we should just speak the truth, instead of these fabricated lies. After all, everyone values the truth.
Truth be told, when you are on the receiving end of these conversations, the last thing you want to hear is the truth. The initial message of the conversation is enough to shake anyone's self esteem, without the extended commentary reigning blows to your self worth.
Truth be told, we don't want to hear the truth. We are already thinking it. It is the awkward third wheel in the room we pretend to ignore. What we want to hear is a series of explanations that tell enough about the situation, while ignoring the personal flaws that could have attributed to it.
Truth be told, we don't want to tell the whole truth. We need these universally understood phrases to let them know the relationship is ending. Like a street light, it is signal to stop (or rather go) to which we all have been programmed to respond.
"I hope we can be friends," is almost always said. What we may be trying to say is that I hope you won't hate me in the future. The friendship is really dependent on what happens afterward.