After watching the Celtics fall to the Magic in game 6, I switched to the Bruins-Hurricanes game 7, tied at 2 with 10 minutes to play in the game, and witnessed a crushing OT goal by Carolina that instantly ended their surprisingly super season. It can happen dramatically like this or quietly with a meaningless victory in a losing season, but almost every time we care, we lose. True, all Boston sports have had quite a run this decade and I consider myself fortunate to have enjoyed so many championships, but in the grand scheme most people who pour their hearts into a team ultimately lose. How amazing that we choose to participate… I guess it must be the sting of defeat that makes the euphoria of victory so sweet. Objectively, sports are meaningless. They are beautiful and dramatic, but without a personal desire for one team’s victory, they are just a dance. Subjectively, the games transcend human movement and take on an emotional gravity that might seem insane to an impartial observer. The amount of time and energy we devote to these displays would be completely incoprehensible if we didn’t get something out of it in the end. For years, I wondered why I tortured myself with endless losses, but I had faith that I would one day be rewarded, and when Adam Vinatieri kicked his game winner in my presence at the Superdome, I finally got my first taste of sweetness. It’s worth it because I say it is and that’s all that matters.
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