I wanted to blog a response to the pre-Red River Rivalry game focus in The Oklahoman about why Oklahomans hate Texas. Mine would be thoughts from someone who has lived in Oklahoma 33 years and still considers herself a Texan living in Oklahoma, rather than an Oklahoman. A year or so ago, this momentarily became an issue at the place I have worked for 33 years -- a newspaper that had adopted a new catchphrase: because "We are Oklahomans" (or something like that).
I didn't get around to composing my post. And even though I am not a fan of the lowly Texas university team that got bashed all week in print and on air, I took some pleasure that the Longhorns somehow eked out a beatdown of the Sooners. It may be because my teams tend to be the underdog, so I have a soft spot for others in such situations.
Unfortunately, that could backfire on me this week as the college team I DO care about -- the Texas Aggies -- put their undefeated season on the line against once-defeated but always good Alabama. But the difference is, as much as I want my team to win each game, I am so accustomed to being the underdog that it doesn't surprise me when they don't. I'm a fan anyway.
You might say I avoid disappointment by not setting my expectations too high. That's what it was like when the Aggie women's basketball team and the NBA's Dallas Mavericks won national championships, and when the Texas Rangers came oh-so close two years in a row in the MLB. A variation may have been at play when the OSU Cowboys and the Kansas Jayhawks came closer than anyone would have ever expected. The Jayhawks took advantage of some breaks in scheduling and another team's misfortunes; I always felt the Cowboys were victims of a random occurrence.
This year, similar things could possibly happen with the Rangers and the Aggies. Dare I even write down the scenarios that have come into my mind? Because the thing is, nothing matters except how you play each game. (Aggies could win out and not be in championship playoff because the SEC isn't as strong this year. The Rangers in their first World Series, as I recall, had a disadvantage from the American League's All Star game loss; and in the second visit, they were playing a wild card team that would have been less likely to have even advanced with the rules now in place.)
I'm not sure where I intended to be going with all of this. Mainly I just noticed it's Oct. 11 and I have yet to post anything for October. So here goes something. And maybe I will be back to edit and fill in lots of gaps soon!!
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