I got a bee in my bonnet about something today (probably sports-related, for those of you who want to stop reading now), and I decided that I really haven't lately used this blog for the main reason I originally started it -- ranting. So, since the year is almost over anyway, I may as well make up for lost time. So here it is, my big rant for the year. If you don't want to hear me gripe or don't care about my opinions, turn back before it's too late. It's my rant. You don't have to agree with it, but it's still mine. Make your own. OK, so really, here we go.
For the umpteen-thousandth time, I care about two sports: football and basketball. To say I care is to say that I am only passionate about those two sports. And the only teams I care about are the Miami Dolphins (football, kinda) and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (college basketball/football). I care about these two teams and that is all. I am not invested otherwise.
If we are talking about favorite college teams and I ask you who your favorite team is and your reply starts with, "Well, in football . . . ", the conversation is over. Pick a school and root for their athletics. It makes you look less bandwagony and also saves you a lot of money in T-shirts.
Speaking of sports, if you haven't said two words to me in five years and you decide to end your silence by talking smack about my team just because yours finally made it past the second round, just don't.
Note: I don't talk smack because I can't take it. Yes, there was a time when I enjoyed arguing about everything. Just ask anyone within earshot of me in the FHU cafeteria circa 1993-97. But those days are gone now. I do like to have conversations with knowledgeable fans of all teams, who support their teams without the need to belittle someone else. I have even had grown-up conversations with Duke fans. Jets fans? Different story.
Oh, that reminds me. I hate Duke. I hate the Jets. I don't hate their fans or players. I use the word hate a lot in sports, only because the words "loathe" and "disdain" do not hit the same chord.
Here's the deal. If you are a Duke fan, then you hate Carolina. And if you are a Jets fan . . . well, pretty much you hate the world. I have softened a lot on rivalries. I have had some Duke fans in my youth group over the years, so I have softened a little. I still love when they lose, but it doesn't bother me as much when they win. And I don't talk smack . . . ever. Did I mention that?
When I say I don't talk smack, I mean I don't initiate it. I can still bring it.
Why do you stop liking a band after they get big? Do you want them to live in a van and go broke so they can't make any more records? If you stop liking a band because others started liking them, you never liked them anyway. Some people just want to say they knew them when . . . I hate that.
Did I mention I used to be one of those people?
I'm not talking about people who like listening to stuff that no one else listens to. I don't like pop music either. At least I don't think I do. I don't put labels on stuff anymore. Don asked me the other day what kind of music I listened to, and I didn't know what to say. Do people still use the word "alternative"?
Everything I listen to sounds like it came out in the 60s or 80s anyway.
Speaking of music, I like the Jonas Brothers. There. I said it. Don't care.
In fact, let me just say that the music my girls like isn't bad. It's not written for me, but it's not painful to listen to. Regarding that ilk, I include: The Jo-Bros, Allstar Weekend and, yes . . . Justin Bieber. Is it Mozart? Heck no. But I'd rather listen to Justin Bieber for 12 hours than anything by the cast of Glee for twenty seconds. And yes, I said that too.
Look, I'm not a music scholar. Don't start telling me how juvenile something is. Music is supposed to induce an emotional response. And if it's fun, it's just fun. I'm not a music critic or music snob. Like what you like and don't listen to what other people listen to just to seem cooler. Don't degrade what someone else listens to either. Disney Channel doesn't write music targeting 30 year olds. My kids don't like The Pixies. I don't tell them they're stupid. I just turn it up.
Not too long ago, I was driving and turning left. I waited at the light until I obviously received the green arrow. Only thing is, there was someone on the opposite side of the road from me that was trying to turn right into the lane I was turning left into. I had the light. I had the right of way. And this guy throws his arms up at me like I had no idea what I was doing. Reason #74 I do not need to get a gun permit.
I heard Apple is coming out with the iPad 2 by April of next year. Can't wait to see the line for that one. I admit I am an Apple enthusiast. Love the products and the ease and style they offer. However, I do not consider myself an Apple snob. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you're probably an Apple snob.
Q. How do you know if someone has an iPhone?
A. They tell you.
"Steve Jobs is the man." - Apple Enthusiast
"In the beginning, Steve Jobs created . . . " - Apple Snob
I'm making fun of Apple snobs while typing on a MacBook. Yes, I am the worst kind of hypocrite.
I'm not the most patriotic person you'll ever meet, but when did the American Flag become an embarrassment in this country? I don't mind you waving your home country's flag wherever, even in this country, but when kids get sent home from school for showing pride in America? Something's wrong with that.
I don't get into politics. But I do wish our next president would be so much like Ronald Reagan they'd have to do a DNA test to make sure he wasn't.
I realize that makes me sound old. Don't care.
Well, I have to go pick up the kids from school. I'll try to do part 2 tonight. I can't be finished ranting yet. I haven't even started talking movies yet.
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Love a good Petty RANT every now & then. Isn't is great to live in America where we can tell everyone how we feel & be unapologetic just to get it off our chest. Reagan comment was GOLDEN.
ReplyDeleteI miss that old smurf PKA basketball team we had that year when it was you, Craig, me, Byron & Cammie Neal...Medley may have been on there too, can't remember who else....Just remember surprising everybody cause you had mad skills & could shoot the rock baby!!!!!! Hope you still pull up for a three every now & then...show that youth group what you got.
Take Care,
Brent Evans
You're being humble, Brent. You carried that team. I'll tell you the truth though, I bet if we all got back together, we'd still take some teams behind the woodshed.
ReplyDeleteLove it!! You always make me think and laugh and being that my two year is whining her head off tonight, I needed a good read.
ReplyDeleteNicole Breeding
Great stuff Petty. Question: can a person be a conference fan? Example: I moved to Virginia as a Duke fan. I left Virginia as a Duke/ACC fan. I cheer for all ACC teams, including Carolina (especially since they hired Roy Williams). Is this permissible in Pettyland?
ReplyDeleteI also confess to violating your rule about sticking with one college team. I enjoy Michigan football and Duke basketball. It is what it is.
Completely agree with your musings on both music- and Apple-snobbery. Like what you like and leave my Dell alone.
Looking forward to Part 2.
Hello, Cory. I think you can be a conference fan. But I don't think you can be a hardcore fan of one team and still have love for everyone in the conference. I just don't understand it. But I will say that in football, for example, if Clemson is playing South Carolina, I'll root for Clemson because they're in the ACC. I think you want your conference to be one of the elite conferences. But I can never see myself ever rooting for Dook. I mean, never. Like, last year, I heard some Auburn fans talking about the power of the SEC because Alabama won. If you're an Auburn fan and you were rooting for Alabama last year, you have issues in my book. It's not like I am obsessed with what Puke does on a daily basis. But I'm never going to root for them. In fact, if for some reason, God said, "Eric, if you wish for Duke to win the National Championship, I'll make Miami win the next Super Bowl," I'd think about it. Then I would say, "Sorry, God. I've gone this long."
ReplyDeleteIt's late, I'm on the good cough medicine and I'm wide awake so bear with me.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the team thing. I'm a huge Alabama fan, have been since long before the days of FHU and the small but faithful 'bama crew. I can't stand Auburn. If I hear one more person tell me I should root for Auburn in the National champs game because "it's really cheering for the SEC", I'm going to cut some jewels off. I don't care if its SEC. It's Auburn. I can't cheer for them and still have my blood coursing through my veins. I didn't expect them to cheer for us last year and I'm not nor will I ever sport the orange and blue.
You choose Beiber over Glee...sigh. If you said Bieber over whatever the latest rap/what-are-they-saying??? song, I would agree 100%. But Glee does a crazy good mash up of Stones and Bon Jovi. I got an emotional response but maybe it was because the girl had the bone structure and bandanna of Axl Rose and it took me back to a certain high school dance.
I confess that I have more than a couple of books about Reagan. In fact...it's possible a future child in this house will bear the name Reagan.
Macbook is on my to-do list. iphone is not. I like my crackberry just fine, but I love having cell coverage anywhere with Verizon better. It's a sad day when I'm sitting in Bryant-Denny stadium and my family wants to use my phone because their AT&T iphone has no service.
Good rants. I appreciate a good petty rant and this one didn't disappoint.