Now that the finals are over I can talk about this without any regret (yay celtics). Of course I knew that my boyfriend was a basketball fan; there's no way I could ever date someone who isn't into sports. But until the playoffs started I had no idea that I was involved with a Lakers fan. That's like being involved with a traitor.
Alright let's go back a month to the playoffs. When the Pistons were playing the Celtics and we were just waiting for the Spurs to lose to the Lakers. Since we're in a long distance relationship right now we did that thing where you talk on the phone and watch the same thing on television. We were watching a game in between the Lakers and the Spurs when he said, " I love Kobe"
My eyes bulged out of my head. I thought I had heard him incorrectly so I asked him to repeat himself. He said the same thing. I said, " But you were born in Detroit", and he says, " I know but I just love the Lakers. I hope they beat the Celtics."
I couldn't believe he just said that. Was he serious?? One of the all-time greatest sports rivalries of all time, and my boyfriend and I had to be apart of it.
Through the entire playoffs we acted like rivals. I would boo and shout " Lakers SUCK!!" every time a shot was made. He pretended to be bored every time Garnett was on the court. Of course right after the game we would act like our regular selves but during the game I seriously didn't even want to know him.
What is it about sports rivalries that make people go crazy with anger? You see teams like the Red Sox and the Yankees and people take a double take if they see two fans walking down the street in a Jeter and Pedroia jersey together. Don't even think about sitting near an Ohio State fan if you support the Michigan Wolverines.....and of course the Lakers. Almost every team in the league has a rivalry with them but the players don't seem to mind. Catch them between quarters and Kobe is probably chatting with some player from the opposite team. But look at the fans and they're about ready to cut each other's throats. Is the game that serious?
Being the sports fan that I am I have to say yes...but not deadly serious. I would never lose my pride, my life, or some blood is a fight just because somebody dissed one of my favorite teams. Although it is fun to get into friendly arguments with random people about stats, rosters, and fantasy teams.
Can my relationship withstand him cheering for the Lakers during May and June? Probably but let me tell you this...if we ever have kids and he even thinks about buying a Lakers jersey for them I will burn it. Hey......love is great but my kids will not be walking around cheering for L.A. I'm a Celtics fan and I have a title to uphold.
lakers are my favorite team, but i have learned to be a true basketball fan and who ever wins just wins, and that's that. no use of bothering yourself emotionally about any of it....simply because those players could care less if i would die for them, or not.