It's Weird Having a Good Team to Root for When You're Used to Disappointment

The Toronto Blue Jays are in the American League Championship Series.

And it's a really weird feeling.

Let me explain.

Think back to your earliest memory. Do you know what it is?

I have three that stand out to me, but only two of them are actual memories, while the other is a memory that I used to have and played over in my head so many times, but it became less of an actual memory and more of a scene that I know ever ybit of.

It's the only memory of my mom and biological father today.

They divorced when I was 4, and the only recollection I have from when I was younger was being in the backyard of our little house in Arnold, Pennsylvania, in one of those red and yellow plastic cars that kids had.

Google, help me out.

Yeah, that one.

My father came home with Dairy Queen and I had a Dilly Bar.

That's it. That's the memory. Or at least that's how I remember it, and it hasn't changed since I was a kid.

I wish that I actually remembered it instead of it being this painting in my head, but I don't.

The first actual memories I have are from the same year: 1993.

I was six years old, sitting on my living room couch, so happy that my mom let me stay up. It was, after all, December 31, 1992, and the ball was about to drop for the new year.

I remember it vividly, feeling like a big kid while my new baby brother was put to bed early and my sister was up with me eating popcorn waiting for the celebration to begin.

And later that year, the third memory would be unlocked.

I don't remember the memory after that. Or any others, really. They just blend together.

But I remember October 23, 1993, very well.

Or rather, October 24.

I was at school, and I couldn't tell you anything about it. What grade. What class. What we learned. What I wore besides my killer velcro or light-up shoes (probably).

But I remember coming home and parking right in front of the TV, because my mom recorded the Blue Jays and Phillies game for me. I was young, but even I understood the magnitude of the World Series.

She told me that I wasn't allowed to stay up and watch the game, but promised me she'd record it on the VCR so that I could watch it the day after.

And watch it I did. Joe Carter. Home run. Walk-off. Off of Mitch Williams.

The Blue Jays win.

The. Blue. Jays. Win.

I became a Blue Jays fan (along with being a Pirates fan because A. torture and B. growing up near Pittsburgh). But my Little League team was the Blue Jays. I loved Canada (little did I know my contrarian nature from a young age would help me navigate the political climate 30 years later).

But it was everything I hoped it would be.

My team, MY TEAM, won a championship.

I could get used to it.

…

But I couldn't get used to it. Because my teams, well, sucked for most of my life.

Yes, 7-year-old Michael (or Mike, or Loo, or Waterloo. Sorry, Ally) had no idea how great he had it.

Because it was a long-ass wait to have my favorite team win it all again.

There's been one time that my favorite team has won a championship since 1993.

Once.

And that's across sports, mind you.

Let's look at them, shall we?

Toronto Blue Jays:
Last win: 1993 World Series
Since then: Lost in the ALCS in 2015 and 2016

Philadelphia Eagles (my NFL fandom was from 1997 to early 2017 when the Ryan Shazier hit made me stop watching):
Last win: n/a
Closest during fandom: Lost 2004 Super Bowl

Memphis Grizzlies/Philadelphia 76ers (I didn't have a team in Pittsburgh, so I followed Allen Iverson and Ja Morant for my fandom):
Last win 76ers: 1982/1983
Since then: Lost 2001 NBA Finals

Last win Grizzlies: N/A
Closest during fandom: lost in Western Conference semis in 2021-2022

Oregon Ducks (football):
Last win: N/A
Closest during fandom (football): BCS Championship loss to Auburn in 2010

Oregon Ducks (men's basketball):
Last win: 1939
Closest since: 2017 Final Four

Oregon Ducks (women's basketball):
Last win: N/A
Closest since: 2019

Washington Spirit:
Last win: N/A
Closest since: 2024 NWSL Championship loss to Orlando

New York Liberty:
Last win: 2024
Since then: THEY JUST WON IT LAST YEAR. LEAVE ME ALONE.

Thirty-one years.

It took 31 years between championships for my favorite team.

I could definitely cheat and say the Eagles winning the Super Bowl mattered to me.

It didn't. I didn't care and wasn't a fan.

I could say the Penguins winning back-to-back championships mattered to me. It really didn't. I casually watched, but the last time I watched an NHL game was 2019 when I was in DC for a conference because it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup and I was in my hotel room.

I'm very big on not becoming emotionally attached to the outcome of a game. Because, well, it's a game, and win or lose, it doesn't impact my life.

The last time I allowed myself to be emotionally attached was the 2010 Oregon loss to Auburn.

That stung.

But it was stupid, because would life really change if I allowed that to impact me?

No, it wouldn't.

Or maybe I'm just too used to disappointment from my teams. Again, I grew up a fan of the Pirates who had a losing record for 20 straight years (but excuse me while I shed a tear for you losing in the NLDS, Yankees fans).

It's weird being a fan of a baseball team in mid-October who has a chance to not just play in the World Series, but win one.

Of course, they have to get through the Tigers or the Mariners, whichever team wins the decisive Game 5 tonight.

When the Liberty won, it felt weird. I didn't know how to celebrate. Couple that with the fact that I write about the WNBA for an outlet and need to be objective (I am when I cover games. I swear).

I bought merch from Playa Society to celebrate.

And if the Blue Jays are able to somehow win the World Series this year, I'll likely do the same from MLB.com.

But just like was the case after the Liberty won it, I went back to work the next day and resumed my life.

The same would happen with the Blue Jays, but I'll remembering that joy I experienced when I was a kid with that Joe Carter home run.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll do a fist pump and start work a little bit later the next day.

Until Next Time

We'll be back on Monday with what I assume will be a lot of WNBA, NBA, and MLB material to discuss.

We'll see you then.

I love you awesome nerds.