Weekend Wrapup

Is there a bigger tease in all of sports, then the Big Mac Minute? On Sunday night I witnessed the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 5-3 at the United Center. McDonald's has a longstanding promotion, that if Chicago scores in the final minute of any period, every fan gets a coupon for a free Big Mac. A feat that seems totally reasonable while everyone in the audience switches the chants from "Lets Go Red Wings / Red Wings Suck" to "Lets Go Big Mac" and "C'mon and freaking score, I want a Big Mac!" (Also, it is worth mentioning that there were more Detroit fans [or they were at least louder] than Chicago fans) But if there is one thing that can bring rivaled fans together, it's free meat! How ironic.

Also, the Edge went from perennial Super Bowl Contender Indianapolis, to a team that can't make the playoffs, Arizona. Randel El went from winning the Super Bowl with the Steelers to the Redskins. While I'm not blaming the players for accepting a promotion/raise at the job, the whole concept of how loyal fans are to a team is funny when players jump around from team to team, from a team to their rival. Are fans loyal to the owner, the uniform? The city? Does it come down to "the city I live in is better at sports than the city you live in?"

Although to play Devil's Advocate, the notion of loyal fans is often dependent on them winning. You think that if Duke missed the big dance 10 years in a row, the Cameron Crazies would really big that crazy? Would Arizona be having ticket slumps if they went deep in the playoffs for a couple years? Of course there are exceptions like the Cubs, whose tickets sold out faster than the World Series Champs. Either the fans like to be able to relate to a loser, or I blame the water. Seriously, don't drink the water.

Also, I'm sure you've heard about the book that proves Barry Bonds took steroids, but I'm not sure how anyone could make such a preposterous claim.