I understand sports now

1 min read · 262 words

I grew up in a household that did not care about sports. Growing up, I was detached from the sensation. I just didn't get it. Eagles vs Packers, Nuggets vs Knicks, Red Sox vs Yankees—it all meant nothing to me. During my college days, when I would go to a friend's Super Bowl watch party, I cheered along with the crowd, attempting to masquerade my confusion. Why were we cheering? What happened? I speak five languages and have studied thirty-one, but sports was the one language I could not get behind.

It wasn't until I went to Toronto in March of 2026 that I "got" it. I was at a Chinese karaoke dive bar¹ on Front and Sherborne, sipping on a pint of Stella by myself, waiting for my turn on the mic. The Orlando Magic were playing the Sacramento Kings. I cheered for the Magic on every score, because fuck Sacramento. Then I got it. It's just chauvinism. I don't know what the fuck is going on, but as long as the other guy is losing, I'm happy.

I applied this logic again the next time I was in Toronto—the Fort Lauderdale branch of the office went with some folks from the Toronto branch to go watch the Blue Jays vs Rays game.² I don't know shit from butt about baseball, and I sure as hell don't know the meta about the Rays. But man, as a Floridian I was cheering for them the whole time. The win felt good.

I get sports now.

GO NEW YORK GO NEW YORK GO!