Sports Fan..

Finally found someone who echoes my view on the hardships of being a sports fan. He's none other than my favourite journalist, Rohit Brijnath, from TODAY. I look forward to his articles, especially after Rog wins a Grand Slam or a Master's Series. He's a fan of Rog too :) I love the way he describes Rog's style of play, Rog's gentlemanly actions and basically, everything about Rog.

Anyway, here's the gist of what he wrote in today's (12/5/2005) TODAY.

Damn, I'm a sports fan. We've always got to deal with the wife, busybody friends and annoying bosses.

IT’S hard being a sports fan. Really. We’re splendid, patient, discerning, thoughtful,
faithful people, who might suffer from minor TV-remote-control-anxiety-issues, but we’re constantly being tested. All we want to do is dominate the TV, without talking or the hoover in the background..

Annoying people are everywhere. Strangers who lean over and conspiringly whisper “he’s going to double fault” are irritating, especially when the player does exactly that. For the rest of the match they think they’re psychic and you their confidante.

Sports fans are usually terrific, well-rounded people, but they can find ways to get upset about anything.

Couldn't agree anymore. Patience is a virtue when it comes to being a sports fan. Your only sports channel is simply too cheapskate to show 'live' coverage all the way. So we poor sports fans have to rely on the 'live' scores through the internet. To think that I pay $12/month (or is it $8) for such pathetic coverage. When would they start showing Rog 'live' ?? I miss him terribly.

Yes, annoying people are everywhere when I'm watching Rog. Unexpected phone calls which I don't wish to pick up, people whom I don't wish to entertain ring the door bell, sms from non-sports fans who are living in a cave, family members shouting for you to run errands etc.

Strangers who lean over and conspiringly whisper “he’s going to double fault” are irritating, especially when the player does exactly that. In my household, its' not strangers who whisper but it's a certain Barbara who curses in a disapproving tone that pisses me off thoroughly. Yes, she thinks she's a psychic. Her favourite phrase: Wo1 gen1 ni3 jiang3, ta1 mei3 ci4 luan4 da3 (For the sake of non-Chinese readers, it goes like this when translated to Singlish : I told you, he always anyhow play.) Ya, he always coincidentally plays badly when she's sitting in front of the tv with me.

Lastly, sports fans get upset about the slightest thing, especially when their team/idol is losing. The stupid sports commentator who just wouldn't shut up, the cock-eye linesperson who is greatly in need of a pair of glasses, the opponent who keeps hitting winners and little unforced errors, the fat gf who only knows how to sit in the stands to read magazines and send sms when her man is in deep trouble, the stubborn manager who insists on playing useless players, my own idol/team for performing well below par and lastly God, Buddha, Shiva, other existing gods and whatever supernatural forces for not helping my idol/team when he desperately needs all the luck and assistance.

Rog is playing tonight. 3rd match. My 'favourite' channel is only starting 'live' coverage at 10pm. Sigh. Just praying that the 1st two matches are stretched as long as possible. Keeping my fingers crossed.