I had a bad feeling about the game... "THE game." The College Football National Championship Game. I listened to a little bit of the hype leading up to it, but not a lot. Frankly, I don't have time to sit around and listen to sports commentators say this and that about who's going to do what and predict the outcome. Not that I wouldn't like to listen to them, I just don't have the minutes to spare. And I prefer to listen to music in my car, not talk.
Don't misunderstand me - I actually enjoy all the pomp and circumstance. It makes the experience more fun, doesn't it? I get that. But I think football games, which are played by KIDS, by the way, whose brains aren't even done growing, and any game, for that matter, are about more than skill. In my world, winning or losing is as much spiritual as it is skill. And that's life, isn't it?
For me, the bad feeling started at the end of the Florida State game, when I heard some of the Ducks were taunting Jameis Winston. Not cool. And from there, the freshman who tested positive for smoking marijuana. REALLY?! The biggest game of his life, which he quite possibly could never have the opportunity to be in again, and he ruins it by smoking pot? At this time? He couldn't wait one more week to take a hit on his pipe? That was a huge disappointment to me, because that kid not only let down himself, but his whole team, and all of us. Again, he's just a kid - adults make stupid mistakes like that, too. But as soon as I heard about it, my stomach dropped a little more. Bad energy...
And then the uniforms. Why would people complain about the UNIFORMS?! Who gives a rat's behind WHAT UNIFORM THEY WEAR?! Apparently, a lot of people give a rat's behind about it. Duck Haters, for sure. And even some die-hard Duck fans. I don't care what they wear today or wore yesterday or will show up in next fall, because I think all their uniforms are cool. I never worry about Duck fashion - it is always "in." I did hear they were trying to look more like America's Team by wearing the white - I don't know if that rumor is true or not. If it IS, then maybe they shouldn't have put energy into that line of thought. However, thanks to people and their judgments and mouths, more bad energy... My stomach sank lower every time I saw a Facebook comment or heard someone complaining about the uniforms. Because bad energy is powerful. Terribly powerful. Sadly powerful.
A priest once said in a homily (thank you Father David!) that every decision has consequences. Even GOOD decisions. People's reactions to the uniforms is an example of this - it was a decision made with good intentions, but the consequence was bad. The consequence was bad energy. Maybe they should have changed them. Or maybe real Duck fans should have just kept their opinions to themselves and supported their team in whatever uniform they were wearing.
Yah, bad energy... That's what lost the game for us. I didn't feel that bad energy the previous game. I felt like the Universe was aligned. Marcus Mariota is SUCH a good person - I have heard this from individuals who personally KNOW him, but it is easy to see he is a shining example all of us can look to. He is a good, good soul. And it breaks my heart for him that he didn't get the win he wanted for his team. I am so sad for all those boys who played their hearts out, but just couldn't get anything going in the right direction. All that negative, bad energy was against them. Positive energy is the secret to life.
Anyway, that's what I think. I might be wrong. It doesn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things, does it? Because, just like Taylor Swift sings, the haters gonna hate (hate-hate-hate-hate-hate). Still, I'm so proud of this team. And I will never forget the fantastic season they gave us, full of ups, downs, and Duck pride. You never know - maybe the Universe will align next year, and they will get the opportunity to prove their worth. I'm proud of them, either way. GO DUCKS!