“Of course I’m going to route for Oregon in the Rose Bowl. They're an Oregon team and I got to represent,” says Don Paterson, as he sips from his Oregon State beer mug.
Really?
What has our green loving, Prius driving, love everyone culture done to our 21st Century sports fan in the Northwest?
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for saving for the environment, and believe me, my daily commute would warrant a Prius in the driveway, but what has happened to this 115 year rivalry that would allow one fan base to so nonchalantly route for their bitter rival.
Sports rivals have been imbedded into our modern society since there was a second team- no matter the sport. They shape our boundaries and give the average Joe a since of passion that is unmatched by anything else.
Take Harvey Updyke Jr. for example, he is an Alabama fan (and ex-police officer) indicted for poisoning Auburn’s famous oak trees on Toomer’s Corner after Auburn won the National Championship in 2011. The Auburn-Alabama rivalry dates back to 1893 and their fans don’t seem to fall under this notion that they have to “represent” anything unless it involves their team winning and the other losing.
This is an extreme case. After all how many people name their children Bear and Crimson Tide like Updyke has (although "Time for dinner Beaver" does have an interesting ring to it), but it’s not out of the ordinary for fans to hate their rival and go to extremes to do so.
The Red Sox-Yankees, Lakers-Celtics, Michigan-Ohio State, North Carolina-Duke are just a few examples of downright hate full rivalries that sports fans live for. These fan bases don’t believe in “representing,” they believe in total humiliation and destruction of the other team.
The fan bases included in these rivalries have no fence to sit on and if they see someone on it, more than likely they will be shoved off.
These are obvious generalizations and some will disagree. However, for every one that doesn’t, there are five Updyke’s waiting around the corner.
These games are what the sports fans live for no matter what their team’s record or roster looks like these games make or break a team’s season.
Since 2000, OSU or UO have come into their Civil War battle with a chance to go to the Rose Bowl or BCS bowl five times. Take out 2009, which was the first “Battle of the Roses,” which the winner went no matter what, the other team has had nothing to lose other than ruin their opponents season. Two of the five the team with nothing to lose, won the game.
So where does this “represent” mentality come from?
Are we not allowed to hate our rival? Do we feel like it’s us against them, stuck up here in the lonely Northwest?
These are valid questions, but none help me understand how you can have two universities so close in proximity and long outstanding rivalry can have any love for each other.
There has been some Updyke moments in the rivalry, take the 1910 riots that suspended the series for a year, then moving it to a neutral site in Albany of all places in 1912. Or the Duck fan that lights the t-shirt on fire in the middle of the field that read, “I hate those Ducks” after the 2010 game.
To those that don’t understand, please don’t try. You will never get it or if you do, you will think we are all crazy, but for those that do pick your side and stay there.
At a glance:Top 20 American Sports Rivalries according to bleacherreport.com
20 Giants vs Dodgers
19 Bruins vs Canadians
18 Colts vs Patiriots
17 Oregon State vs Oregon
16 Texas vs Oklahoma
15 Bulls vs Pistons
14 Cubs vs Cardinals
13 Florida vs Georgia
12 Alabama vs Auburn
11 Lafayette vs Lehigh
10 USC vs Notre Dame
9 Syracuse vs Georgetown
8 Notre Dame vs Michigan
7 Army vs Navy
6 Cowboys vs Redskins
5 Harvard vs Yale
4 Michigan vs Ohio State
3 Celtics vs Lakers
2 Yankees vs Red Sox
1 North Carolina vs Duke
