Trot on Over to Colt Town

I am in a hostile work environment today. Three of my colleagues are Bears fans. Chi-town transplants. They are also sore losers.

Last Friday we needed boots, there was so much shit-talking up in here. Office deliveries of stuffed bears, Bears propaganda on the white board (with my stolen orange marker), Chicago style pizza delivered, posters of Brian Urlacher, and all manner of emails flying. My colleagues planned a support group in the court yard for today, offering grief counseling for Colts fans. They threatened to forward my GO COLTS email to All Campus, so I would ... how did they put it? Oh yes, "hang my head in shame."

No support group today.

In fact, I didn't hear much of anything for most of the day. I actually got an "Out of Office Reply" from the ring leader, informing me that he would be out of the office until Feb. 3rd, 2008.

I am not actually a Colts fan, but I am currently anti-Bears. The Seahawks lost the NFC championship to the Bears. They were predicted to slaughter us. They didn't. We dragged their mighty mighty defense into sudden death overtime with a tie, and they made it to their end first for a field goal. So we lost, but were not slaughtered.

We played hurt and broke all season. I think we set a record for the number of main starters with serious injuries. Our QB, RB, and then the whole offensive starting line. Then, once those guys started limping back, we lost our star cornerback, his backup, and his backup. We ended up hiring a loan officer off the street to play at CB. I'm pretty sure they had to hot-glue his name and number on the jersey, he was so last-minute. We brought over one of our safeties to cover the other side.

So they kicked ass to get to the Conference title game. They did us proud.

After that game, I was counting on the Saints to avenge us. When I lived in Hungary, I dated a die-hard Saints fan. I guess you could say the Saints are my 2nd team. In Hungary, the games were broadcast live from the States, so after midnight for us. We used to drive to the army post and huddle up in the plywood satellite shack on a cot next to the space heater, watching a tiny TV so he could see the games. He lives in Cali now. We have a date next fall to attend the Saints @ Seahawks game. I can't wait. Anyway, the Saints were supposed to beat the Bears. They didn't. Too bad, because they had a great season, especially after all the mess of Katrina last year. Gotta give those guys serious props.

So, vengeance was all up to the Colts on Superbowl Sunday.

Today, the local Bears fans are feeling foul. They have threatened to give me a "Windy City Welcome". (One guess what that is. Hint: it's foul.) I am working on my Out of Office Reply.

If the Seahawks didn't get back to the Big Bowl though, that's OK, because these 2 teams making it together was more important. Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy. Forget the "first" black coach making it to the Superbowl, how about first and second. How about shattering the hell out of that glass ceiling. With authority. About damn time. I've heard lots of people saying "It shouldn't matter", or "It's about the coaching, not skin color", but that's bullshit. Right now it most definitely does matter.

I haven't heard a Black person yet say it doesn't matter.

It only doesn't matter if your color is the one reflected in the leadership positions at the Superbowl (coaches, most quarterbacks), or other places like, for example, the Presidency, Congress, and most other places high up on the chain, and you've never had to think about that.

Anyway, you go Tony and Lovie, good for you.

Oh, and for all you Bears fans: Neeiiiiggghhh.