Wednesday, July 22, 2009

New Year's Resolution: Not to Be a Fair Weather Fan

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on January 3, 2006. 

In 2006, I hereby resolve to:

1.  Remember my sunscreen.  There is no sense in trying to achieve the same red color as, say, Dale Jr.'s car.  Been there, done that.  Furthermore, not only will I take the sunscreen with me to the game or race, but I resolve to reapply it - no matter how exciting it is to watch Tony Stewart at the Brickyard or how rowdy the student section gets at the Iowa-Iowa State football game.

2. Wear More Clothing.  I almost got frostbite at a race last April - despite having gloves, a winter coat, and blankets.  For a while, I swear I had the wonder twins power to create ice by merely pointing my finger at something.  The best potential  way to solve this problem is to take some date to the race and sit very close together.  Or maybe I should just try to find someone there.  Or maybe I should just invest in some long underwear - seems like less hassle and I don't have to share the "special" hot chocolate. 

3.  Wear Less Clothing.  At Dover, Charlotte, Indy, Knoxville, several I-Cubs games and several ISU football & basketball games, I had too many clothes on.  It was blazing hot.  I'm no supermodel, but I look better than a lot of the women there in halter tops.  Hello, there should be a maximum and minimum bust size for those things!

4.  Not let a Blizzard Keep me from the Game.  Last year I wussed out and didn't attend one women's basketball game.  So what if it had snowed 8 inches that day and the wind had picked up, and so what if I slid through 2 intersections on the way home from work, I'm a fan and should be prepared to suffer to get to my chosen sport.  I mean, I only live about 3 miles from the arena, I could walk that.

5.  Not let a measely tornado scare me away from the event.  Twice this year I had tornado warnings at the events I was attending.  The first time, qualifications were just starting when the siren went off - and no one had any idea what to do.  Needless to say, I bolted from there about as fast as was slightly illegal.  The second time, I decided not to go to the football stadium due to the rain, wind and occasional hail and missed the "evacuation" of the stadium.  (See, I was a fair weather fan).  This year, I will not let the threat of tornado scare me - I live in Iowa, not Kansas after all.

6.  Enjoy the rain.  My new mantra will be " Horizontal rain is  fun.  Horizontal rain is exciting.  I love horizontal rain."    Horizontal rain is the great equalizer.  I will love horizontal rain - especially when the event is canceled and I have to walk six blocks to my car in it.  AS IF standing under the grandstand actually keeps you dry with horizontal rain...   I will also not regret sitting in a persistent drizzle for up to five and a half hours waiting for the Knoxville Nationals qualifications to start - even if I have to go to work the next morning.

7.  If all else fails, start following teams/events that happen in climate controlled arenas.  Let's see, there's the Rumble series in Indiana, the Chili Bowl, the Colts, the Vikings and the Twins.  Well, that may get me through part of the year, at least.

 

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