Aren't sports fun?

Last week, a colleague and I discussed a last-minute bet that I really should have taken him up on. He, a Cleveland Browns fan, and I, a Detroit Lions diehard, discussed a potential wager. If the Lions won, he'd have to wear Honolulu Blue and Silver. If the Browns won, I'd have to wear, well…orange (and brown). Maybe I'd even throw in some Dietsch's or Toft's. Add this to my list of life's regrets as Detroit ran roughshod over the Browns. That same person and I talked this week about our baseball teams, who happened to face each other in the American League Wild Card this week. "No offense, but I hope you're not happy tonight," he said to me after a phone call. Here at the office, a co-worker and I have hung on every pitch, as the Detroit Tigers battled the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Wild Card. We wore our orange and blue and were happy after a Tuesday victory, only to be forlorn after Wednesday's loss. Across the room, other co-workers flip-flopped their joy — sad on Tuesday, happy Wednesday for Cleveland's win. Aren't sports fun? Betsy and I have a friend who is also a big Tigers fan. We shared excitement over the Tigers making it into the playoffs. That same friend — on Saturdays in the fall has a very different wardrobe than me. She is a tried and true Buckeye Fan, clad in Scarlet and Gray. Their kids are instructed to not say the "M" word on game days. Me, I'm a maize and blue guy, proudly puffing up my chest after the last few November football victories. I am certain the pride comes before the fall, but I have to admit my extended victory lap has been fun. One of the greatest things about sports is the common bond one shares with fellow fans. High-fiving strangers after your team makes a big play is one of life's most random and fun little joys. In a world where many of have different backgrounds, I find it interesting who we affiliate with. I can be a die-hard Tigers fan alongside a friend, and have a completely different rooting interest on Saturdays. I can share joy with someone I watch our kids' high school sporting events with, but can feel misery if his college teams wins on Saturday and mine loses. I've found fans of many teams in this part of Ohio. Yes, the most common combination is Ohio State-Browns/Bengals-Guardians/Reds, but I've found fans of many different schools and professional teams. And plenty of people who support my Michigan-based clubs. On many weekends, we have people over for food and the big game. We're all pretty like-minded in our preferences, but one of our regulars is with us with one exception. Our friend is a big Tigers and Michigan fan. But, in the NFL, she prefers — of all things — the Green Bay Packers. When our teams play each other, we chirp at each other, and cheer in the opposite cadence. Like many hobbies, sports for me is a connection point between friends and family. It's how I connect with my brother and many other friends through life's journeys. With the disparity in allegiances, however, should I consider more bets like my imaginary Browns-Lions wager? It depends. I could stomach a Browns jersey. Ohio State or Packers? Yuck, with a capital 'Y'! Jeremy Speer is the publisher of The Courier, Findlay, the Sandusky Register, The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, the Norwalk Reflector and Review Times, Fostoria. He can be reached at jeremyspeer@thecourier.com.