Fairweather Fan
Those of you who are aware of such things may note that Ohio State is playing Wisconsin in Madison tonight, and may ponder why a person as seemingly committed to the team would not take the serendipity of his Milwaukee layover to extend it a few hours longer, scalp a ticket and attend the game.
I have to say it crossed my mind, even earlier in the week. If I had friends who were already going, or knew people in Madison, I might have done it. Back in the 70s and early 80s, when I had first moved to Seattle and we were lucky to be able to see the Buckeyes on TV twice during the season, and air travel was a once-every-couple-years luxury, there is no question that I would have bent my plans 180 degrees in order to attend a game if I were within 500 miles.
Bottom line, though, It seems I’ve been away from Ohio and the Buckeye Culture long enough that, well, I’m just not FROM there anymore. One of the most telling symptoms was when I demurred last December when my brothers were drumming up a trip to the Fiesta Bowl for the National Championship game. I watched the game, of course, in a sports bar in Seattle with a congregation of other Buckeye refugees, but really didn’t regret not attending, even after it turned into one of the best college games ever played. Earlier, this might be an occasion for angst or regret, like losing a part of childhood, but I find myself curiously unmoved at the thought.
You probably won’t hear this level of denial and ostentatious declaration of clean thought and action in a 12-step program. Also note that my travel plans have me in Seattle well in advance of the (televised!) kickoff.
