I expected tOSU to win by five touchdowns. I was impressed that the Domers made it closer. I pulled for them, but expected a blowout against.
I used to tell people that my two favorite teams were OU, and whoever was playing Texas. But a decade ago, I got so sick of the adulation of everything SEC, that I began to pull for the Horns whenever they played most other SEC teams. Then we joined them in the SEC, and I started to quiver in just about any SEC game including UT. I have many Orangeblood friends, living just north of Dallas, so I've softened a little. But for now, I'll mostly pull for any Big XII team when they play most SEC teams. That, in just about any sport. I'm sure it'll grow on me. I know it's better for us, but I still wish we hadn't left.
You know, when I was a kid, my dad taught me to pull for underdogs. I still do that, mostly. But many players or coaches I used to hate, I grew to respect when I got older, and began to respect greatness. First on that list was Bill Russell. That guy won 13 titles in 11 years, and he did it by becoming the ultimate team player. I still hated the Celtics, but I still will tell anyone who will listen, that he is the greatest basketball player of all time. Better that Jordan, or Bird, or Magic, or LeBron.13 out of 15, is unbelievable, and one of the two no championships was because he got hurt in the semi's and the Celtic hardly had him in the championship series. And as a man of greatness outside of sport, he was even better.
Still hate the Packers. Mostly. Except my two best friends, are both from Milwaukee.
That hate turned to non-hate included DKR, partly because he was a Sooner, and partly because when we switched to the wishbone, he had his staff help us with some considerable detail.
And as a firm underdog puller, I have learned to appreciate true greatness, so long as he's not always telling us how great he is. So I learned to appreciate Magic and Bird. Nicklaus. Wooden. The new number one color man on Fox. Ray Lewis. Koufax.
