I have gone through many iterations of my relationship with being a fan of sports teams…read more
Younger me's whole personality was based around Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, Angels Baseball, and USC football.
I vividly remember after the Lakers game 7 Championship win against the Celtics in 2010, 14 year old me who had just wrapped up the 8th grade, had a major realization. After a night of pure exaltation and chirping all my friends who were Celtics fans, I woke up the next day and realized my life had not changed AT ALL. I had a metamorphosis of sorts, realizing that I should put all of this time, energy, and passion into myself rather than being fans of players and teams who didn't know I existed.
While I remained a fan, it was never the same. I stopped wearing my Kobe jerseys everywhere I went. I began to look at grown men walking around wearing other grown mens jerseys like they were DORKS. Don't you want to do something impactful with your life to where people would want to wear your jersey? Or wear your own, at least in a metaphorical sense? Idk. In retrospect, I became a little asshole lmao.
--I promise The Garage will tie in here in a second stay with me I love this place--
It wasn't until I went to Europe on a school trip towards the end of High School when my 2nd metamorphosis began. I was OBSESSED with everything about European culture, thinking how fascinating it was that people live so differently than myself, but it's just normal life to them. My American ignorance led me to believe that everyone lived like I did, had the same interests I did. Idk, it blew my mind and I just couldn't get enough.
I thought it was SO cool how passionate the Europeans were about their soccer, not realizing how contradictory this was to my own beliefs about American sports fans. I even bought a Messi Jersey and allat!
It wasn't until years and years later, when I really put it together. These European Football fans were essentially paralleled to American Football fans. Both getting SO invested in these games, SCREAMING at the screen between sips of beer at a local bar like that will have any effect on the outcome of the game lmao.
The older I have gotten, the more I have begun to respect the passionate sports fan, no matter what sport it is. Even if, for me personally, this passion is better to be placed somewhere else, I respect and love to be around passionate people no matter where that passion is placed. Who am I to tell someone what to be passionate about?
I have gone through this life meeting people who are passionate about literally nothing, just kind of numb to life and that makes me sad and just scares me. How could you be numb to life? It's such a beautiful gift tha---okay I'm getting way too existential, let me reign it in.
All this to say, I watched game 1 of the NLDS here where the Phillies were playing the Braves the other night. I feel like the reputation of the Philly sports fan is the best we have in America, and they did NOT disappoint. They were going BRAAAZYYYYYY in here lmaaaoo. Every base hit felt like a homerun, every home run felt like they had just won the mf powerball. For every single out they were counting down for how many more they needed to win. "ONLY 18 MORE WE GOT THIS!" lmao.
The passion was tangible and beautiful.
There was a guy slanging $4 hotdogs that were delicious, 100% pure American beef (allegedly). The bartenders were LOCKED IN, getting people drinks quick and moving onto the next. This was one of the best, most efficient bartending performances I have ever seen. Almost as efficient as a Philadelphia Eagles QB sneak. Almost.
You can also bring outside food which is IDEAL, as I saw some people walking in with a couple pizzas. That's a vet move, I'll be ready next time.
Also, get the grape funbag for a drink if you're feeling adventurous. Well even if you're not feeling adventurous get the grape funbag. Have I ever lied to you, my dear reader?
All in all, I can't imagine a better place to watch a game. I love The Garage and I love the city of Philadelphia. Passion oozes out of the streets and the people. I'll be back, and with pizza next time.
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