Last week following my column which was, let’s face it, a blatant excuse to talk about the Mets for 750 words, I received an e-mail from another Northwestern Mets fan, but what was startling was that I also got a Facebook message from a Mets fan who’s a senior.
In high school.
The fact that the class of 2010 is already on facebook.com is a colossal problem that I won’t even get into, but I have a stern warning for those out there who are about to enter the intrepid waters of Evanston: Unless you really really love Chicago sports, you will struggle to follow your favorite teams. And even if you like the Blackhawks, it still won’t be easy since watching hockey is apparently illegal now.
The Mets are off to the best start in franchise history. The Giants are coming off a division title and have completely retooled their secondary which could set them up for a run at the Super Bowl if they play the draft right. The Devils came out of a bewildering first-half funk and have closed the season winning their last 11 to clinch an improbable division title.
The Knicks-well, no one died.
Things are looking pretty good for me right now as far as sports are concerned. There’s just one problem.
I don’t get to watch any of it.
Sure I can see the Mets on MLB.TV, but playful banter with friends from home is tough when I’m on a 60 second delay. The American public has forgotten that hockey exists, I can only see the Knicks when they play the Bulls and every Sunday in the fall I get to watch the Bears, who have started a different quarterback each week since Sid Luckman retired in the year 512 A.D.
In fact the only times I have gotten to watch Big Blue when I’m out here, they’ve usually lost. Anyone who lived on Allison 2-West two years ago might recall when I let out more expletives than any decent person should during the Giants debacle against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
There have been exceptions, like when bonus coverage patched in Amani Toomer’s amazing touchdown catch to cap a last second comeback win over the Broncos.
After jumping up and screaming (potentially frightening everyone on my hall) my father called me to talk about the game, but I half expected to hear from him before seeing the play since NUTV decides it should really take its time before broadcasting the picture to us.
It might be easier if there were some place within walking distance to watch the weekly fall extravaganzas. But alas Coach’s Cafe has been gone ever since the Hotel Orrington decided to stretch its legs across the entire block when I was a freshman.
Because of all this, watching my favorite football team has been one of my biggest reasons for loving coming home for Winter Break and Thanksgiving. You just have to be wary because if you’re that excited to watch your team and your girlfriend suggests you drink beer each time you yell at the TV, you may not have the will power to say “no.”
And you should, trust me.
Watching hockey has almost been a lost cause since the players and owners decided to take that awfully long vacation two years ago. All of the league’s radio broadcasts are streamed live on NHL.com, but hockey has never been much of a radio sport.
There’s pretty much no way to watch or listen to my home basketball team without DirecTV, but given the way Isiah Thomas is running the show at Madison Square Garden, that might be a good thing.
The bottom line is clear. My college experience to this point has been good, but everyone has a problem or two with theirs. If I had to single out the biggest one with mine I know what I’d say.
With that in mind, maybe those young’ns shouldn’t be so quick to get on facebook.com and have more friends, groups and wall postings than I ever will before they’ve met their freshman-year roommates. When they find out they won’t get to watch their favorite teams for four years, they may want to take their time getting here.
Deputy Sports Editor David Kalan is a Weinberg junior. He can be reached at [email protected].
