Why I am Done Following/Caring About Professional Sports

I'm done.

After 41 long, arduous years (exclusive, of course, Michigan and Yankee championships, And Knicks back in the day) I am officially retired as a sports fan. I have had enough, I raise the white flag, I throw in the towel. I'm done caring, I'm done screaming at the damn TV, I'm done pacing. I am done with it all. And yes, I am hugely disappointed about the Yankees loss tonight. But even more so, I'm angry that I'm angry and care so much about such nonsense

Here's the thing: if I look at it objectively over the past years, sports has been filled me with far more sorrow than joy; more anger than pleasure. And this isn't all about mere wins and losses. What's bugged me far more than the Yankees loss tonight (and I just freaking KNEW they were going to lose that game. It wasn't a matter of "if" but rather "when") is the Marion Jones news.

I'm a huge track and field fan and to learn that she has lied all these year, after VEHEMENTLY denying she over doped, just disgusts me. And yes, I'm not naive enough to recognize that she was clearly lying, but to hear her make the confession she did today, just raises my ire. Though at the same time, good for her for finally coming clean. I wish others had the fortitude to do the same.

It's going to be very liberating being over sports. Here's just a mere sampling of things I will never again have to worry about:

-- Michigan looing for the umpteenth year in a row to Ohio State

-- Michigan following a OSU loss by getting demolished in a Bowl game -- mostly likely by USC in the Rose Bowl

-- Michigan losing to Appalachian State and setting themselves up as the butt of jokes for the next millenium and maybe beyond

-- Rooting for a Tour de France guy then immediately worrying (hello Floyd Landis) that he's going to fail doping controls

-- Rooting for the Yankees all damn year only to see them spit the bit in round one in the playoffs

-- The Jets consistently sucking

-- Everything about the Knicks, which has quickly devolved into the most dysfunctional team in sports, both on and off the court

I could go on -- and on -- but you get my point. F*&^ it. If I've learned one thing from cancer it's that life is too short for trivial pursuits. Moving forward, I'll focus (modestly, I might add) on my own athletic endeavours: ultra running, swimming, triathlons, etc. And of course, my kids pursuits as well.

Life will be just grand without my being consumed by professional sports. And it will free up a lot of extra time in my life. Man I can't wait.

Of course, none of this goes into effect until after the Yankees series.

Go Yanks, go.