For college football, if the game's Saturday, I'll be ready by the following Tuesday. Will be upset Sunday & most of the Monday.

(06-14-2021 06:41 AM)TripleA Wrote:  I have been attending Memphis games since 1952 (I started early, lol). Diehard fan. I always yell a lot at games or in my man cave, but as soon as the horn goes off, I'm over it. I have never let the outcome of a game affect my mindset b/c I have no control over it.

Two exceptions. The 1957 NIT final (back when the NIT meant more) when we lost to Bradley by 1, and we were absolutely screwed by the refs, and the 2008 NCAA final to Kansas, where we blew a 9 point lead in the last 2 minutes or so. Both of those took a few hours to get over, but they are obviously still etched in my memory, just not to where it affects me.

I can't recall an agonizing football loss. I suppose the recent AAC games to UCF with something big on the line, but those weren't enough to register when they ended.

You may have seen my father on the Tiger bench for that 1957 NIT game, Triple A. He recently hit 90. I'm blessed to still have the long-timer with me. I love him.

The Kansas loss was crushing. When you're from Memphis and you know what the Tiger hoops program means to the city (given various cultural, racial and historical factors) ... it's hard for us Tiger fans to explain that to the average fan of a more conventional college sports program. I tried one time to explain the dynamice to a Kansas fan I once worked with. She didn't "get it."

I can usually get over a loss after a few hours. UCLA led Stanford 34-20 last December with three minutes to go in the game. They lost 48-47 in overtime. Inexcusable loss, but they played well for most of the game. Thanks to the internet, I can get on a sports board and vent as well, which helps get it behind me.

The one loss I have never gotten over was the Raiders losing to the Pats, 16-13 in overtime in the 2001 regular season playoffs. That was the “Tuck Rule Game,” an obvious fumble by Tom Brady late in the 4th quarter that was ruled an incomplete pass. Terrible rule, terrible call. Since the call on the field was a fumble recovery by the Raiders, it should never have been overruled. That was the game. It was called an incomplete pass despite the fact that Brady had no intention of throwing the ball. I will always know that the Raiders won the game that night in a snowstorm in New England and that the refs took it from them.

I learned a long time ago not to get angry at something I can't control.