k1400

November 24th, 2023 at 11:18 PM ^

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

The same well from which your laughter rises was often filled with your tears.
How else can it be?
The deeper sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?
Is not the lute that soothes your spirit the wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look into your heart. You shall find it is that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart. You shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some say, “Joy is greater than sorrow.” Others say “No, sorrow is the greater.”
I say they are inseparable.
Together they come.  When one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

~Khalil Gibran, adapted

Joined: 06/30/2011

MGoPoints: 5967

atticusb

November 24th, 2023 at 11:01 PM ^

Part of it is the feeling of helplessness as a fan. I never feel it more powerfully than on the Friday before the game. And boy do I feel it on this Friday, of all Fridays. So much truly beyond my control to alter, or change, or influence. So once more, on The Game Eve... it's a mantra because it's true: It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine. Go Blue.

Joined: 08/23/2015

MGoPoints: 3774

M - Flightsci

November 24th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^

2006 was in incredible lead-in to The Game.  2016 was similar.  This year is not, I think, because of the media circus witch hunt surrounding the program.

 

It has been interesting following Brian's development as a writer.  The most appealing aspect of this blog in the early days, besides the UFR calling-card, were Brian's writing and obvious extreme emotional attachment to the football team and the players who he lionized.  Hart, Henne, Manningham.  The New Math.  I think the blog has become work, so much work, and life has been life for Brian over the past decade and I hope to see an age-tinged version of his creative prose again.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 462

Dennis

November 25th, 2023 at 12:20 AM ^

Like I've said in a few other posts, this is my last year closely following the team. 

I'll always support from afar, maybe google the scores every now and then, but this is my last season watching games.

I've been following Michigan football since 2006. Henne was my first quarterback. 2016 was my first experience of The Game in person - feels like ages ago now. 

This is my last viewing of The Game. 

The carnival of human frailty around a fairly victimless rules violation was enough for me. It was the string of events that led to the "ye, I'm done" moment. 

For a lot of reasons, I haven't been as present in my life as I'd like to be. I'm not as good of a son, husband, or friend as I'd like to be. Michigan Football was always a soothing pasttime to ease my stress and give me something to cheer for. 

In some ways, I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss JJ and his meditative golden-retriever demeanor. I'm going to miss college football seeing Jim the way I still see him - a paragon of the sport and integrity exemplified. I'm going to miss the memories of watching snowfall in the BIG HOUSE after we paved the Sucknuts for 4 quarters in 2021.

I'm going to miss most of it. It makes me happy knowing that Cyan Day and his cryin' Buckeyes are going to run out of excuses tomorrow and will have to face reality - and then I can put it off for a few more hours. 

Fuck Tony Petitties, Pete Thamel, Finebaum, Ari Wasserman, Nicole Auerbach, Mattison, Urban Meyer, and the biggest bitch of all Ryan Day. 

Light 'em up like a last cigarette, JJ. 

 

Joined: 10/08/2017

MGoPoints: -9988620

Dennis

November 25th, 2023 at 1:03 AM ^

No, I won't. It goes deeper than normal fandom for me. Not a healthy thing for me going forward, but is totally healthy for your average fan. 

I specifically use it to feel a connection to someone who is no longer in my life - and hasn't been for a long time. Time to move on. 

Joined: 10/08/2017

MGoPoints: -9988620

Tunneler

November 25th, 2023 at 12:36 AM ^

When you say that time is a flat circle. And it comes back around the way things used to be... Then yes, we are back to a time that was different to all of us, individually. Let me tell you, there was a time when individuals didn't even matter. There was a time that...

Jim Harbaugh controlled everything. Even though he wasn't there.

Joined: 08/01/2013

MGoPoints: 26026