Sunday, May 21, 2006
I Make a Difference - 6:14 PM
She stretched her limbs gracefully, while laying on her luxurious lounger. Covered in a silky blanket, her head resting on a bed of fluffy pillows, she only had a single goal in mind........ FOR THE DETROIT PISTONS TO WIN GAME 7 AGAINST THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS!WAHAHHAHAA.... did you start envisioning Cleopetra perched in her famous pose on her chair? Actually, I don't think I'm far from her, EXCEPT the fact that I was flopped on an IKEA couch that needs some washing cos its starting to get itchy, instead of one that resembled an artefact that once belonged to King Louis; EXCEPT the fact that I was as graceful as a cow can get; EXCEPT the fact that I was keeping warm in red felt blanket whose tag is still attached despite having made its first appearance over a year ago; EXCEPT that my pillows weren't all that fluffy and were previously used by the numerous visitors who have rested nights on the very same itchy white couch. Did they wash their hair? What about head lice? HENG AH I also never wash my hair!! (just kidding!!)
I have come to the fact that if I would watch to the game with the sound MUTED and if I was lying in that specific position, the Pistons would start getting more blocked shots, higher shooting percentage and accuracy, more free throws, more MISSED shots from the Cavs, etc etc etc. And I am proud to announce that THE PISTONS HAVE WON!!!!!!! THEY HAVE RECOVERED FROM THEIR 3 CONSECUTIVE LOSSES AND MOVED ON THE TO FINALS OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE!!!!!
Its damn weird how I sometimes feel that I'm singlehandedly responsible for their wins or losses. If I watch and they lose, it means that I have jinxed them unintentionally... If an American Idol contestant gets eliminated, I blame myself for not calling for them, strangely aware of the fact that my own miserable power wouldn't compensate for their lack of 5 million phonecalls, but still can't stop but feel guilty.... If someone scores the lone goal that determines the outcome of a soccer game WHILE I'm in the bathroom, I credit the goal to my absence. (It has happened before btw. Alan Shearar, 1999)...
I don't know whether you guys feel this way, but I do, FOR SURE. Strange, how we envelope someone, some team, of some sort in our lives so readily. We plan schedules around their games, waking up at weird timings so we can catch our heroes in action, and hopefully they win. We spend tons of money on merchandise, this one I'm strongly guilty about. I remembered I once showed my trained chao bin at the KL Twin Towers shopping mall cos my parents refused to get me a Manchester United limited edition coin set. I wanted it so bad cos..... I really loved the.... MAN UTD PAPER BAG. (oh ho, I kid you not). My parents finally relented (cos they can't stand my incessant pouting), making me promise that the RM 140 that I have just plunked down on a PAPER BAG was just a loan. And when my Dad went to Manchester for business, he lugged back an entire duffel FULL of Man U merchandise... When he emptied out the bag, my eyes widened with amazement... MY FATHER, THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T SHOP IF HE CAN HELP IT... ALL THAT... FOR... FOR ME?!??!! But as usual, 3 years down the road, I start to question my previous behavior. The said coins with Beckham and Co's embossed faces are missing just like pieces from an old Monopoly set, and the paper bag? I have no idea where it is... All that 'passion', all that money, all that late nights, all that energy, all that squabbling with friends who think otherwise... All that... for.... what?
Last summer, I remember I watched the movie FEVER PITCH, featuring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore (think it had a different name in Singapore. ). It was about how this Red Sox diehard fan (fallon) would put his relationship on the sideline during baseball season. A little boy asked 'You love the Red Sox, but have the Red Sox ever loved you back?'
OH yeah... how true that is. No matter how we worship sports teams or celebrities, its obvious that whatever we do will never change their lives in any way. So why? whY? WHY? Why do we think that Brad will leave Angelina just cos WE prefer Jen? Why do we think that the team whom we place on a shrine as our God/dess, would and should win just cos 'we like them'? Who are we?? *Deluded*.... Nevertheless, we do what we do, cos we need some hope in our lives (and cos we're kaypoh). To think we actually matter, that MAYBE, just MAYBE Tom won't marry Katie cos we find it hard to believe... or maybe, JUST maybe that Beckham will sense me transfering my power to him via the TV via ten thousand miles and score 3 goals within 5 minutes... Celebrities open our eyes to the life we will never have, while the success of sports teams inspire us to do better. Otherwise, they can always double up as eye candy and serve as entertainment to our otherwise boring lives.
Anyhow... WOohoo, the Pistons will be facing the Miami Heat, featuring Shaq and Dwayne come Tuesday, and THEY WILL WIN! (cos I say so)... I will watch the games muted and laze on the same awkward position if need be. Oh, but then the American Idol finals will also be on Tuesday evening... I think I'm gonna watch Idol instead... I hope my favorite will emerge triumphant. HE HAS TO! And oh yah, the World Cup is coming soon... who will go home empty handed but for a bag of broken dreams? Who will need to wait another 4 years before they even think of playing on the stage as the World Cup? Who will go home with the coveted Cup and the prestige attached to the soccer legends? Who will you be rooting for?
40 games in 40 nights. Can you take on the Heat? (GO PISTONS!)