on fanaticism

a week ago we had a small party about a truck
and yet i was struck
on tuesday by how utterly pervasive
college sports fandom is
50% of people walking by in columbus
seemed to have school colors on
out of football season

parking for the soccer match
was in a vast open field
easily a mile from the other stadium
used for camping before throwball games
people could live there
probably do

we grabbed a pint in an upscale restaurant
themed around a famous former player
whom i barely heard of
and there was a similarly themed establishment in the airport

i'd seen similar things regarding various persuasions
of basketball in north carolina

don't get me wrong
we're nearly this bad in boston
for at least one team and probably another by now

but running into someone else's mania
is an interesting mirror held up to your own

and what the hell do i care anyway
after all
i flew somewhere to go watch a soccer game