As many of you around these parts know, Tribe hoops has been an afterthought for me. The program has been consistently mediocre for the twenty-plus years I've been paying attention to it. While I enjoy the Tribe fandom exuded here, it's never been anything more than amusing. I enjoy my friends' ridiculous (some call it futile) hobby because it's not harmful and it makes them happy.
With that said, I found myself more emotionally invested in last night's game than I would've expected. I couldn't start watching until 10: 15 PM because I had to attend a coaching seminar to be an assistant coach for my six year-old's little league team. So I was able to chug through in a little over an hour. As the second half progressed, I felt despair as we fell behind by twelve, then pride as we retook the lead. I was already envisioning the social equity I would have at the water cooler on Tuesday, talking up the program as the media spotlight fell on us for one shining moment...at least another 10-11 days.
But then the bottom fell out, and we once again became acquainted with the bitter taste of failure. I share comments by our friend Sammy that we lost this game as much as Delaware won it. But dissecting the loss much further doesn't do any of us any good. It's important to remember that maybe the Tribe will always be a loser. And that's okay. Because it defines who we are in a vague way.
I was in the car a lot today, driving an hour each way to Connecticut for meetings. I've been listening to a lot of Titus Andronicus these days, in my typical way of slowly getting into bands 3-5 years after most other people do. There is an earnest, honest vibe to these guys, and their hardcore Jersey heritage make the music that much more anthemic to me. My favorite TA tune came on today, and I listened to it. Loudly. More than once. And it strangely resonated to me as a Tribe fan, as I hope it will with you all.
This song (like many others) is best played LOUDLY while drunk. But perhaps many of you will enjoy it on your PC's speakers today while owning the Tribe's failure and acknowledging that the legacy of failure may be embedded in your DNA. And that you may be a better person for it.
Enjoy this anthem about holding your head up despite having thrown everything away. Lyrics are below, and video is below that. The story behind the video is an interesting one (read it here) that got some hipster media buzz a few years ago. The last two minutes of the tune are the best part. Bonus points for anybody (besides Zman) who connects the dots on the song and one of our labels.
Titus Andronicus: No Future Part III: Escape From No Future
Everything makes me nervous and nothing feels good for no reason
Waking up its really worth it the same dark dread every morning
Senior year, here in Mahwah a new world just around the corner
Leave me behind let me stagnate in a fortress of solitude
Smoking's been okay so far but I need something that works faster
So all I want for Christmas is no feelings no feelings now and never again
There is a face playing all round and red that stretches across my mouth
All for protection nobody gets in and nobody gets out
I used to look myself in the mirror at the end of everyday
But I took the one thing that made me beautiful and threw it away
I was a river I was a tall tree I was a volcano
And now I'm asleep on top of a mountain amidst the burning snow
As I surrendered what made me human and what I thought was true
And now there's a robot that lives in my brain he tells me what to do
I can't do nothing without his permission that wasn't part of the plan
So now at Rock Ridge Pharmacy I will be waiting for my man
But there is another down in the dungeon who never gave up the fight
And he'll be forever screaming sometimes I hear him say on a quiet night
He says
You will always be a loser now
You will always be a loser
You will always be a loser and that's okay
)
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