Written by This past NFL season was more entertaining than ever. A couple of weeks ago, the Rams beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XLI. It was a good game, at the end of a historic postseason where every game was close. There was more parity than ever before throughout the season, fans were back in the stands, and we even enjoyed an extra week of games.
It was the most enjoyable season I can remember.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the season at all. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a favorite team. After 16 years as a Houston Texans season ticket holder, I made the tough decision to break up with them. Completely. Like many other Texans fans, I had had enough. I forfeited my PSL because no one would buy it, declared myself a free agent, and started searching for a new team.
I carried on my pursuit of a team to root for over the first half of the season. I had always liked Pat Mahomes because he was at Texas Tech when my son was a student there. They got off to a slow start, and I didn’t feel emotionally attached to them. I considered the Vikings. When I was young, they were my favorite team, but their mediocrity reminded me of too much of what I endured as a Texans fan. Too soon.
Then I gave up and decided to be an objective fan of the game itself. I watched NFL RedZone on Sunday afternoons and the big national contests. I watched Inside the NFL each week and got to know all the teams. I quit hating the Cowboys and Tom Brady because I realized I didn’t have to hate them anymore. I wasn’t a Texans fan.
As the season went on, I had made many observations that allowed me to see how the season may unfold. I noticed that the Bengals were getting better each week, but their offensive line was a big problem. They managed to beat the Titans even though they gave up seven sacks, but I didn’t think they would be so lucky against the Rams.
This enlightenment turned into somewhat of a reckoning. I had always considered myself an objective person, but I wasn’t as sure of it when I put my actions under a microscope. We live in a subjective culture, and we are constantly encouraged to take sides. And I had.
Don’t get me wrong. It is important to take sides and commit to a team but choose your team objectively. Do they align with your values? Do you share the same vision for success? Are you free to express your beliefs, or is there pressure to adopt every position the team supports? Are you happy with the results?
After picking a team, it is good to ask yourself the same questions again every season. Looking back, I may have jumped ship on the Texans years ago had I done this. I also may have made better investment and career decisions in real life by staying objective. The team (or company) you picked may have taken another direction, and you likely have as well.
I remain a die-hard Houston Astros fan, but it has been challenging. It would have been easy to jump ship two years ago when they admitted to stealing signs illegally during the 2017 season. However, I went through an objective process. Rather than label them as cheaters, I was more concerned with how the club and the players reacted. The way they handled the situation made me proud to be a fan.
I guess I have to admit to a bias toward the Astros. Though flawed, they have remained transparent and learned from their mistakes. They have a passion for their fans and understand how their success impacts their community. Baseball is personal to me, and I have connected to the team through its ups and downs through our shared values. I didn’t want to break up with them.
On the other hand, the Texans haven’t measured up—but that’s from my viewpoint. Maybe others feel differently based on their values and beliefs. Indeed, some will stick with them through thick and thin just because they represent Houston or for some reason that is important to them.
I have learned a lot from this season. It’s great to be objective, but I have learned to accept that I’m just as biased as anyone. It’s all part of being a fan. I suspect that one day I will have a favorite football team again. For now, I remain a free agent.