Stupid Philly

As I was watching that God-awful performance of the Phillies pitching staff yesterday (11 R to the Nationals? Really?), and I grew to realize that that sight might become a more familiar presence in my day to day, I just couldn't take it any more. There are 161 games left in this season. Any reasonable person looks at this team and sees that beyond Cole Hamels, no one on that team has any legitimate shot of doing anything besides losing us games. Yeah, I know there's reason for hope with Rhino, JRoll, and of course, the devilishly handsome Chase "So Dreamy" Utley, but you can't expect to win all your games 12-11. So it got me to thinking. That team is gonna lose 80, 90, maybe even 100 games this year. And even if they win 88 games again like last year, make the playoffs, what are they gonna do? Chances are, of the 8 teams that make the post-season, the Phils are not gonna be the luckiest, or the best. So why do I do it any more? That is a sound question. I've got a job now. I've got a life that requires time and effort, things I can no longer afford to waste on some stupid childish fantasy of hopefully witnessing a parade down Broad St.

So I thought about it. If I'm gonna have time to grow up, and mature, then I'm gonna have to make some sacrifices. I can't watch MLB.tv games during work, can't obsess over news feeds and blogs. I want to do well at my job and get a better job. I want to read more. I want to travel more. I want to learn more. I want to get in shape. I want to focus on self-improvement, and all being a fan of the Phillies has done is made me focus on self-destruction. Yeah, they've provided me some of the best moments in my life, but after those moments pass, I realize how empty it was for me to be rooting for 25 paid mercenaries just because they happen to wear the uniform of the team I used to like.

All the reasons are there. I guess I finally just came to admit it. I, Zhi Qiao, effective immediately, on this day, do give up on the Philadelphia Phillies. There's no reason to be happy when they win, or sad when they lose. I won't watch them, listen to them, or read about them any more. It's just too painful. Oh, I'll maybe catch a game here and there, but it won't matter who is playing. I just want to watch baseball now socially, casually. I won't care to be right all the time about sports, it's just a game. I think I'll just root for whatever team happens to be the most local to me, just for kicks. That is the best strategy now, changing teams isn't so bad.

I think this will be good for me. I'll have more time to enjoy the other pursuits in life. I think this may also carry over into my other obsession, the Eagles. They are even more of a time-suck. Yeah, I feel better already! More time, less stress. I love it.