Monday, November 27, 2006
Psst!
I have a secret to tell you. Come closer. Over here, where no one else can hear us. Are you ready for this? Brace yourself ...
I don't think that I am a very optimistic person.
There. I said it. I almost feel better.
You see, I had the opportunity to watch Thursday night's game against KC with the ONE true optimist the Broncos have left ... my sister, Boston Beans. Her optimism borders on, well, you know I love ya, Beans, but your optimism can be classified somewhere between entertaining and manic and crazy-annoying. (Not crazy-delicious like Red Vines, though.) Anyway, the bottom line here is that Bonnie's optimism drove home a pt that I've been meaning to make for, well - over a year now. That point is ... I don't think I'm an optimist. (There - I said it AGAIN. I really am starting to feel better.)
After the game (the depressing, pathetic, leaves-a-nasty-taste-in-your-mouth game), I thought long and hard about what it means to be a Broncos Optimist. It was a struggle, but in the end, a good exercise. Here's what I labored up:
- There isn't really a definable profile of the Optimist. We range from Beans, to Reenie, to me, and to Scott, and Mitchell, who I am sure were muttering quite a few discouraging words on Thursday Night. The one trait that binds us together is our desire to see the Broncos play well - and the enjoyment we get out of being fans.
- It's ok to despair. Despair doesn't equal Discard. Who better to fret about the team than the Optimists!? What fans have better intentions than the Optimists? We can curse a player, a call, a quarter, a game - because we know that we'll be the ones rooting the team on next game, next season ...
- Sometimes the only optimistic thing a fan can say about a particularly bad game is, "It was a beautiful, sunshiney day." And that's OK. (Thanks Maureen ... I'll never forget that one.)
- It isn't mean-spirited to wish the bench on Jake Plummer ... (or Jake on the bench, actually - heh). He's not having a good year. Last year may have been the pinnacle of his career. He's given us some great games, and some tough losses. Plummer has been a decent QB. And now it's time for him to step aside and allow the future to step up.
(Heh heh - it just ocurred to me that Cutler will bring Optimism back to the Broncos. I don't think we could ask for much more at this point in time.)
I am excited to be at next Sunday night's game. Just for kicks, I just now looked up the definition of the word optimism. Optimism defined: An inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.
Hmmm... Maybe I am an optimist, because when I think about Cutler taking the field, I anticipate a very favorable outcome, but can also anticipate that he won't always have great days/games/seasons. The team needs a spark. And right now, Cutler is that spark. Bring it on.
(Oh, and thanks for the comment, MP! It's good to know you're still in the fold.)
