The Four Noble Truths of Fandom

Our opener with West Ham was a blow.  I'd allowed myself to think that the game would be a very easy win, and that our preseason was a true gauge of our progress.  The result was depressing, so much so that I knew I needed help.  Upon reflection, I realized that the Buddha had provided this help 2500 years ago, in the mistaken notion that it applied to all of life rather than just sports.  (Cricket had not been invented yet; in ancient India, philosophical debate was the #1 spectator sport.)  My outlook has improved since I meditated on these Four Noble Truths:

Supporting a team is suffering.  If your team is a big, successful one, no amount of silverware will satisfy you for long.  Joy at winning the league turns to ashes when your team is defeated in the Champions' League or in the FA Cup final (and vice versa).  One year without winning something is painful; nine years is agony.  If your team is mid-table, the wait for glory seems interminable.  If you're in relegation or promotion battles, you will lose them as often as you win.  And losing is suffering.  Ask a Notts County supporter.

The origin of suffering is caring too damned much.  Of course, caring is also the origin of pleasure in your team's successes.  But how many teams win something meaningful in a year?  It follows that suffering will always come in greater measure.  And why do we care?  We aren't on the team, nor do we own it.  We aren't friends of the players, who in any case aren't really fans themselves (except in rare cases) but temporary employees.  In my case, I didn't grow up supporting Arsenal; I was a Baltimore Orioles fanatic.  (It took many years of Peter Angelos to cure that, but it happened.  I hope Stan Kroenke isn't the same sort of buzzkill.)

Suffering will be made more bearable by caring less.  You don't have to go all the way to indifference (if that is even possible) to improve your quality of life.  Just take a step back and reflect on why you should allow a 25 year old millionaire's stupid mistake, or another's fantastic goal, to ruin your weekend.  "But this puts us eight points behind City!" you say, but so what?  The table does not lie.  Those who will not accept reality are rightfully called insane.  Arsenal has zero points in ECL group play because they have been crap in the ECL, and more than usually so.  You did not push the ball into your own goal; that was Falcao's brother-in-law.

There is a path towards alleviating suffering.  It consists of the following elements:
Right viewing.  Stop watching football (or whatever) after a disappointing loss.  It will only make you feel worse.  Don't watch the highlights shows.
Right speech.  Don't rail at Arsene Wenger or the players.  Keep your comments temperate.
Right action.  Don't hit anyone or anything.  It won't get the three points; it will only cost you to replace the TV remote.
Right mindfulness.  Focus on the future, not the past.  Hope for the possible.  Remember that supporting the team means supporting the team.  They don't owe you silverware, and they do want to succeed.  They are not trying to ruin your life.
Insert more sage advice here.  Do you like football (baseball, etc.)?  Then appreciate the football.  Yes, it's seemingly imprinted on our DNA to get wrapped up in the success or failure of athletes in their zero-sum struggle with athletes wearing different uniforms.  Remember, you are not one of those athletes.  (Boy, are you not one of those athletes.)  They are supposed to entertain you, not depress you.  Make sure they do that or stop watching entirely.

I can honestly say that I am giving the Buddha's advice a shot.  I did not watch Champions' League today.  I waited until tonight to see the player ratings on Arseblog.  I no longer post comments on news stories about Arsenal, win or lose.  I hope I can keep this new attitude, especially with United coming to the Emirates.

Arsenal 2 - 3 Olympiakos

I certainly picked a bad time to start this blog.  After the pathetic hash the Gunners made of today's game against Olympiakos, I have no interest in reliving that 90 minutes.  The only question now is whether we'll be in Europa League or out of Europe entirely after the group stage ends.  I'm not sure which I want.