This week I’ve been watching the Women’s College World Series, which is all about softball games. Oklahoma and Florida State played a best-of-three, which the Sooners took 2-1. Game two on Wednesday was unforgettable, not so much for the hits and fielding but for the all-out joy and enthusiasm of fans and players alike. Perhaps because their championship calibre team had dropped the first game, but the fans seemed unusually pumped and volatile.
Since Oklahoma City hosts this annual series and since the University of Oklahoma’s team was in the playoff, this was like a home game to them, which means the stands will teeming with Sooners. Not an empty seat in the house, perhaps 15 thousand strong, and they were over-the-top excited. Every victory from their team, no matter how small–a strikeout, a single, anything–and the fans went crazy. Furthermore, the team itself was constantly cheering one another, even coming out of the dugout onto the field for some kind of cheer/dance. It was fun to watch.
Contrast that with the men’s game, which is scheduled for two weekends away. I’m a big fan and will watch all I can. Hey, I’m retired and housebound for a while due to a medical thing. The players will be excited and hollering, but nothing like the women. In fact, in men’s college football, referees will penalize them for “excessive celebration.” How crazy is that. The women are out-of-sight enthusiastic in their celebrating, and the men get penalized.
I’m thinking the men’s rules were set by some Scrooge somewhere, someone who hates the very idea of joy and excitement.