(this is actually a good, not angry vindictive, story ... for those looking for buckeye vitriol, read elsewhere)
So I hired a guy I went to grad school with, a Northwestern undergrad, who grew up in Ohio and was/is a diehard buckeye. He was good about it - loved them fiercely just the way I do and you do Michigan ... but wasn't a douche about it.
Anyway, his passion for college football and specifically the Buckeyes bit him in the butt. His oldest son, maybe 9 or 10 or so now, sees him all buckeye'd out and cheering/yelling at the tv over the years, and last year starts needling him ... says he wants to root for Michigan. My friend grits his teeth. kid keeps going. My friend, being the genuinely good and loving father that he is, doesn't beat the snot out of his kid, nor does he threaten to disown him ... he just hopes and prays the kid changes his tune while supporting and loving his son.
Somehow, not sure how, the kid gets him to fly him to Dallas to see the Michigan-Florida game last weekend. He sends me pics of them surrounded by maize and blue fans (he's *barfing* the whole time!!!!!) and then sends me a pic of his son, decked out in full Michigan gear, that he had to buy his son. It was damned near the funniest and sweetest justice brought on a buckeye friend ... his son at such a young tender age, turning on his dad to see the genuine and true light that is MICHIGAN!!!!
So if you ever feared that our world might crash down upon us in horror and tragedy, my friends, take a deep breath and know that there is also some hope in the world... some great hope indeed. One child at a time. We shall persevere.
So I hired a guy I went to grad school with, a Northwestern undergrad, who grew up in Ohio and was/is a diehard buckeye. He was good about it - loved them fiercely just the way I do and you do Michigan ... but wasn't a douche about it.
Anyway, his passion for college football and specifically the Buckeyes bit him in the butt. His oldest son, maybe 9 or 10 or so now, sees him all buckeye'd out and cheering/yelling at the tv over the years, and last year starts needling him ... says he wants to root for Michigan. My friend grits his teeth. kid keeps going. My friend, being the genuinely good and loving father that he is, doesn't beat the snot out of his kid, nor does he threaten to disown him ... he just hopes and prays the kid changes his tune while supporting and loving his son.
Somehow, not sure how, the kid gets him to fly him to Dallas to see the Michigan-Florida game last weekend. He sends me pics of them surrounded by maize and blue fans (he's *barfing* the whole time!!!!!) and then sends me a pic of his son, decked out in full Michigan gear, that he had to buy his son. It was damned near the funniest and sweetest justice brought on a buckeye friend ... his son at such a young tender age, turning on his dad to see the genuine and true light that is MICHIGAN!!!!
So if you ever feared that our world might crash down upon us in horror and tragedy, my friends, take a deep breath and know that there is also some hope in the world... some great hope indeed. One child at a time. We shall persevere.
