One of my favorite things about being a sports fan is that its different every day. No two games in any sport are exactly alike. Sports will always bring you back for more. Sports will always bring you hope for a positive change. While change can be a great thing, it can also be a terrible thing. At one time (many years ago) the Chicago Cubs were the greatest team in baseball. Now, well, we all know that story.
So when we face these terrible changes in sports, its always nice to have those great traditions. For the University of Northern Iowa, a new tradition has recently risen. The Interlude Dance has become a nationwide phenomenon that many people look forward to seeing at Panther sporting events. This tradition is still young, so I have decided to take a look at my favorite, older traditions in sports.
Baseball: One of the oldest sports in America, baseball has been given the title of Americas Pastime. Theres no better feeling than heading to the ballpark on a beautiful summer day to see a great ball game. Since these games can last upwards of three hours, sometimes people need to get up and stretch. The seventh-inning stretch has become one of the greatest traditions in all of sports. In the middle of the seventh inning, fans stand up to sing a rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Being a Cubs fan, this has become one of my favorite reasons to visit Wrigley Field every season.
Hockey: Since we are in the middle of the National Hockey League playoffs, I thought itd be necessary to bring up one of hockeys most fun traditions. Every year, if your favorite team makes the playoffs, it becomes necessary to grow a playoff beard. You better shave the day before the playoffs start, because once they do, your shaving days are over. Many fans believe the superstition of growing a playoff beard can lead their favorite team to a Stanley Cup. If they shave before their team is eliminated from the playoffs, their team will fall short of winning the title. Beware the playoffs can last over a month, so these beards can get very thick.
Football: While many football teams, especially in college, have an in-game tradition, theres one National Football League tradition that has risen to the top over the past decade. This tradition is, in my own words, Super Bowl Day. Just one day a year, all fans of football spend the day feasting on food in preparation to the big game. For those who dont care for football, there are many things to look forward to on Super Bowl Day. Not only does it give them a chance to watch the new phenomenon, the Puppy Bowl, but it gives these fans a chance to catch all the brand new commercials that air during the big game.
New and old, traditions are what make sports so fun to be a part of. While changes are inevitable in sports, traditions may just be what keeps sports fans coming back for more.
