Where Will My Allegiances Lie?

Cutter's Log - Stardate 3102.81.30
Current Song - It's Too Late (Carole King)

Any time you see one of my Blog entries that has to do with "allegiances," you can figure out what's it's going to be about.

Winter is done. The press pass and clipboard are hung up in the closet until State Final time. I'm not writing this spring. The last spring I didn't write? 2002. What was I doing then? Riding a bike to Geneseo, of course.

Eleven years later, the same team I loved has a different cast. Ever since my '05 classmates graduated, my intake has whittled down to maybe a couple of games per year. I was no longer "#1" for the program, but still to the individual particulars of that time. Today's cast doesn't recognize me, but that's time doing its thing.

As a journalist, I looked at the program and its geographical rival (my alma mater) on even ground.

But why am I leaning toward picking a side?

Nine years ago around this time, I was at rock bottom after one of the worst times of my life. I've told that story quite a bit. Many years later, I've found myself wanting to give thanks to a program that lifted me up from times of depression.

Yes, I know the entire cast has changed (save one adult). However, I can see a two-way street of support, especially with what's brewing nearby.

In other words, I'm bored and feel like experiencing that high school sports "fan" feeling one more time - and probably the last time until I get out of the profession.

Since keeping my eye on them, I have never seen a period where a great big wall stood in their way - not even during Morrison's constant reloading.

Of course, I know some people back at the alma mater. Two (well, one, but two) of which were an important part of my heyday. This creates the teetering on the fence. Is it so much the individual parts, or the whole?

To say I support one over the other, does that mean I don't support the other? I've been down that road before, and know that answer is no.

People know me as having been a huge fan of one team at one time. But that was a long time ago.

Something very wonderful could be forming at my alma mater. At the same time, there's no way I'm going to disconnect from a program that pretty much saved my life.

So you think come April 23 that I don't know which side to sit on? Come the expected regional final between these two, I still won't know where I'll sit.

There's a part of the bleachers that directly lines up with home plate and the pitcher's circle. But an umpire, catcher and a steel post are in the way. I can't see muhc there.

Nevertheless, I have both a Rock Falls and Sterling varsity softball schedule printed out and tacked on my office door.