Posted by It’s been three, maybe four years, since I’ve been to a Steelers game. Thanks to a friend’s generosity (thanks Brad!), I went to the Steelers vs Bears Monday Night Football game at Heinz Field on November 8th. And as is more typical than not for this franchise, they won while making it too hard on themselves. But for a few hours, I didn’t have to code switch. I was just another fan watching a game. Would that I could feel that anonymity more often.
For a long time, Sports had been a huge part of my “personality”. But this all-encompassing part of my life has become attenuated lately. Not solely because of the racial strife that has engulfed American (and European) sports. Yes, there are yuuuge problems with fandom – it gets extreme and over-the-top and there are major systemic issues with its administration. I’m also not entirely sure why some people thought “Fuck Joe Biden” was a good chant. I wholeheartedly support what Kaepernick did and any efforts to redress racism & prejudice in sports.
Monday Night Follies
But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve also tried to branch out and spend more time on the other passions in my life rather than spend majority parts of my Saturdays, Sundays, and a fair few other days watching sports. Playing piano, cycling, woodworking, becoming a better cook, chasing puppo around the house, and namely, (re)discovering theatre.
And yet, I was reminded on Monday night that there are few avenues in life where I have felt more welcome and included than as part of a sports fandom. For a few hours, I didn’t have to be The Muslim who knows everything about Islam. I wasn’t seen as The Brown Guy. I didn’t wonder if I was included just because Brown.
Making Inclusivity
We have significant systemic problems with racism and prejudice in many, many walks of life. Ask any BIPOC or LGBTQ+ person who works in the Arts, for instance, about prejudice and lack of inclusivity in their field. Or a corporate peon. Etc etc etc. I am all for meeting those challenges head on and not being cynical about their importance or impact. For instance, I sit on the Board of Directors for Handmade Arcade where we are attempting to build more inclusivity and foster positive relationships with BIPOC & LGBTQ+ persons in the Maker community. Wait! Systemic issues arise in the Maker community, you ask? You betcha. Change is a slow, difficult process and we’re trying.
But as I looked around at the crowd on Monday Night, it was a welcome relief not to code switch for once. I noticed several East Asians in our section. I walked by a couple Desis. Black folk numerous and loud & Steelers-proud as well. Struck up random short convos with folks waiting in line for food & drink. No, fandom isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination but for a few hours, throw on a Steelers jersey, grab your Terrible Towel and you’re In Like Flynn.
Here we go!
