As Thanksgiving nears, heart-warming stories will pour into your television sets and social media feeds as delightful sidetracks from everyday doom ‘n’ gloom .
This one about a 9-year-old Michigan State fan who wrote handwritten letters of encouragement to the struggling Spartans is certainly sweet, inspiring, and full of perspective modern sports fans could use.
Or is it?
Can we learn how to properly channel our energy toward our favorite teams from a pre-adolescent?Should we?
Is it possible to be pessimistic about what appears to be an optimistic story? You bet, it is.
Following an ugly 44-10 loss to hated rival Michigan, Fraser Hartnell hunkered in his bedroom for a few hours and penned a four-page pick-me-up for coach Mark Dantonio, the team’s quarterback (“I know it hurts to throw interceptions, but I’ve done it, too. We all throw interceptions”) and the rest of the 5-6 team, which is point of grumbling for many Spartan fans, to the point some want him fired.
Since guiding MSU to three consecutive 11-win seasons from 2013-15, Dantonio has led Sparty to 3-9, 10-3, 7-6, and 5-6 records, no longer reaching the bar he helped raise in his first several years.
While unaccaptable for a chunk of the fan base — especially the most vocal and vitriol-filled on social media — young Fraser sees a ray of sunshine and tried to blast it to the team, while scolding disgruntled fans.
“Some people get spoiled like a kid who gets all the Christmas gifts. They’re only happy with wins. Losing gets rid of the bad fans. That way, when we win, we can enjoy it.”
While seemingly a mature outlook at first blush, is it? Not to some who are, as a current mainstream ad campaign says, not OK with OK.
Is he just too young to be jaded about sports like teenagers and adults?
Should we take ANY life advice or perspective from a 9-year-old?
To hear KWSN’s John Gaskins and Todd Epp’s takes from “Sports Talk with Craig & John,” click here.
Start at 8:00 mark if you are strapped for tim
Happy Thanksgiving!
