The Mets And Braves, Two Loser Franchises, Ought To Be Ashamed Of Themselves For Celebrating Together On The Field After Clinching Postseason Berths
I get that fans are always going to care more than the millionaire athletes actually playing the game. Fans were watching this rivalry really start to ignite in the mid 90s. They've been hating each other ever since. But in the mid-90's, Francisco Lindor was just a kid in Puerto Rico. Ozzie Albies was just a kid living in Curaçao. They didn't grow up with the instinctual hatred of the Mets or the Braves or the Phillies. But one day they were handed millions upon millions of dollars, told to put on a jersey of one of the teams, and sent out there on a baseball field to play a game. So I get players not being as invested in the rivalry as fans.
HOWEVA....
You think Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux would ever be caught dead celebrating together after leading the Penguins and Flyers to the playoffs? Not a goddamn chance. Because they are competitors who understand that in order to be the best, you need to absolutely despise your competition. Not just because of a longstanding rivalry between two teams, but because you know the guy wearing the different color uniform is trying to take what is yours.
And before anyone thinks this is just another "hockey players are better than everyone" blog, I can guarantee you that Bryce Harper wouldn't let the Phillies celebrate on the same field with either of these teams if the Phillies were a part of what went down yesterday. Because Bryce understands that hatred is one of the most valuable motivators in competition, and he also understands that he's getting paid millions of dollars to care as much as the fans do about that hatred. He also knows there were players who came before him wearing the same uniform who created that rivalry decades ago who wouldn't be caught dead celebrating with the opponents.
P.S. -- And anybody who says something like "this is what sports are all about"...you're a nerd and everybody on your little league team hated you. Stop trying to turn life into a Disney movie.