Pain is joy

I noticed something today as i watched the Eagles win the NFC...finally. I have been a Eagles fan as long as i can remember and have suffered the heartache of watching 3 NFC championship losses. I remember the pain after each one, greater as each year passed. As i sat there in half disbelief watching the Birds finally get to the Super Bowl I realized that the joy of watching the win is nowhere near the pain of seeing them lose. I really can't tell you why, but I wonder what draws me to sports so much. Is it the pain or the joy? I love the wins but its the toughness after losses that I think I really connect with. The pain in the players faces, the determination to get back up, the feeling of unfinished business wrentching in the gut. This is the stuff that really makes me love sports. I need to watch to see if they get back up and fight. It's the same reason we all love comebacks so much, its the notion of never giving up, the idea that its not over till its over. For three staight years the Eagles have "gotten back up" to fight. Next up... the Super Bowl, i can't wait. But even if the Birds lose, I'll be waiting to watch them get back up to fight another day. Live the pain and the eventual joy will be that much greater. If you need evidence just take a look at any true Red Sox fan, i think they're still smiling.