In terms of my sports fandom, I’m still basking in the afterglow of the Bucks winning their first title in 50 years, and pretty much the only Milwaukee title in that same time period. There are a few things that I do want to acknowledge, just so I can’t come back and pretend differently.
1. I didn’t think they would ever get here after 2019. When the Bucks blew that 2-0 lead by giving up 4 straight to Toronto, I was convinced that was their best shot. The Warriors were compromised, we had the best record in the league, Giannis was reaching a whole new level, everything seemed to be lining up. Hell, we didn’t even have to worry about the Sixers because Toronto knocked them off! But t’was not meant to be. Being a Bucks fans means you are conditioned to expect certain things, and after having an amazing year and falling short, I was expecting mediocrity to rear it’s ugly head.
2. This year, I REALLY did not expect them to do what they did. And if Bucks fans are being perfectly honest with themselves, the team was a half shoe size from getting knocked out in the second round by Kevin Durant, pretty much singlehandedly. But, they overcame that challenge in a very un-Bucks way, and rode that momentum to the championship.
3. In the moment when Giannis went down, I was convinced that he had torn an ACL and it was a classic Wisconsin sporting moment. This isn’t a hot take, because I was on Twitter and I saw the reactions and diagnoses going around, but still there was no way the Bucks were going to beat Atlanta with how they just gave up after Giannis was injured, right? Wrong.
So, a Bucks fan filled with doubt is very happy things turned out the way they did, watching Game 6 was a transformative moment for any fan of Wisconsin sports. But I will admit, I really never had the faith they would actually get there. But if you are a real Wisconsin sports fan, I don’t think you can really blame me….ah well. MILWAUKEE, LIGHT IT UP!
1. I didn’t think they would ever get here after 2019. When the Bucks blew that 2-0 lead by giving up 4 straight to Toronto, I was convinced that was their best shot. The Warriors were compromised, we had the best record in the league, Giannis was reaching a whole new level, everything seemed to be lining up. Hell, we didn’t even have to worry about the Sixers because Toronto knocked them off! But t’was not meant to be. Being a Bucks fans means you are conditioned to expect certain things, and after having an amazing year and falling short, I was expecting mediocrity to rear it’s ugly head.
2. This year, I REALLY did not expect them to do what they did. And if Bucks fans are being perfectly honest with themselves, the team was a half shoe size from getting knocked out in the second round by Kevin Durant, pretty much singlehandedly. But, they overcame that challenge in a very un-Bucks way, and rode that momentum to the championship.
3. In the moment when Giannis went down, I was convinced that he had torn an ACL and it was a classic Wisconsin sporting moment. This isn’t a hot take, because I was on Twitter and I saw the reactions and diagnoses going around, but still there was no way the Bucks were going to beat Atlanta with how they just gave up after Giannis was injured, right? Wrong.
So, a Bucks fan filled with doubt is very happy things turned out the way they did, watching Game 6 was a transformative moment for any fan of Wisconsin sports. But I will admit, I really never had the faith they would actually get there. But if you are a real Wisconsin sports fan, I don’t think you can really blame me….ah well. MILWAUKEE, LIGHT IT UP!