Oh, what's in a game...

There's no place like Pullman.

Unlike Seattle, the lifeblood of Pullman is the spirit they have invested in their team. This weekend, the town was decked out in maroon and grey; every storefront sign declared, "Go Cougs." The WSU student body and fans seemed stoked at the competitive atmosphere, but they still hosted their UW friends in their homes.

Ranked third in the nation, WSU was passionately invested in the game. But the friendly rivalry took a turn for the worse when the triple-overtime game ended with UW winning on a technical call. But when the UW team rushed the field, fans began throwing plastic containers and bottles down onto the field, hitting and bruising the press and fans from both sides.

This intense, mass anger and sadness over their team's loss all seemed a little crazy to me. Soon after the streets of Pullman were quiet, everyone was upset and worn out.

While I understand the loyalties to a team, I don't understand how an athletic loss between two learning institutions -- even with a rivalry as pronounced as UW and WSU -- can result in unsportsmanlike behavior. It seems our rival had anticipated their win and ticket to the Rose Bowl to the extent that they bought $25,000 worth of roses to celebrate.

In some ways, I'm sad that the UW won, loyalties aside, because I sympathize with the investment this small town made in their football team. When community is so committed to football victory, a loss can disrupt the happiness of the town. Watching the reaction, I felt bad seeing the dejected heads-down-and-tails-between-their-legs attitude that the town of Pullman had post-defeat.

But on the other hand, the Apple Cup game shouldn't really matter. I personally don't care who wins or loses. What upsets me are the reactions other people have to the game -- and to sports in general. Why should it matter who wins? When I think about this, it intrigues me that an entire town can become so wrapped up in "the game."

But one good thing that does emerge from devotion to a team is that it can equalize people. Sports bridge social gaps; you can be rich and you can be poor, but that doesn't determine what sort of fan you are. The janitor and the CEO can talk about the Huskies -- or any team for that matter -- and find common ground.