Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance: Sports?

Everyone should know the first five as the Kubler-Ross Model for the stages of dying. Yep, the big five.

However, it's interesting, as these five also seem to find their way into our wonderful world of sports.

First off, we have anger. Getting ticked off at refs for blowing a call, yelling at a rival fan for being blindly loyal, even at a player for making a miracle catch, that's all simple stages of anger. It happens, but guess what? It goes away, unless you let it sit around and rot.

Second off, Denial. Denial, is that nasty little bug, that hits, and you don't think it's a problem. Hey, Ryan Leaf is a good QB. Jerry Rice is getting old. Aaron Brooks can turn the Raiders around. Again, eventually, this degree passes, unless, well, you really need help.

Third, is Bargaining...oh yes, it's not just for agents anymore. You'll bargain with anyone, for anything...cmon, score a touchdown, heck, settle for a field goal, anything!

Please?

Darn.

For this, I can only quote Bill Cosby.

"In Las Vegas, you have all these people praying, let me have a five, let me have a 10 down, on that split, oh please, Lord...All these numbers are going up, and the Lord can't decide on what to send everyone, so he goes: BUST EVERYBODY!"

Pretty simple. It'll pass, given time.

Depression...ah, this one hurts. The doldrums. A losing streak, a QB that can't think, an injury to a key player, even a head coach bailing on your team...Depression is a bugger. Everyone has it, but if it lingers...get some help.

Acceptance. This is the degree where you realize that for all your work...it's out of your hands. Guess what? You're a fan. York, or Davis, or even Jones calls the shots on the club you follow. So, you support your team, and can cling to the hope that everyone's doing their jobs to the best of their ability.

So, in a nutshell, enjoy your sports. Quit hating others. Life's too short for haters.

Either that, or tell them to go take up golf...in another state.