The Ultimate Satisfaction of Being a Fan: How to Handle Success

On February 3rd, 2008, I reached the absolute pinnacle of a sports fan.

The euphoric feeling, the rush, and the joy all last forever. What is truly next though after a championship? Is there anyway to match what has already happened? I mean, sure, you can build a dynasty, but don't you think Spurs fans are getting kind of used to championships?

Let's put it this way. Why would you decide to break up with a girlfriend? Why do you go see on film over another? Well, in case you haven't noticed, it's because you just know there is something better out there. Sure, she might be nice, attractive, and even let you scream at the television, but when it comes down to ending the relationship, you do it because in your heart you know there is the perfect someone out there.

What if you find the perfect woman though? What if you find a Tarantino film BETTER than Pulp Fiction [ok that's impossible]? That's what it's like when you win the perfect championship.

If there is anyone in the world that I think has experienced this feeling I believe it is myself. I suppose it's better to start from the beginning...

Going into 2007, not even one of the 16 ESPN experts predicted the New York Giants to even go to the Superbowl. Did I care? No not really, I mean, who thought the Pats would win it all in '01?

Fast forward to Week 2. We had given up an immense amount of points to the Cowboys and Packers. My mom is an enormous Dallas fan [Sunday's can get brutal in my household] and my Uncle, a Packers fan for over 20 years [Once again... Nasty].

All this is happening of course, while living in Maine. I always seem to remember a Jerry Remy quote about how the diversity in Massachusetts is so big, that not everyone is a Redsox fan, but how when he went to Maine, it seemed like everyone loved them. The same goes for the Patriots.

I wore my Eli Manning jersey every single Monday, regardless of a win or a loss. Boy did my classmates have a field day with that one. I heard it all. Walking through a hallway a "giants suck" comment could be heard almost on command. Surprisingly, you get used to it.

Fast forward to week 8. We were looking pretty solid and even looking like the playoffs could be in our future. Our defense was playing amazing and the offense looked decent, even with injuries, including one to Brandon Jacobs.

A major part of this story would be left out if I didn't include the fact that I work in a very popular, local supermarket. I wore my Giants hat proudly when I was collecting carts, and even took the harassment there. Once the Patriots became a dynasty people had forgotten who they cheered for when they were god-awful.

Fast forward to week 12. My dad is without a doubt in my mind, one of the biggest Vikings fans on the planet. Week 12 was... how should I put it... Awful. Manning had the worst game of his career and threw a total of four interceptions, with three being returned for touchdowns.

Everyone knows the feeling of a game like that. The game where you look at your buddy sitting next to you and there is nothing to say besides, "Honestly dude... Who was he throwing that to?" Except, in my situation instead of my pal telling you not to worry, that my team will come back, I instead had my dad, laughing hysterically.

Fast forward to week 15. The Giants clinch playoffs and I can breath even easier. This is of course all the while the home-team Patriots were still undefeated. The one break I probably had during school was my home-room. A twenty minute period in the middle of the day to return, to the room you were assigned to as a freshman. Call it luck, but my homeroom teacher happened to be an immense Giants fan, as well as one of my good friends. We used the session to talk football, mostly about our next opponent, and it became one of the best times of the day. That is, until we left the room and heard the occasional "Didn't Strahan retire?"

Fast forward to week 17. I thought this is where I would get my chance. My opportunity to spoil greatness. The razing at my job, and school was at an all time high. it was the Giants chance to beat the Patriots, and put people in their place. We of course, didn't do that. Tom Brady and Randy Moss beat their respective touchdown records, but we all moved on, knowing that the playoffs were far more important.

Our first game was slated against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not much to really say here. We had the lead the entire game and it was a run-of-the-mill win. Our next game however was against the Cowboys. Hated division rival who had previously defeated us two times that year. I was at mom's house for the game and it was one I will never forget. People were finally starting to take notice of the New York Football Giants. Let's just say, Mom still hasn't forgotten that one either.

The freezing cold of Lambeau Field. I will stand by this til the day I die as saying that I enjoyed this game as much as the Superbowl. It was Favre's home, my Uncle's team, and our biggest win thus far. The overtime kick by Lawrence Tynes sent me up the wall. I was ecstatic. That is, until I found out who we would have in the playoffs.

Now to wrap this up, the story goes along of how I purchased every single Daily News and New York Post up until the Superbowl. How I told everyone at work to start calling me Joe Namath because I guaranteed a victory [no joke]. How we beat the team that hadn't been beaten, with a play that will never be matched.

I didn't go to school the next day because I could barely talk from all the screaming. I still will never let my classmates forget it.

When your team wins a championship it can mean so much. It means your on the top, it means you can walk just a little taller. It probably meant the most to my friend Andrew, in my homeroom who had lost his father that season. He lived in New York where Andrew was born and never got to see them win the big one, but his son did and he kind of watched it for both of them.

So the question comes up. What do we do next? We already gave out all the punishment to the school, and coworkers.

Could your team repeat? Sure. It's possible. But what if you have already won it a fashion that cant be matched. The undefeated team, the best play in Superbowl history, the friends that hated on you all year, and the coworkers who never shut up.

My conclusion is this. Vikings fans, Cubs fans, and Tampa Bay Ray's fans shouldn't be sad. They should be grateful. We're the ones who are truly suffering. I mean, I'm only seventeen and I've seen all there is to see.

Can you look back at all the newspapers that still sit in your blue and red painted room, next to you Eli Manning fathead? Sure. Can you still smile and get the goosebumps when you see it on ESPN? Yes you can. But the best way to ensure that you will have that feeling again... Forget about it. Leave those memories in the back of your head. Think about them only after a loss, or only when a friendly argument sparks up, but other than that, keep them to yourself. Trust me, it's better this way. It almost feel like an entire new book is being written, even though your favorite story is still on your nightstand.

But remember this. When you think there is absolutely no way it could be better, it will get better. You will start the season 4-0, your quarterback will put up numbers better then big brothers, and that QB that all your friend's drool over? Well. You know how that goes.

Written By, Edited By, and Developed by Travis Rand New York Giants and NFL bleacher reporter