Why I stopped supporting Leeds United.
Well, Like most big decisions I had been mulling it over in my mind for a long time. For me at least, these things are rarely a split decision sort of thing. I often find when people make a change in their lives in hindsight, they put it down to a book or maybe a TED talk that they saw.
It’s not that that single medium was so powerful it’s more that it was the one that just hit them at that moment, at the perfect time. The straw that broke the camel’s back.
My straw was Leeds losing 4-0 to QPR at the end of last season. Had they won they likely would have achieved automatic promotion. I watched every game that season, but I knew something was changing and my Sky membership ran out before that match, so I decided not to watch it.
I also had a feeling they were going to fuck it up. Like my decision they hadn’t just blown it overnight, well they actually had but what I mean is after a fantastic season there was a very clear deterioration toward the end. The writing was on the wall.
I consider myself a stoic it keeps me from going off the rails when things are difficult, it reminds me that the majority of things are not in my control, and I must focus on the things that are. Therefore, it’s not very stoic of me to attach value and a sense of worth and happiness on at least a small scale to whether 11 guys kicking a football about are winning.
It’s silly. I said it.
I mean statistically Leeds are probably one of the worst teams to support but unless you’re the sort of person who everyone hates you can’t really change teams fluidly. What I mean is depending on how much success your team has depends on how shit it is to support them but nonetheless, it’s still far beyond the realms of your control.
Life Is already a rollercoaster. A small part of which is where maybe you have some agency. So why add another ride into the mix likely with more lows than highs (though that depends on your disposition) we’re torturing ourselves.
Nothing you can do will change the outcome of a game. And even if on average the lows and highs are equal which they’re not, it would be better for your life, your wife and your cardiovascular system if you just abstained. If you happen to be English and a Leeds fan, then fuck me what a miserable life you lead. I know, because this is me.
I can no longer have a perfectly good day ruined because of something that happened that I have nothing to do with. If I didn’t watch or check the score an equilibrium would be maintained, and my 3-year-old wouldn’t be saying things like “you dirty bastard!”
I won’t completely give them up, but I’ll watch from afar. Nurture a sort of indifference. I’ve managed to do this somewhat with the 3 Lions. After watching them get knocked out in some painful way from every major competition since 1987.
I used to watch all the games, but now I only watch the major ones. And if it’s painful I turn it off. I think it’s Ryan Holiday who says if you’re not into a book by the first 100 pages don’t read it. Life is too short. You will experience enough discomfort and trauma just by living without watching Harry McGuire. I’m kidding, I don’t know why he gets such a rough time.
I want to get to a place where I’d like them to do well but I don’t really care. I’ll let you know how I get on. MOT