The Houston Astros are headed to another ALCS. How angry should you be?
In the 1970s, influential psychologist Paul Ekman identified six basic emotions experienced in all human cultures. I'm not sure if he studied sports fans, but I'm guessing you had one of the following six reactions to the Houston Astros beating the Oakland Athletics on Thursday and moving on to the American League Championship Series:
1. Happiness....
2. Surprise....
3. Disgust. You're a baseball fan and you don't like what the Astros did and feel their 2017 title is forever tainted and you certainly didn't want them to advance. You don't really like the expanded playoffs. You don't feel good about it, but you'll keep watching. Plus, it will be fun to have a team to root against in the ALCS.
4. Anger. Everything about the Astros already makes you sick. You didn't think the punishment was severe enough. They soiled the game. The Astros advancing makes you sweaty, you don't want to talk to anyone, and you vow to drink White Claw and watch "Seinfeld" reruns until spring training starts. You definitely aren't going to watch the ALCS.
5. Fear. You can't believe a sub-.500 team will reach the World Series. Maybe it's time to just give up sports altogether and finally read "Heart of Darkness," which you skipped in high school English class and just skimmed the CliffsNotes version.
6. Sadness....
Three reasons to root against the Astros in the ALCS:
1. They were cheaters....
2. They finished 29-31 in the regular season, outscoring their opponents by just four runs....
3. You're a Dodgers fan and the thought of losing another World Series to the Astros is unbearable.
Reasons to root for the Astros: ...
9. You rooted for the Stormtroopers....
I thought I was hallucinating when I turned on the TV.