Spring Training

Last night, as I watched the NCAA basketball championship and cheered for the Tarheels - I realized my last “home” team was about to end their season, win or lose. Watching my favorite teams – the Carolina Panthers, Davidson Wildcats and UNC Tarheels - has definitely been my favorite post-layoff distraction. When I learned about my upcoming job loss in December, it was right in the midst of the Panthers’ promising playoff run which ultimately ended in a defeat by the underdog Arizona Cardinals. I reacted to the loss quite personally for someone who couldn’t name five NFL teams before 2003. When I moved to Charlotte, I lived uptown directly across Cedar St. from the Panthers’ practice field and stadium. My father played college football so I grew up with a vague understanding of the game, but never jumped on a team bandwagon until moving to Charlotte. My arrival in the Queen City coincided with the Panthers winning a spot in the 2004 Superbowl and spending lots of time with my football fanatic friends. After just one season, I was an official Panthers fan.

After recovering from the disappointment of this season’s Panthers loss, I switched to cheering on our Davidson Wildcats in their mission to return to the NCAA tournament after last year’s magical trip to the Elite Eight. We pulled out our “Witness” shirts and watched in admiration as Stephen Curry continued to bring national attention to our tiny school. Although this Wildcats season didn’t recapture last year’s glory – the pride that the team has brought to Davidson is electrifying. Whether they are in the NCAA tournament or not, we love that our basketball team has put us on the national scene.

Finally, I’m also a Tarheel fan thanks to my mother’s North Carolina roots - I remember watching UNC’s 1993 victory on my tiny black and white television in Worcester, Massachusetts. My grandparents plan trips and events according to the Carolina schedule to ensure they’re seated in front of the TV (with cocktails in hand) for games. My 94 year old grandfather loves watching all North Carolina college teams play basketball - one of the few people I know who roots for Duke and North Carolina with equal enthusiasm.

The end of the college basketball season leaves me more time for writing, career reflection and of course endless Law & Order reruns. Cheering on my teams provided much needed diversion and inspiration this fall/winter as I’m sure is true for many people. To celebrate the Heels' big win, I’m going to pick up a 2009 UNC championship shirt to inspire productivity in my new work space at home. I’m reviving my career approach with new space and a new focus on creating my own “yet to be determined” job. And of course contemplating whether this spring I’ll finally get into baseball.