| 02 February 2010
Schadenfreude – noun, satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.
Last weekend, Brett Favre threw the interception we had all hoped for. For 59 minutes, we sat waiting to see if the ‘Ol Gunslinger would make an abomination of a toss and blow it for his team.
We often root hard against someone or some team, not because we have any affinity towards their opponent, but because we simply want the team to lose.
Unfortunately, truly great schadenfreude moments are rare. Sure, it’s great when your team beats a rival, but what about just rooting for that rival to lose a huge game? It always seems they some how pull it out. This is probably because UVA doesn’t really play in big games any more.
So after the jump, your humble editor lays out his most joyous celebrations caused by someone else’s anguish…
Favre’s Interception against the Saints
“All I want is for Favre to throw a pick-6 with no time left to lose the game.”
That is an actually quote by your humble editor from Sunday. I hate Brett Favre with a passion. The obvious criticisms are there. If you want to play, then just play. Don’t give me this wishy-washy bullshit every year.
But then he has to go out and have a ridiculous year, giving pundits and sports writers all the more reason to worship the ground he walks on.
This is a guy that, when he was with Green Bay, couldn’t decide what he was doing BEFORE THE DRAFT. He expected the Packers to go into draft day not knowing who would be at the helm of the team.
Then he told the Jets, “Don’t count on me.” That sentence defines the man.
So watching him blow the chance at a Superbowl for another team was just amazing. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
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Patriots losing the 2009 Superbowl and their perfect season
This is in no way directed at The Northerner. He is a Patriots fan, and that’s a terrible thing. This is directed towards the coach and quarterback.
The happiness I experienced from watching Bill Belichick and Tom Brady leave the field early is indescribable. While they sulked back to the locker room like little kids taking their ball and going home, eleven guys that tore themselves apart all season had to stand on the field as the Giants took their final knee.
Was this hatred due to the Patriots’ success in the past decade? Absolutely. Why have good teams if you’re not going to hate them for it? But it was coupled with an arrogance the likes of which have never been seen.
Also, they cheated. Couldn’t have happened to nicer guys.
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WVU missing the National Championship with a loss to 4-7 Pitt
This day goes down as one the greatest in Virginia Tech sports history. For fans, anyways.
The day started at noon, with a romping of Boston College in the ACC Championship. We were headed to the Orange Bowl in sunny Miami. Trips were being planned, rooms were being booked, and tailgates were being schemed.
But another set of fans had also been booking flights. The West Virginia Mountaineers needed only to beat lowly 4-7 Pitt at home to make it to the National Championship in New Orleans. The game was in the evening, and most of us had no intention of seeing our bitter rivals celebrate a chance to win it all.
As texts rolled in, you started to realize something was happening. A quick check of ESPN, and you saw that Pitt was actually in control. The desperation on the faces of fans, coaches, and players will never leave my memory.
When the final horn blew and Mountaineer fans were left with burning in their hearts rather than their front porches, there was nothing but resounding satisfaction in Hokieland. We had just watched a bitter rival experience the biggest loss in their entire sports history. Every Tech fan went to sleep with a smile on their face.
Being from Morgantown, the loss could not have been sweeter. Guess who didn’t have to listen to the ridiculous, ethnocentric fans go on and on about how awesome Pat White is or how Rich Rod is the greatest coach in the universe. Not this guy! Instead, I heard stories of grown men crying in the stands. Are you serious? You freaking cried?! Jeez man, get some help.
Oh, and then Rich Rod peaced out for Michigan, leaving Bill Stewart to mire WVU in mediocrity for years to come. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer group of fans.
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All of your tears sustain me.
What about you, great North End Zone nation? What is the best case of schadenfruede you've experienced?
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