As I celebrate my 2nd favorite team winning the Super Bowl (2nd favorite team obviously being who ever is playing the 9ers) -- I must concurrently reflect on the job I've done as a father.
I've been trying to raise my children right - - do unto others; strong work ethic; Love the Rams; Hate the 9ers -- you know the standard important journey of life stuff. But, I can't help but take pause and see the world a little bit through the eyes of my oldest 15 year old boy.
You see, he didn't forge his relationship with the 9ers the way I did.
The dominance and dynasty of those Montana / Young 9ers; the 17 in a row losing streak; SOSAR; the Lambs; Ronnie Lott knocking the wind out of the Rams Players and the viewers.
It was slow a cooked, nurtured hate.
It was Hatfield and McCoy type stuff.
I'm not sure my thirst for revenge will ever be satisfied.
My oldest son hates rooting for the pompous, arrogant, dynasty type teams.
He hated seeing Mahomes get another ring.
He was impressed with the 9ers going for it on 4th and short late in the game instead of tying the game. He was impressed they had the guts to go up 4 points instead of taking the tie. I noticed he didn't cheer the blocked extra point that yielded them only a 3 point lead. I could, how do I say this, I could sense his 49er hate wasn't genuine.
He doesn't lose sleep over the 9ers record against us in the regular season the last few years.
He knows that his Rams beat them in the championship game that mattered. He cheered his Rams hoisting a Super Bowl trophy. He cheered Donald pointing to his ring finger. He only knows the 9ers as a team that suffers the ultimate agony of defeat. He knows the 9ers as a team that's never tasted glory.
To my son, the 9ers simply aren't good enough to hate.
I didn't fail as a father. The 9ers simply aren't good enough to register the proper hate with younger generation Rams fans.
And that my friends, puts a big fucking smile on my face. And it somewhat makes me pity those fools. The same way that fan base used to pity us. I'll take it.
Life is good.
Go Rams!