Playoffs are why we love football

Larry Fitzgerald grew up in Minnesota. He once served as ball boy for the Vikings. He knows the trials and torments of their fan base better than anyone.

Incredibly, he couldn’t bring himself to watch Minnesota’s miraculous triumph in the NFC divisional playoffs. He says he won’t watch another game until he shows up for the Super Bowl because spectating feels too much like work. But he couldn’t be happier for his hometown.

“I have no interest in watching football, to be honest,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve been watching football since July for my own study purposes. But (Vikings fans) were very happy to say the least, man. They have suffered a long time. And I hope they get to the Super Bowl.”

Welcome to another strange twist of Valley fandom, where our transient nature is often a nuisance. Many of us yearn for more partisan spirit, more shared communal experiences, more solidarity in the audience. It’s unnerving to compete with Cubs fans and Dodgers fans for home-field advantage, and especially aggravating when bartenders must be asked to turn on games involving Arizona teams.

But sometimes, our mixed allegiances open a window into a broader experience, illuminating victories that aren’t our own. And that’s exactly what happened over the past weekend.

In my corner of the world, I’m surrounded by Vikings fans, and you wouldn’t believe the neighborhood