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COYOTE ARCHIVE
Dick Prosapio aka, Coyote is a member of the TMC Advisory Council, ceremonialist, psycho-
therapist (ret.), author, leader of men's experiential workshops, & Co-founder of The Foundation for Common Sense. He lives with his wife and daughter in Stanley, NM
For more info about Dick Prosapio, visit his web-site:
Spirit/ Earth Path
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Nice Hat!
by
Dick Prosapio © 2004
 I was walking through WalMart and saw the green and gold T-shirt. I altered my path somewhat, "Nice shirt." I said to the guy in passing. "Nice hat!" he responded remarking on what I was sporting at the time.
Being an introvert I am not what you would call a "flashy dresser". I have always loved turquoise and silver and since living in New Mexico have taken to wearing a moderate amount of jewelry (a watchband, a belt buckle, and a silver bracelet). Believe me, for this area, this is moderate. For me, it's pushing the envelope. A personal risking of sorts.
But as I enter my dotage I've taken to supporting a pro football team which, if you've read much of my stuff for the past few months, is the Green Bay Packers.
Growing up in Chicago I was a Bears fan. Then, as years went by, I lost interest in sports in general only to return to it when, after my men's group ended on Monday evenings, I'd plop into bed and watch the last quarter of a Monday Night Football game. Turned out that for about four weeks in a row on those Monday nights Elizabeth and I saw some pretty impressive games. So, I re-entered the sports lists and began to take an interest again. Still a Midwesterner at heart I had a narrow range of choices I felt and the Packers were a natural choice for where I'm at these days. Here's a professional team supported by a town of 30,000......no big bucks owners, no cartel behind them, and one of the original franchises.
I also liked their colors.
I know, sounds a little dumb.........but on one Monday night about a year ago the Packers were playing the Browns in Green Bay. It had snowed and the video of the game was, there's no other way to say this, beautiful. The Packers in green and gold, the Browns in white and orange, all played out against the deep green grass edged with drifts of white snow......it was positively poetic. So I fixed on that picture and it seems to have stuck with me as what "football" should look like. So I became a Packer fan.
I'd never bought a team jersey in my life, but I bought a Packer sweatshirt and a few months later, a really fine "G" hat. (No, I'm not doing the "cheese" thing. Introverts do not wear a wedge of cheese.) One day I decided to "risk" it and I wore this ensemble to town to pick up some parts at the Toyota dealers. Who should wait on me but a die-hard Bear fan whose fellow worker is a Packer-backer, "Hey! He's flying his colors right in front of you." he says to the Bear guy.....who then, sullenly, walks away.
I had no idea that people took this thing so seriously. Outside of Oakland or Cleveland that is.
Since that encounter I've noticed something else. Per capita there aren't many Packer fans, especially here in the southwest. But when I come across one there is instant camaraderie as soon as the "G" is spotted. (I had heard that the "G spot" was important but never knew it could cause instant friendship.) This is exactly the kind of entry any introvert wishes for, no uncomfortable small talk, a quick focus of conversation, a friendly exchange (or just a "knowing" look) and it's over.
Perfect.
On the downside, there's the fact that some people take football very seriously. If they belong to the group that has a long-term rivalry with your team, a Bears fan in the case of the Packers for example, there is instant enmity and the "small talk" consists of a growl.
Weird.
I don't wear the sweatshirt and hat to town anymore. Mainly I wear just the hat. The combo seems to me to be over the top and why provoke 'em? We're gonna kick their butts in the next SuperBowl anyway!
Whoops! How did that slip out?
Ah well, it's getting too hot to wear my "G" hat much longer....I'll have to switch to my "P" hat.
What is a guy from Chicago who lives in the Southwest doing with a Pittsburgh Pirates hat?
Well.....that's another (long) story.
Dick Prosapio ©2004, All Rights Reserved
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