It took only five minutes into the NFC Championship Game for me to realize how hard it is to watch Julio Jones play against you. I had told my dad minutes before entering the Georgia Dome how weird it would be seeing Jones on the opposing team, but I didn’t realize until his first touchdown how much I would really miss having him on my side.
It was the beginning of an excruciating start for my beloved San Francisco 49ers, as the Falcons took an early 10-0 lead. The Falcons fans were in full force at this point, including these five Falcons fans in front of us who had customized Falcons jerseys with the word “Spooooon” on it, while waving spoon-shaped cardboard that was wrapped in aluminum foil. It was all in honor of Falcons linebacker Sean Witherspoon, and every time there was a big play the five men would yell “Spooooon!” After the third time hearing it, I made a mental note to throw my remaining popcorn at them later in the game.
I began to lose my hearing in the deafeningly loud dome when Julio Jones made an insane catch in the back of the end zone to put the Falcons up 17-0. I couldn’t even believe he caught it until I saw the replay of him dragging his feet in bounds.
“Julio Jones used to make catches like that for us,” I said to my dad, and began reminiscing all of his great moments at Alabama.
The 49ers finally showed up in the second quarter and by halftime the lead was cut to 24-14. At this point my former idol Julio Jones already had two touchdowns and appeared to be on pace for what seemed like 600 yards. I started coming up with poems in my head in some desperate attempt at getting him back on my side. “Julio o’ Julio, how I miss thee Julio. Please come back to me, and stop killing the 49ers’ D.”
The 49ers opened the half in dominant form, scoring a touchdown and intercepting Matt Ryan on the next drive. Just as it looked like we were about to tie it, our horrible kicker David Akers missed a 38-yard field goal. Immediately chants of ‘Spooooon!’ began again in front of us. I angrily began reaching for popcorn to throw at them, but to my dismay had none left. My anger over the missed field goal grew into terror as the Falcons easily drove down to our side of the field, but thankfully Matt Ryan botched a snap and the 49ers got the ball back.
Just as it seemed like the 49ers were about to take the lead, our best receiver Michael Crabtree fumbled at the 1-yard line. I yelled a couple of words my mother wouldn’t have been too happy to hear, and on queue, the idiots in front of me began another round of ‘Spooooon!’ I began to seriously contemplate the pros and cons of taking one of their cardboard spoons and hitting them with it.
A three-and-out by the Falcons and a good punt return later, and the 49ers were once again in position to take the lead. The dome began vibrating with the fans trying to help the Falcons protect their lead, but five plays later Frank Gore scored to put the 49ers up 28-24. In celebration I accidentally spilled the beer of the guy next to me, but I didn’t care as we finally had the lead. The raucous stadium had been silenced for the first time all day and for once I didn’t even miss Julio.
I remember Georgia’s final drive of the SEC Championship game being one of the most nerve-racking moments of my life, but I can’t imagine it being as stressful as Atlanta’s drive with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Inch by inch, minute by minute, Matt Ryan led the Falcons down to our 16-yard line. With only 1:20 left in the game, I began to ask my dad if he would help me deal with my future alcohol problem.
Then it all came down to one play: fourth down and four to go from our 10-yard line. I began praying to whatever god would listen and clutched the seat in front of me with the intensity of someone holding on to the side of a cliff. All I could think was “Please don’t let Julio catch this,” as I really would have cried for weeks. And then I started asking the big questions in life, like “is this really worth it?” Was it really worth all the stress, anger and frustration of cheering for a sports team when there is a small chance of a happy ending?
Luckily for me on that day, the football gods answered my prayers and Matt Ryan’s pass to wide receiver Roddy White was broken up by the defense. The 49ers were heading to the Super Bowl for the first time since I was 2 years old, and I was there to see it.
I cheered. I screamed. I cried tears of joy. I even yelled “stick a fork in it spoons” to the idiots in front of me as it seemed clever at the time. All the stress, frustration and anxiety had been turned into pure jubilation and it didn’t seem life could be any better than that moment right then.
Sports may be painful, cruel and at times downright depressing. But there are few things in life that can generate the range of emotions that sports can when your team wins. And the 49ers are one more win away from a happy ending.
