Tonight, 3 major league baseball teams clinched playoff spots. One of those 3 teams was the Texas Rangers- my favorite team. They clinched their second consecutive division title. Needless to say I was excited. And, after six months of hard work, these three teams were understandably excited. And, how did they celebrate? By spraying each other with champagne in their locker rooms. Yep. Sure, a few beers came into the picture after a bit, but the French bubbly was the star of the show in multiple clubhouses tonight. America’s national pastime has a French flair when it comes to celebration. Why?
Because Champagne means celebration. It meant celebration for 3 teams tonight and has meant celebration for many teams for countless years. It has also meant celebration for millions (if not billions) of people every new year, at every wedding, and at almost every other occasion for celebration imaginable. Something about those bubbles means celebration.
Champagne has been the drink of kings since its inception. Kings of the 14th century used to drink it. Perhaps even the Romans drank early forms of Champagne. In the old days, Champagne was a signal of wealth. How then did it make its way into celebration with sports?
Well, in 1967 Moet et Chandon gave the winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans race a bottle of Champagne and the driver sprayed the crowd in his jubilation. Since then, Champagne has meant celebration in the sports world as more and more sports pop the bubbly to celebrate their achievements after months of hard work. And, because of Champagne’s links to royalty, wealth, and celebration, fans in Milwaukee are trading in their beer for bubbly as the “Brew Crew” celebrates tonight. Fans in Phoenix are toasting with bubbly as they celebrate their team’s achievement. And, most certainly, fans in Texas (and California…) are popping the bubbly to celebrate the Rangers’ division title.
Champagne means celebration. Especially so tonight for Diamondback, Brewer, and Rangers fans.
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