Many Rams fans went to bed on Super Bowl Sunday with their heads still

spinning. How could their team have wasted a defensive gem by only mustering a single field goal against an admittedly great game plan by Bill Belichick and Brian Flores? Many woke up still feeling empty only to receive a second gut punch courtesy of the Los Angeles Times’ front page headline which read:Now to be real Los Angeles Rams T-Shirt , nobody expected any joy to be found in the headlines the day after a Super Bowl loss, and fluff is for teddy bears, but wow. All rivalries are loaded with unflattering nicknames for foes, and in the Rams case, rivals have routinely gone to “Lambs”. It rhymes with Rams, it’s a little sheep, why not? Anyone who has been a Rams fan for any period of time is certainly familiar with the taunt. However, in this case Rams fans weren’t trading barbs with 49ers fans or Raiders fans, it was the Los Angeles Times’ Super Bowl headline. Thanks!Nevermind that the Rams had been tied in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl and had virtually shut down Tom Brady’s offense; they lost, so they weren’t Rams, they were Lambs. On social media the outrage was obvious from the jump, and even some fans of other teams (while loving it) admitted the headline was rather harsh. But were Rams fans just being over-sensitive following a Super Bowl loss? Well, let’s provide some context. Would the Denver Post write Los Angeles Rams Hats , “Donks, Not Broncos”? Would the San Jose Mercury write, “Whiners, not 49ers”?Or what about, “Kitten, not Tiger Woods”? Watch out, Gabby Douglas, you got the silver in 2015, kind of a “Shabby” showing. Anyway, you get the picture, it was unprofessional. Rams special teamer Jake McQuaide was even fuming. Sports editor Angel Rodriguez attempted to lower the heat with this explanation:That may very well be the reasoning, but nevertheless, at best it made the Times editorial staff appear to be somewhat out of touch with any of the nuance of the Rams fan base. But amid the complaints and threats to cancel subscriptions Los Angeles Rams Hoodie , the Times is now admitting the mistake and apologizing. Who knows if the Rams themselves complained, or if it was the surge of angry fans alone, but the Times appears to be realizing that the Rams are now a serious presence in the LA sports landscape, with a growing following that likely only trails the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers. Being critical of the teams’ shortcomings is a must, but pot shots won’t likely go unnoticed. The heart breaks and lives by breakingIt is necessary to go through dark and deeper dark and not turn-Stanley KunitzSports! Why do we this to ourselves? Wouldn’t it be easier to view sports like a good boxing match or a 100 meter dash? You know, just enjoy a healthy competition, then go about your business. But if you’re reading this postmortem, most likely you’re all in. It’s not a logical thing; maybe it’s a primal need to “defend our turf”, like the Rams’ 2014 marketing campaign once stated. Inevitably, almost every season will end on some kind of low note, but what is the healthiest way to deal with that reality? One way is to take the big picture approach. Some fans seem to have the ability to shake a fresh Super Bowl loss by reassuring themselves that the general direction of the team is trending upward, and we will only be better having lost and learned. Surely, the Rams will be knocking on the door again sometime soon Customized Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , and will complete their mission eventually, at which point Rams fans will be able to taunt all other fan bases for up to one full year. This approach makes some sense, after all, the team’s core is young and the front office seems to be on a roll. However, for Rams fans who lived in darkness for years on end prior to last season, it is harder to have complete confidence. Many thought the Greatest Show on Turf had a shot to haul more than one Lombardi, and this team hasn’t even done that yet. Time is running out on quarterback Jared Goff’s rookie deal, and is there a blueprint to finally render the Rams offense stoppable? To believe that the team will be in good shape for the better part of the next decade means you have faith that Sean McVay and Jared Goff will keep growing and evolving. That’s seems fairly reasonable, as does the big-picture approach. Another approach is going micro instead of macro. Just enjoy each game, each experience, and see where this all goes. So much of fandom is speculating about who will win and what will happen as a result- because obsessing is a favorite pastime for fans, because we care. But, sometimes just enjoying a matchup for that matchup’s sake feels healthier. This approach is similar to the one the players themselves try to take; limit time attaching the game to a bigger picture www.authenticslosangelesrams.com , or worrying about some resulting narrative from the media. There is evidence that this approach, while not always possible, is the most enjoyable. How much more relaxing is it to watch other teams play than it is to watch the Rams? Personally, even in good times, I find Rams games somewhat stressful. Where will this loss leave us? They won, but they need to improve their coverage next week! You know, the general rantings of a lunatic. Super Bowl week had so much noise, filler, and general event stuff that had nothing to do with the game we love. I hope that the Rams themselves viewed it a just a game of football, because that was definitely difficult to do as a fan.The third approach, is called The Michael Thomas Method. This is a swell approach, where you never actually accept defeat, because you blame everything on the face of the Earth Los Angeles Rams T-Shirt , except your team’s actual play. As George Costanza once said, “it’s not a lie if you believe it.” And why not insulate yourself in a cocoon of lies? It feels better, and after all, it’s just a game so why not? The only risk here is sounding crazy, but Saints fans surely lead normal lives when they aren’t rambling on like Alex Jones. Let’s be real, at some point, we’ve probably all taken this approach. Whatever path you choose to deal with the Rams’ offense never getting on track in Atlanta, just remember, humans are resilient. After an offseason of roster adjustments and recovery, we’ll be ready to climb the mountain all over again.