​We, the dream team

Why of all U.S. cities does Fargo have such an amazing college football program? My friend and I pondered this question as we drank coffee and ate fries while watching the game at the Wurst Bier Hall last Saturday.

Sure, our team doesn’t have quite as much prestige as the Oregon Ducks, Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots. But for a community our size, this is about as first-rate as it can get – “this” being four national championships in a row, wins against big, top-ranked Division 1 teams such as Kansas State and extensive, exclusive, take-over-the-town ESPN Game Day coverage.

Of course, there is no single answer as to why Fargo has such an impressive football team like the Bison. Though there are some very obvious, yet significant factors that contribute to the team’s success.

One of those factors, without a doubt, is a strong community backing. Bison fans are dedicated, loyal, proud and, shall we say, willing to go the distance. We considerably outnumber our opponents’ fans at every championship game in Frisco, Texas. We stay supportive because our instincts tell us it’ll help them win. Our instincts have been right.

Fans fuel athletes. Athletes, knowing that someone is watching, will run faster, jump higher and train harder. So that means: Every. Fan. Counts. Every cheer. Every yellow shirt. Every high five.

How can we apply that mentality of fan support into other aspects of our lives? For example, imagine what would happen if our town put as much support into music as it did into football? What would it do to our musicians, our sound technicians, our promoters and venue owners? Or imagine the same scenario for any other form of entertainment.

Not that we are out shame people for being more supportive of sports as entertainment over the arts as entertainment. There’s no point in that.

Exciting, worth-sticking-around-for growth is not just possible in Fargo, it’s already happening. We just must remember the insane value and crazy power of our supportive community – because the community’s successes are everyone's successes. The better people do around us, the more it motivates and inspires others to do the same.

How can we apply that mentality of “team work” into other aspects of our lives? How can we “use” one another to make Fargo a better place?

We can start by looking at some of the most synergistic events taking place in Fargo: Fargo Marathon, Fargo Street Fair, Alley Fair, Celebration of Women and Their Music, TEDxFargo and One Million Cups. Also, some of the most interdependent businesses in Fargo are “our” biggest successes. Fargo Brewing Company, for example, teams up with an enormous amount of local organizations, businesses and events. The Aquarium exists because we have talented musicians to display on its stage and a community of eager music fans. High Plains Reader, too, would be nothing without the support of its community, without its hundreds of distribution and advertising partners and of course without the local artists, entertainers and community makers that fill the contents of our pages week to week.

So, we dare more people to team up, collaborate and work together. It doesn’t matter which way, big or small, as long as it’s positive. The crazier the ideas, the better.

Fargo being named “drunkest city in America” is not a badge of honor

While a number of folks may be laughing and cracking jokes about how Fargo has yet again been named “drunkest city in America,” we think it’s time to start getting real. This is not a badge of honor. This is not something to be proud of. This is a problem.

Addiction to alcohol is not a pretty thing. It can in fact be extremely ugly and painful – physically and emotionally. If you know someone that has a problem, reach out to him or her. Do not judge him. Do not shame her. Just be there. I can make all the difference.

It’s time to start weaning Fargo off this “drunk city” list. We can still go out, still have drinks and still have fun without overdoing it.