Pressure to get the job done. Pressure to keep up with a hectic schedule. Pressure for this. Pressure for that.

This was specifically the reason behind taking a couple of days off late last week.

Sometimes, pressure is just too much.

But people must persevere.

But the most pressure I'm receiving lately has nothing to do with work. It has nothing to do with my schedule. It has nothing to do with this or that.

It has everything to do with my love of sports.

Recently, I stepped into a relationship with a beautiful, vibrant woman.

When I first met her, it became apparent that some things in my life might have to change if the relationship were to blossom.

Well, she's wearing me down.

I've long been a fan of the Minnesota Vikings. I grew up enjoying watching Fran Tarkenton scrambling for his life.

I stuck with the Vikings through some lean years. I've been a fan despite knowing the Vikings were the original 0-4 Super Bowl squad (sorry Buffalo). I was with the Vikings during the great season with Randall Cunningham at the helm, only to watch my Vikes get upset by Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game.

But I digress.

During my first meeting with this woman, she had mentioned (jokingly, I thought) that she had certain criteria for any man who entered her life.

One of those was that this man had to be a Colts fan.

I honestly believed it was a joke.

Boy was I wrong.

As I said before, she's breaking me.

The Colts are a big part of her life, just like the Vikings have been a big part of mine.

I've long believed that the true definition of a fair-weather fan was one who change alligence from one team to another.

But I've got a lot of friends (past and present) who have switched from one fan base to another.

I just never have.

I've always been a fan of the Vikings, Cincinnati Reds, Indiana Pacers and Indiana Hoosiers.

While the Reds have stumbled for several years, I'm still a big fan. I remember 1990, when Cincy faced the hugely-favored Oakland A's and provided Reds' fans with a sweep.

The Pacers? Well, they have become truly pathetic, and I still believe all fans have Larry Bird to thank for that.

The Hoosiers have done well recently despite all the hoopla in Bloomington with coaching changes and possible sanctions.

But the Vikings have been, dare I say it, mediocre, for quite some time.

Maybe it is time to switch sides. Maybe it is time to start rooting for another team.

I don't know. But I do know this, I'm wearing down. The constant chatter. All the memorabilia. Ahhh!

What does a fan do?