Sports Fan mentality...Please explain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You obviously didn't grow up as a sports fan. Which is fine, but it limits your frame of reference. When you follow a team for an entire season, or multiple seasons, you develop an attachment to them, and you DO care whether they win or lose. For you, it's a one-time, three hour event - for fans of the sport, and particular teams, it's a multi-year commitment.

That said, if you're not a kid - maybe a teenager - I think it's ridiculous to cry when your team loses. Or, in the case of Maryland fans, riot.

OP here. Not true. I did grow up as a sports fan. I remember watching the World Series with my dad in 1980 when the Phiilies won, I remember the celebration with Tug McGraw on the mound, I remember jumping up and down and screaming when they won....but I was 11!! I can't imagine myself as a 47 year old woman acting that way for ANY team (unless a family member is playing). It's very bizarre. And why do people care enough about these random players on the teams to follow their lives or stats?

OP - other than your family, is there anything in your life that gives you joy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me it's the joy of knowing how UNC kept true to its academic roots while still achieving athletic success. Some of these schools are sports factories but the Carolina Way means that we were watching legitimate student-athletes.

Nicely done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a huge sports fan, my kids love sports and I take them to lots of sporting events because I know they enjoy it. They also play sports and I can get really into a game that they are playing in, but when its over its over. I do however understand that everyone else is not like me. Some people get REALLY invested in sports, or art, or music, or politics, or reality television or whatever. Just because I don't react the same way thy do doesn't make it less valuable or "dumb".

People who have a hard time grasping this concept likely lack empathy. It is difficult for you to see situations from someone else's perspective or to put yourself in their shoes. Because of this you tend to be highly critical and judgmental. There are ways to improve your empathy and if this causes you issues in your relationships you should look into it.

Np

Really? You think people who don't understand lack empathy? That is quite a leap. I think op is talking about the EXTREME end of fandom. Ie you get so depressed or sad if they lose.

Note to op: I'm from Philly too! I was a bit older than you but, that was the best World series ever. I think part of the reason I don't care is the fact I am from Philly. Being disappointed year after year gets you numb and then you give up hope. ( except for the 75-76 Flyers and the 80' Phillies) I cried too many tears as a kid over sports so now I don't have any left! I save it for other issues that are real problems. Did you know Dallas Green just died recently?

You realize that being emotionally invested in comparatively trivial things like sports doesn't mean that you can't also care (on a deeper level) about "real" issues, right?

[Anonymous]

I'll admit it's a distraction for my 'real' life where nothing excites me to laugh or cry.

You feel superior now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll admit it's a distraction for my 'real' life where nothing excites me to laugh or cry.

You feel superior now?

Not superior, but at least that's a more realistic basis for feeling empathy towards you.

[Anonymous]

I care about people I have never met.

I like to see other succeed even if it means I don't get anything from it.

I like to see kids that otherwise would not been given the chance to get an amazing education show in a way (other than the SAT) that they love to work hard on something they care about.

I am in awe of people that will work that hard for something that does not bring them money or fame (which is why I prefer the 1st week of the NCAA tournament)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me it's the joy of knowing how UNC kept true to its academic roots while still achieving athletic success. Some of these schools are sports factories but the Carolina Way means that we were watching legitimate student-athletes.

Nicely done.

Ha! Here is a New York Times article on UNC's 18 years of cheating.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/sports/ncaabasketball/north-carolina-final-four-cheating-fake-classes.html?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get it. I enjoy going to games and I'll cheer for the home team, just to make it fun for myself, but I don't care whether they win or lose. Surely not enough to get all worked up and for me to be happy, sad or disappointed. I mean folks are hugging, crying, jumping up and down, and I look at them and try to figure out that emotion. I'm not talking about people that have a loved one playing or have a financial interest in the outcome, just ordinary folks. Anyone??

There is very little that unites people anymore. Sports teams are one of those things -- it brings people together across races and social, economic and political divides. Anything that encourages people who otherwise might scream at each other on the internets to find common ground is a good thing, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me it's the joy of knowing how UNC kept true to its academic roots while still achieving athletic success. Some of these schools are sports factories but the Carolina Way means that we were watching legitimate student-athletes.

Nicely done.

Ha! Here is a New York Times article on UNC's 18 years of cheating.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/sports/ncaabasketball/north-carolina-final-four-cheating-fake-classes.html?_r=0

It says they stopped the cheating on transcripts in 2013, is that right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get it. I enjoy going to games and I'll cheer for the home team, just to make it fun for myself, but I don't care whether they win or lose. Surely not enough to get all worked up and for me to be happy, sad or disappointed. I mean folks are hugging, crying, jumping up and down, and I look at them and try to figure out that emotion. I'm not talking about people that have a loved one playing or have a financial interest in the outcome, just ordinary folks. Anyone??

There is very little that unites people anymore. Sports teams are one of those things -- it brings people together across races and social, economic and political divides. Anything that encourages people who otherwise might scream at each other on the internets to find common ground is a good thing, IMHO.

This is a really good point. We are an increasingly divided society - politics, religion, SES, you name it. But I will high five anyone who is excited about the Mets, I don't; care who they voted for.

Eff those Phillies phans, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Note to op: I'm from Philly too! I was a bit older than you but, that was the best World series ever. I think part of the reason I don't care is the fact I am from Philly. Being disappointed year after year gets you numb and then you give up hope. ( except for the 75-76 Flyers and the 80' Phillies) I cried too many tears as a kid over sports so now I don't have any left! I save it for other issues that are real problems. Did you know Dallas Green just died recently?

I'm also from Philly and that's exactly the reason I DO care. I also have cheered for the same (non-Philly) football team since I was a very young kid and they are eternally at the bottom of the rankings. I guess I grew up watching losers, and you get sort of invested and then when they start winning, it's magical.

And I was sad about Dallas Green. Such memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly don't get it. I enjoy going to games and I'll cheer for the home team, just to make it fun for myself, but I don't care whether they win or lose. Surely not enough to get all worked up and for me to be happy, sad or disappointed. I mean folks are hugging, crying, jumping up and down, and I look at them and try to figure out that emotion. I'm not talking about people that have a loved one playing or have a financial interest in the outcome, just ordinary folks. Anyone??

There is very little that unites people anymore. Sports teams are one of those things -- it brings people together across races and social, economic and political divides. Anything that encourages people who otherwise might scream at each other on the internets to find common ground is a good thing, IMHO.

This is a really good point. We are an increasingly divided society - politics, religion, SES, you name it. But I will high five anyone who is excited about the Mets, I don't; care who they voted for.

Eff those Phillies phans, though.

Hell yes! *gives virtual high five*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On NPR this morning they were talking about some Carolina game last night, and talked to a fan who was happy they won. He said "This is the day I was looking forward to for the last year!" I thought that seemed so sad. He didn't win anything, he didn't accomplish anything himself, but this is the best day of his whole year?

You don't get it and that's OK.

There's nothing sad about it. It's about investing time energy and emotional in something and getting a payoff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me it's the joy of knowing how UNC kept true to its academic roots while still achieving athletic success. Some of these schools are sports factories but the Carolina Way means that we were watching legitimate student-athletes.

Hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me it's the joy of knowing how UNC kept true to its academic roots while still achieving athletic success. Some of these schools are sports factories but the Carolina Way means that we were watching legitimate student-athletes.

Nicely done.

Ha! Here is a New York Times article on UNC's 18 years of cheating.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/sports/ncaabasketball/north-carolina-final-four-cheating-fake-classes.html?_r=0

It says they stopped the cheating on transcripts in 2013, is that right?

Yep, so the scandal didn't really involve the kids who just won the championship.