Questioning Team Loyalty
As I often do, I started writing this from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, care of the free wireless internet service available throughout the airport. I arrived at 7 for a flight at 8, forgetting that in addition to the increased traffic due to the holiday, Phoenix also hosted the Fiesta Bowl over the weekend and the city was overrun with football fans, many of whom waited until this morning to return home. When I walked into the airport, I was greeted by the longest check-in line I've ever seen, and immediately I was sure I wouldn't make it out of there for a few hours at best. Surprisingly, however, the line moved very quickly and I actually made it to my gate with 20 minutes to spare.
After watching the herds of Idaho and Texas fans file through the security checkpoint line, I was again reminded that what boggles my mind is the impression I get that so many people believe that vocal and visible allegiance to an athletic team is some sort of defining personality trait of which a person should be proud. To my mind, pledging allegiance to a sports franchise is the ultimate in sheep mentality, in effect no different from religious fundamentalists who kill in the name of their prophet or god. Yeah, I realize that's a harsh comparison, but I'll let it stand just to irritate certain people (Rich? Bharath?).
The whole idea of feeling loyalty to a team is just foreign to me. What does it actually mean? I could understand if the actual players and coaches stayed with the team during their entire careers; but only in very rare circumstances do athletes choose to do that these days. The people change and the strategies change over time. How can someone say they've been a fan of a particular team all of their lives? What do they feel allegiance to, the mascot? The colors? Some people meakly give answers like "the tradition", "the aura", etc., intangibles that they themselves don't even really understand. Instead of finding players they like and supporting them regardless of the team they happen to be on, serious sports fans actually abhor such logic, instead valuing being loyal to the abstract "team", especially when said team is doing poorly!
My other beefs with sports fans will await a later posting. For now, please, crazed sports fans, please someone present a rational explanation of why being loyal to a team is defensible and logical, because I just don't get it.
After watching the herds of Idaho and Texas fans file through the security checkpoint line, I was again reminded that what boggles my mind is the impression I get that so many people believe that vocal and visible allegiance to an athletic team is some sort of defining personality trait of which a person should be proud. To my mind, pledging allegiance to a sports franchise is the ultimate in sheep mentality, in effect no different from religious fundamentalists who kill in the name of their prophet or god. Yeah, I realize that's a harsh comparison, but I'll let it stand just to irritate certain people (Rich? Bharath?).
The whole idea of feeling loyalty to a team is just foreign to me. What does it actually mean? I could understand if the actual players and coaches stayed with the team during their entire careers; but only in very rare circumstances do athletes choose to do that these days. The people change and the strategies change over time. How can someone say they've been a fan of a particular team all of their lives? What do they feel allegiance to, the mascot? The colors? Some people meakly give answers like "the tradition", "the aura", etc., intangibles that they themselves don't even really understand. Instead of finding players they like and supporting them regardless of the team they happen to be on, serious sports fans actually abhor such logic, instead valuing being loyal to the abstract "team", especially when said team is doing poorly!
My other beefs with sports fans will await a later posting. For now, please, crazed sports fans, please someone present a rational explanation of why being loyal to a team is defensible and logical, because I just don't get it.
posted by GregP at 6:47 AM
6 Comments:
Methinks you are overanalyzing the psychology of sports fan-dom. Yes, there are rabid sports fans that go way overboard. But the main reason to root for a team is that it's FUN. So much in the way that I don't understand how a person can have fun by sitting in front of a computer screen for hours playing a game, you just don't find this particular activity fun. To each his own.
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I think these are two separate phenomenon. I agree, rooting for a team is fun, maybe over a single or a few seasons. But what about when the players and coaches change? What is there to hold onto anymore?
I'm not questioning the fun of it - I see how it may be fun for people - but rather the logic of it. What does a person MEAN when they say they're a diehard fan of a certain team? College sports are the ultimate example ... within 4 years the entire team changes! How can someone be a lifetime [insert college name here] fan? I just don't get it.
Well, it's a combination of three things for me:
1. I love to play and watch team sports. I love the competitive nature of sports. I love how players with different strengths and roles come together to work toward a common goal in team sports like basketball, football, and soccer.
2. It's a territorial thing. I was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the Greater Washington Area so I identify with teams from that area (Wizards/Bullets, Redskins, Capitals, Georgetown, UMd).
3. It's a relationship (albeit one-sided of course) pretty much analogous to a marriage. Teams have ups and downs and you're right there along for the ride. In sickeness or in health right? And I enjoy both positions. When you're down, you're the underdog. When you're on top, you're the champ. And yes, the players change (even more so now due to free agency), the coaches change, and the strategy changes. It still comes down to why I love team sports as I stated in #1: players with different strengths and roles coming together to win games. Building winning and championship teams take time (with good front office management of course). Why not stick around to see a team evolve and grow into a contender? When the team has finished it's run (players leave due to age or get trade, coach leaves) you do it all over again. It's a cycle.
Now I know I've criticized people in the past for liking other teams from other cities just because of their popularity or they have players they like (I believe GregP was one of my victims for his love of the Chicago Bulls, back when he used to follow sports, 10 years ago). They have every right to do so. Everybody has their reasons. I like to see great players and great teams and I can appreciate their contributions to a sport. I also understand the "tradition" or "aura" reason that some people give because both of those terms usually just refer to the team's history of winning and excellence.
In closing, there is nothing wrong with being loyal to a team. My Washington Redskins currently suck (5-11) but in my lifetime, they've won 3 Super Bowls. The Washington Bullets won a championship in 1979 , sucked through the mid-80's and 90's and now they're a playoff team again. DC United has one 5 championships but they currently suck. It's all a cycle. As long as there are professional teams in DC, I will support them.
Thanks Rich, that was a well-written and -reasoned explanation of your own personal views on the matter. That did in fact clear up a bit of my bewilderment.
The general premise of claiming loyalty to a team is still strange to me. I guess it's been mixed up into my overall distaste for obsession with being a sports fan. I'll have to address that when I get around to that rant.
Let me also add something. I am a fan of the game, and therefore like to watch good players play.
But the fan loyalty is something different. Sports fandom is being part of a community. Its sharing in the highs and lows that Rich described with your friends and family. Its a common ground to have competitive fun with your fellow fans of the game. In a way, its not much different than two people talking about war in the middle east. Something they both care about, but have different viewpoints. But with sports, its harmless fun (usually). :)
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