Millions of people across the globe cheer for a sports team in some capacity. It has almost become more out of the norm not to watch and celebrate sports than to partake. There are many good reasons for that, but there are some questions.
The biggest question is, why do most of us seemingly rise and fall with the successes and failures of our favorite teams? After all, we are not on the court or field with them, so it shouldn’t matter. Well, that’s not true, and there are a few good reasons why we ride the roller coaster with our favorite teams.
Local Pride
The most obvious reason for this is local pride. Many fans begin following a team because it is the team that represents their city. There is a sense of “my city, my team” that brings many fans into the fold for a particular team.
Not only that, but it is something that fans can use to identify with one another. They can look at other fans of the team and make the connection between not only the team but also the town. Being a sports fan is as much about camaraderie as anything else.
That connective tissue between fans of a team and the city in which they live or were a part of can be a vital one. Even some fans will question others who are not from the town. Yet, locational roots are one of the most important reasons we feel strongly about our sports teams.
Personal and Emotional Investment
It doesn’t matter whether you spend money on tickets, merchandise, autographs, or anything else related to a team. If you like and follow a sports team, you invest just like the rest.
For each sports fan, that investment varies. Emotional investment is perhaps the most significant investment in pro sports teams. We like them because of where we live. We like them because of people we know who like them. We like them because vital memories are tied to moments related to the team.
That emotional investment is also why we rise so high and fall so far. Teams can become ingrained in our lives in more ways than one. So, it only becomes natural to ride the emotional roller coaster that comes with rooting for a team.
That’s not even mentioning the investments of time and money. Most sports fans invest money in some way, shape, or form. It may be on tickets. Perhaps you bought gear for yourself or a family member. Or, you moved out of town but still want to follow them, so you bought that sport’s viewing package.
That investment, no matter what it is, is what makes winning so unique, and losing hurt so much. We want to be rewarded for the time, effort, and emotion we put into these teams. Investing without a payoff for a long time can make that one rewarding year feel even more special.
Family Tradition
Another thing to consider is that certain fandoms have been passed down through the generations. So it isn’t necessarily brainwashing our kids and their kids to root for a certain team, although that does happen.
But it becomes all too easy to see our parents, fathers most of the time, investing their time and energy into these teams. Whether it happens initially or slowly over time, it becomes all too easy to begin sharing their love as a bonding exercise.
There are so many stories about lifelong fans spanning generations that finally get the big payoff of a championship run. It is the kind of thing that unites families. But, unfortunately, that failure can do the same thing. Still, being brought together by a sport is perhaps one of the best things about following a team in the first place.
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