Sports team support into adulthood?

[Altitude]

Few things are more pathetic than a grown man wearing their favorite player's jersey - for example, a 40 year old guy walking around in a Derek Jeter shirt. (Derek Jeter is a famous baseball player in the US)

Seriously, I don't understand it. How can someone be so fanatic over a sports team? What satisfaction do they get out of it? It's not like they played a part in the victory. Is your favorite sports team winning the championship really that fulfilling?

I'm talking about the people who become incredibly angry and depressed when their favorite team loses. They might even throw a childish tantrum, yell at the television and claim they will never watch another game. Yet of course the next time their favorite team is on they are super glued to the couch.

These are the same people who listen to their local sports radio station every morning. They may even call in to give a little bit of their input to the show's host, as if their opinion is really important. They have little stickers and flags on their cars, because everyone needs to know that they are a fan. In extreme cases, they even have a license plate with a reference to their favorite team.

I'm talking about the people who, when they are watching the game, look as if they are awaiting the verdict of a murder trial in which they are the accused.

They use the word "we" when referring to their favorite team.

If they were granted one wish, these people would make it that their favorite team wins the championship.

Are there any of those people on this forum? and if so, explain yourself.

 

[ramjambunath]

I'm not one of those very emotional supporters. I support my local team (in football), but if they lose, I can't be that bothered. I do follow a few sports, but none with a fervour to get me cranky.

Most of my mates are super emotional about the cricket and got right mental when India won the World cup and later got right mental when they couldn't win a match against England for 2 months.

Edit: I have no major biases in cycling as well. If it's a good spectacle then I really don't mind anyone winning.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I used to wear number 10 Bob Dylan

 

[Tank Engine]

The sport I get most emotional about (by far) is rugby and really only Wales internationals (although I like it when Ireland win against anyone else). I scream at the telly, but would never swear I'd miss the next game or call a sports station (but those who followed the World cup thread would know that I would post about it). I might be very upset after a close loss, but that passes pretty quickly. I was very worked up when Wales lost to France in the semi-final, but that was the most important rugby match they had played in my life. The last time they got to the semi-final was 24 years ago and then I pretty much knew that they would lose.

As for why rugby is so important and not anything else. When I was a kid, I'd watch all the matches with my dad (on the telly), but when I was a teenager I went to a boarding school in England. I didn't like the conservative ethos of the school. In England rugby is regarded as a middle class sport, whereas in South Wales (where I'm from originally), it is the sport of the people. I think the only other country in the world where there is such a passion for rugby is New Zealand. Also, rugby is the only "proper" sport where Wales have got a hope in hell of beating a half decent team. Hence, my passion is a mixture of nationalistic pride and identity, as well as politics. But soon after the match ends, so does all that.

 

[ElChingon]

What is even more pathetic is seeing kids who have never even played the game yet (any sport) and are wearing the kit (which ever sport). They have no idea yet can support a player/team? Total nonsense.

At least the 40 yo might of played the game, the kid, blagh...

 

[Altitude]

What is even more pathetic is seeing kids who have never even played the game yet (any sport) and are wearing the kit (which ever sport). They have no idea yet can support a player/team? Total nonsense.

At least the 40 yo might of played the game, the kid, blagh...

Yes, that's true.

The sports fanatic who has never played a sport and does not have an athletic muscle in their body is probably the worst.

 

[palmerq]

this sounds like me :S although I dont pay for shirts because they are far too expensive and not in my fashion style :S

 

[Spider1964]

My brother took the confirmation name Mark... when the priest at the altar asked him why he chose one of the disciples names, he replied "No, I chose Mark after Mark Browning, he plays for the Sydney Swans in the AFL!".

 

[craig1985]

Sometimes I do it for a laugh. I was lucky enough in 2005 to go to England and watch a few EPL games, and in London myself and my best friend we went into Chelsea's supporter store at Stamford Bridge (not that either of us support Chelsea, we just randomly found it) and I had to buy a Chelsea jersey with Jiří Jarošík's name (who was playing for Chelsea at the time) on the back instead of all the big name players like Frank Lampard etc., because it was funny at the time (and still is today), as nobody would buy a jersey with Jarošík on the back when there are 100,000 Lampard jersey's out and about. But it's more of an in joke between us though, so I wouldn't be surprised if nobody got it or found it lame.

 

[The Hitch]

Chelsea FC meant everything to me as a kid, but now I would see it as a blind allegiance to a bunch of spoiled brats and a crook.

A football club to me is nothing more to me than a bunch of players in a stadium.

Their only allegiance is to the coin.

People can of course, like what they want, do with their hard earned money what they want, its not mine to question that.

Anyway, after I had stopped supporting Chelsea, actually hoping often that they would lose as I despise Narcisinho, I remember my friends brother who was an Arsenal fan started taunting me that Chelsea had lost some match I hadnt heard about.

I told him that I no longer supported them and could care less.

One would think that as a fan of arsenal - a major rival, he would see positive in the situation. Proof that chelsea fans arent loyal or something like that.

Instead he saw me as some sort of Judas. How could I turn back on my own team. He had lost all the respect he had for me.

 

[craig1985]

Wouldn't you be a judas if you went and supported a club that is the lesser of two evil's?

 

[RedheadDane]

Well... I'm an adult. I support teams! And I guess that's exactly it; I don't support A team I support teams! All of them. (Well... those I know about...) And more importantly; I support the riders.

I don't own any team-stuff though, can't be bothered...

 

[Ferminal]

Why of all things should we judge people on something as trivial as this?

Even if people are sucked in by corporate branding, there are far worse cases.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I ones heard of a bunch of people spending 3 weeks every summer watching hours and hours of people riding a bike.
They even get mad when someone they don't like does this thing 4 seconds faster than an other one in the end.
And not only these 3 weeks, there are more events like this!


They might even have devoted a whole website and forum on it.

 

[RedheadDane]

Grown ups fanatic about cycling? Now where would you get that idea?

 

[Altitude]

Why of all things should we judge people on something as trivial as this?

I don't know, why not? I'm just trying to understand the psyche behind it all.

 

[Archibald]

I don't know, why not? I'm just trying to understand the psyche behind it all.

it has to do with belonging - to a group of like minded folk in supporting a team. I'm sure there are plenty of psych papers written on the stuff.

I certainly follow a football team. I have since my grandfather introduced me to the sport as a kid. I have team shirts, no names, but I think one or two have numbers on the back, and I doubt I'd fit into many of them anymore. As a kid I had favourite players - those that I tried to emulate on the pitch when I was playing. Nothing wrong with having a hero as a kid (or at any other age). They were positive role models for me as I grew up, but then again they weren't really like the spoilt overpaid tw@ts you see playing today. Those I idolised as a kid played for the glory and love of the game. Today they play for the money - as Hitch pointed out.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Those I idolised as a kid played for the glory and love of the game. Today they play for the money - as Hitch pointed out.

I do not believe in this romanticism...