Why We Love to Hate
Look, I’ve been around the block a few times. Twenty-odd years in this industry, and I’ve seen it all. The highs, the lows, the absolutely bonkers moments that make you question why you got into this business in the first place. But nothing, nothing, compares to the beautiful mess that is sports fandom.
I remember it like it was yesterday. June 12th, 1999, over coffee at the place on 5th. My buddy Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because his mom still reads my stuff—and I were arguing about the NBA Finals. He was all, “The Spurs are gonna win in a sweep.” And I, being the eternal optimist, said, “Over my dead body.” Spoiler alert: it was over both our dead bodies. But that’s the thing about sports, right? It’s not about being right. It’s about the ride.
And oh, the ride. Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin, and some kid—couldn’t have been older than 22—told me, “Sports fandom is dying.” I laughed so hard I choked on my coffee. “Kid,” I said, “you don’t know what you’re talking about.” I mean, have you seen the memes? The debates? The sheer, unadulterated passion? It’s alive and well, and it’s louder than ever.
But Here’s the Thing…
We love to hate. It’s a thing. You know it, I know it, and that guy who yelled at the ref last night knows it. We hate the rival teams. We hate the bad calls. We hate the players who go to the other side. But why? Why do we do this to ourselves?
I asked my colleague Dave—real name, real guy—about this. He said, “It’s simple. It’s about identity.” And I was like, “Dave, you’re an idiot.” (He is, but I love him.) “It’s about committment,” I said. “It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.” Which, honestly, is a lot more profound than I intended. But there you go.
And let’s talk about the memes. Oh, the memes. I saw one the other day—some poor soul photoshopped their face onto a crying Jordan. Classic. It’s these moments that make the pain worthwhile. It’s the shared experience. The inside jokes. The “remember when” moments that bind us together.
But What About the Bad Calls?
Oh, the bad calls. The ones that make you want to throw your remote through the TV. The ones that have you screaming at the officials like they can hear you. The ones that make you question the very fabric of reality.
I was at a game about three months ago—let’s not name the team, they’ll sue—and the ref made a call that was so bad, I’m not sure if he was blind or just had a personal vendetta against my team. I turned to the guy next to me and said, “Did you see that?” He looked at me, shrugged, and said, “Happens all the time.” And he was right. It does. But that’s part of the game. It’s the unpredictability. The “anything can happen” factor that keeps us on our toes.
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A Tangent: The Physicaly and Mental Toll
But it’s not all fun and games. Sports fandom takes a toll. A physicaly and mental toll. I’ve seen grown men cry. I’ve seen friendships end over a bad season. I’ve seen people bet their life savings on a game. It’s serious stuff.
I remember this one time, back in 2005, I bet my entire vacation fund on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. They did. I went to Bali. It was amazing. But the stress? The sleepless nights? The constant checking of stats? It’s not for the faint of heart.
But we do it anyway. Why? Because it’s worth it. It’s worth the heartache. The frustration. The occasional physicaly altercation with a stranger who disagrees with your take on the last play. It’s all part of the experience.
So, What’s the Point?
I’m not sure. I guess the point is that sports fandom is a beautiful mess. It’s chaotic. It’s unpredictable. It’s loud, it’s obnoxious, and it’s completely illogical. But it’s ours. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
So here’s to the beautiful mess. Here’s to the love, the hate, the memes, the bad calls, and the shared experiences. Here’s to sports fandom.
About the Author: Jane Doe is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the sports journalism industry. She’s been known to yell at the TV during games and has a soft spot for underdog teams. When she’s not editing, she’s probably arguing about the latest trade on Twitter.
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