Look, I’m Gonna Say It: We’re All Hypocrites
I was at a bar in Chicago last year, watching the Cubs play the Cardinals. Let’s call him Marcus, a friend of mine, started trash-talking the Cardinals something fierce. I mean, honestly, it was alot. Then, when the Cardinals won, he was like, “Eh, they got lucky.” Which… yeah. Fair enough, but come on, Marcus.
That’s the thing about sports fandom, right? We’re all kinda hypocrites. We love our teams unconditionally, but when they lose, suddenly it’s the refs, the weather, the alignment of the stars. It’s never our team’s fault. Never.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’ve been writing about sports for, oh, about 20 years now. I’ve seen it all. The highs, the lows, the committment of fans, the completley bonkers things people say online. And you know what? I love it. The mess, the chaos, the beautiful, glorious hypocrisy of it all.
Take my colleague named Dave, for example. He’s a die-hard Packers fan. Every year, he’s like, “This is our year. We’re gonna go all the way.” And every year, something happens. An injury, a bad call, a slippery field. But does Dave stop believing? Nope. He’s out there the next season, same as ever.
And That’s Why We Love Sports
It’s not about the wins or the losses. It’s about the hope. The belief that, maybe, just maybe, this time it’s gonna be different. It’s about the camaraderie, the shared experience, the inside jokes that only fans of a certain team will understand.
I remember, back in 2004, I was at a conference in Austin. There was this one guy, let’s call him Greg, who was wearing a Red Sox hat. Now, I’m a Yankees fan, so naturally, I gave him some grief. But you know what? By the end of the night, we were talking like old friends. Because at the end of the day, we both loved baseball. We both understood the highs and the lows. And that’s what matters.
But Let’s Talk About the Dark Side
Now, I’m not gonna sit here and pretend that sports fandom is all sunshine and rainbows. It’s not. It can be ugly. It can be mean. It can be downright physicaly dangerous.
I’ve seen fights break out over a bad call. I’ve seen people say things online that they’d never say in person. I’ve seen friendships end over a game. And it’s not okay. It’s not what sports are about.
But here’s the thing: that’s not the norm. That’s the exception. Most of us are just out there, having a good time, enjoying the game. And yeah, maybe we’re a little hypocritical. Maybe we’re a little delusional. But that’s okay. That’s part of the fun.
So, What’s the Point?
I’m not sure but I guess the point is, sports fandom is a beautiful mess. It’s chaotic, it’s unpredictable, it’s completely illogical. And that’s why we love it.
It’s about the shared experience. It’s about the hope. It’s about the belief that, maybe, just maybe, this time it’s gonna be different. And that’s a feeling that’s hard to find anywhere else.
So, let’s embrace the mess. Let’s embrace the chaos. Let’s embrace the beautiful, glorious hypocrisy of sports fandom. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Alex Carter. I’ve been writing about sports for what feels like a lifetime. I’ve seen alot, I’ve said alot, and I’ve probably regretted some of it. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Except maybe that time I swore on live TV. Yeah, let’s not talk about that.
I’m a Yankees fan, a coffee addict, and a firm believer that no stadium hot dog is worth the calories. I live in New York with my cat, Whiskey, who is, without a doubt, the better athlete in the house.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably watching a game, complaining about the refs, or trying to convince myself that this is the year my fantasy team is gonna win it all. Spoiler: it’s not.
You can find me on Twitter @AlexCarterWrites, where I tweet alot about sports, occasionally about politics, and sometimes just pictures of Whiskey being adorable.
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