Rationalizing A Love Of Sports
By Sam
I love hockey with a deep passion that probably borders on obsession. Since elementary, I have been transfixed by every aspect of the sport — from the wickedly cool on-ice show to the statistics, players, and lore behind the game. I’ve played since the 5th grade and to this day few things are as sweet to me as skating on a fresh sheet of ice.
Like I said, I love hockey, but I also often think that this love might be irrational at times. The same goes for any other sports fan regardless of what sport(s) they prefer. I love the game but it’s also just that, a game. How can I devote so much time and energy to something that ultimately, is only as meaningful as I make it?
Why Sports Can Be Irrational
I think other sports fans probably struggle with the very same conflict. On one hand, sports offer much in the way of connection, entertainment, and sheer fun but on the other hand, it feels impossible to justify that love when we see athletes making millions of dollars per year for playing a game while many in society struggle to get by.
Professional sports are essentially entertainment; to think of them as anything else is disingenuous. Simply put, if sports weren’t entertaining I don’t think people would really care.
Also, I’ve found that joining a sports fandom can eat up a lot of time and money. Buying tickets, fan gear, and whatever else is required of a “good fan” is pricey. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I might be more productive and financially comfortable if I didn’t spend as much time or energy supporting the pro teams that I’m interested in.
Why I Still Love Sports Anyways
Now that we’ve gone over a few of my concerns, let’s dig into the positive side of sports.
Being part of a fandom can often be a core piece of a fan’s identity. It can also foster a sense of belonging. For example, I’m an Edmonton Oilers fan. Why? Because I’m from Edmonton and liking the team makes me feel more connected to my community. I’m an Edmontonian — and while that doesn’t require me to be an Edmonton Oiler’s fan, being a part of both these communities (at the municipal level and the sports team level) feels like it’s a part of who I am. If you were to ask me “who are you?” I might answer “I’m Sam,” or I might say “I’m an Edmontonian,” or I might just say “I’m an Edmonton Oilers fan” and every one of those statements would be absolutely true.
Another reason I like sports: I think they are a great equalizer amongst people that watch them. Liberal, conservative, rich, and poor all become the same when the jersey of their favourite team is put on. Why? Because a love of sport creates connection and empathy where perhaps it didn’t exist thereby reducing the feeling of difference that can manifest between people of divergent backgrounds.
The Personal Side Of Sports
Not everyone likes watching sports, it’s kind of like whether you enjoy onions or not, it’s largely instinctual, partly how you were raised, and hard to force. And while it can’t be said that everyone loves to play sports, the reality is that I do. I like to play because I find that sport allows me to test my physical limits, be creative, and compete in a fast-paced environment. I also find them to be a wonderful way to de-stress — when I’m on the ice, my head is cleared of everything save for hockey.
Playing a sport and becoming more skilled at it has also helped to build my self-esteem, which has created spillover confidence in other areas of life. Sports teach amazing lessons in perseverance and grit =- just think of literally every football movie ever. For making friends, the team setting is ideal, with few things able to bond people as easily as being thrust into a competitive situation where teamwork is required to succeed.
In Conclusion
Though it might feel irrational at times, I have to admit it — I still love sports. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. And really, the arguments I’ve made here could be applied to any kind of fandom, not just sports. From movie fandoms to political fandoms (yes, they exist), to delicious food fandoms, we all have our own interests that have helped to build who we are. Our fandoms give us an escape to “geek out” while providing us with a place to find community. Although I might take a closer look at how much I let my love of sports shape the rest of my life, I think that my love of them is still entirely rational.
