The readings for Tuesday (Feb. 8) look at what motivates sports fandom and the costs/consequences of being a sports fan. What are the two biggest motivators (noted in the readings) for you and/or your friends and family who are sports fans? What are some of the extremes or lengths you or others have gone to demonstrate their fandom? Finally, what are two of the downsides of sports fandom? Be sure to use specific examples to support your points. Limit: 13 responses
Matthew Miller
ReplyDeleteFor many people, sports are a way of life. I have been watching and playing sports for as long as I can remember. I look at sports to be an escape from reality. While I have been upset at the results of some games concerning my teams, I feel like I am in a different world when watching them because of the community at the game. One of the biggest motivators when it comes to being a sports fan is because “Beyond the temporal companionship that sports viewing provides, many fans also report being motivated by a larger sense of group affiliation.” (Raney 2006). I have been at many Giants games and have become familiar with the people that sit around me. Even if I sit next to another random Giants fan at a game, we still celebrate together because we both want to see the same thing, success. Sports betting plays a role in watching sports because “…some individuals are motivated to view sports on television because of financial investment.” (Raney 2006). With sports betting starting to become legal in more states, the amount of people that watch sports will start to increase as people want to win money.
Fans are willing to go to extreme lengths to demonstrate their fandom. Fans of the Buffalo Bills are a great example of this. They are called the Bills Mafia and are frequently seen jumping through tables from high heights or burning tables. People will get tattoos of their favorite sports team whether it is the team logo or the trophy of that sport. People will tailgate for football games hours before the game begins because they care that much about their team and the tradition of tailgating. Before the Raiders moved to Las Vegas, they had a section in their Oakland stadium called the black hole consisting of fans known for rowdy behavior and threatening costumes. I frequently wear a New York giants hat or Los Angeles Lakers shirt to demonstrate my fandom because I am big fans of those teams.
People rarely think that being a fan of a sports team has downsides, but they couldn’t be more wrong. “Researchers have discussed three psychological factors that can facilitate identification with a sport team. One factor concerns an individual’s need for belonging and affiliation…” (Wann 2006). People want to be part of a group and can sometimes only focus on a sports team rather than other things happening in their life. Another downside to sports fandom is that people will act egregious at games, sometimes engaging in unlawful behavior. Fans have a lot of stress throughout the course of a game. “Studies have shown that sports fans of team that lose actually suffer physical and psychological consequences from the fact that their team lost a game.” (Schwartz). When I went to super bowl 46 between the Giants and the Patriots, it was a complete whirlwind for me as my heart was pounding so fast the entire time. In high pressure situations during a sports game, fans adrenaline rises which can make them act in a way that would not normally act. Sports fandom has its ups and downs. It is how people react to the success or failures of their team that shapes how that fandom will continue.
Raney, Arthur. "Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 - 356.
Wann, Daniel L. "The Causes and Consequences of Sport Team Identification." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 358 - 382.
Schwartz, A. (n.d.). Sports, fans and stress. Mental Help Sports Fans and Stress Comments. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/sports-fans-and-stress/
Danielle Price
ReplyDeleteProfessor Burns
MSS420
2/4/22
Week 2 Blog
There are many incentives to being a sports fan, however this also comes with consequences. The most significant “motivational factor behind viewing mediated sports is for the enjoyment and emotional satisfaction that comes from cheering on a favored team as it follows an undetermined path to victory” (Raney 3). People view sports games “because they expect positive emotional impacts from their viewing” (Raney 3). If a team one is rooting for wins, or scores this will result in a sense of reward for them. For instance, when I attend an Islanders game, and a player scores it is exceptionally rewarding to me. I feel a rush of happiness when any team I root for scores or takes home a win. It is even more fulfilling when it is a home game because the crowd will feel the same emotions. This fills the arena or stadium with unity, and a cheerful crowd. We have specific chants, and songs that are played when someone scores which makes the experience of being a sports fan even more exciting. An example of an emotional motivator is self-esteem. For instance, “many report viewing sporting events because the events provide an opportunity for the viewers to increase their self-esteem” (Raney 6). Watching a team, one is in favor of can boost their self-esteem because this is what they identify with, so a win for the team is also a win for that person. Fans typically view sports for their own enjoyment; therefore, entertainment is another reason people are sports fans. Sports naturally increase socialization which adds to this enjoyment. No matter where you are, “most sports viewers can (and will) readily tell you about their favorite teams and players. In fact, with some fans you need not ask the question; the names of their favored clubs are proudly displayed on shirt sleeves, jackets, hats, scarves, and car bumpers” (Raney 3). Fans are passionate about the teams they watch, and will pick up a conversation anytime, anywhere. This creates a sense of belonging, and bonding. Some fans randomly talk about sports especially in public, and not necessarily to people they personally know. It shows how much impact the sports industry has on the world, that we can bond over something and share opinions with one another without feeling shy about it. This relates to entertainment because watching teams play is already entertaining but being able to casually talk to anyone that is also a fan of some sort adds to the experience. It is clear that fandoms are motivated by the emotional satisfaction and enjoyment.
Being a sports fan can negatively affect someone’s behavioral and psychological well-being. Sport team identification impacts the behavior of the fans because it can lead to aggression. An example of this is through verbal aggression which is extremely common. Verbal aggression is “exhibited by fans in their attempt to disrupt the opponent or intimidate the officials. In these instances, the goal of the spectators is not to injure the target per se but, rather, to help their team gain a competitive advantage” (Wann 10). These behaviors have been found to be “more prevalent among highly identified fans” (Wann 10). In addition to verbal aggression there are other forms such as hostile, instrumental, rioting, and parental violence (Wann 10). On the other hand, “many highly identified fans experience psychological consequences when identifying with a team that is performing poorly” (Wann 12). Many fans become disappointed as a result of this, and some have even experienced depression, and anger. Moreover, self-esteem can decrease if one is not associated with a successful group. These behavioral and psychological effects are the downsides of sports fandom.
Danielle Price
ReplyDeletePart 2
Being a part of a fandom at times could make people go to the extreme to represent that fandom. As for myself, and my family the most we have done is bought tickets in advance and spent a lot of money on those games. However, there have been fans that have been shirtless in freezing temperatures, painted their bodies, and much more. Before the 2015 NBA Finals, ”a Cleveland Cavaliers fan got a 2015 NBA Champs tattoo” (Depta). Fans have received predictive tattoos which is an extreme length to go to for a fandom. Another example would be fans decorating their houses and cars to show their pride (Depta). Lastly, a huge thing to do is to tailgate events. I have seen fans arrive to games early to tailgate at Citi Field, and MetLife Stadium. People come decked out in clothes for their team, barbecue food, bring coolers of drinks, and even set up games such as corn hole or frisbee. Identifying with a sports fandom has its ups and downs but brings out the pride we have for our favorite teams.
Works Cited
Depta, Laura. “12 Crazy Things Sports Fans Refuse to Stop Doing.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3 Oct. 2017, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2610164-12-crazy-things-sports-fans-refuse-to-stop-doing.
Raney, Arthur. “Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports.” Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 – 356.
Wann, Daniel L. “The Causes and Consequences of Sport Team Identification.” Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 358 – 382.
There is a reason why people say “we won” after their favorite sports team plays a game. Fans go crazy in order to show their loyalty to a team. However, there are many downsides to the type of fandom we see in sports nowadays. Molly Yanity, sportswriter extraordinaire, wrote for the Open Court in the article, “When Sports Fans Assume They Are In Charge... Anger Rules,” that there is no more happiness in sports fandom anymore. Yanity noted that “being a fan is an exercise in misery – even for fans of winning teams. A coach needs to be fired. A player needs to be cut. A transaction needs to be made” (Yanity). Fans feel entitled to demand changes about sports organizations. One of the biggest motivators for sports fans is self-esteem. According to “The psychology of why sports fans see their teams as extensions of themselves,” Eric Simons explains that “a fan mirrors the feelings, actions and even hormones of the platers. Self-esteem rides on the outcome of the game and the image of the franchise” (Simons). People feel so connected to their sports team that they embody it and a win for the team is a win for themselves. This connects to the DeflateGate scandal. Simons discussed that “when the team is accused of skullduggery with the ball pump, it’s the fan’s instinct to explain and rationalize. For the invested fan, deflecting DeflateGate is an act of self-preservation” (Simons). This is one of the biggest motivators for sports fans. Another motivation is group affiliation. My mom wears her eagles shirt and earrings on game days and always gets excited when she spots another Eagles fan around. My family loves watching football together. My sister and mom are Eagles fans and my dad and I are Giants fans. We have not experienced any extreme fandom, however my cousin, who is a hardcore Eagles fan, had a crazy experience while attending Penn State University. It was 2018, when the Eagles had a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots. The students had went insane cheering and storming out of all of their residential dorms. A random girl ran up to him and “flashed” him while screaming “Go Eagles!”. My cousin is very reserved so this was an interesting experience for him.
ReplyDeleteA recent downside of sports fandom are the streaming services and social advancements that allow people to watch highlights of the game as a pose to watching it live. In “The Changing Face of Sports Fandom,” by Gavin Bridge, “Fans age 18-34 are the most likely to say they prefer watching highlights to full games across the NFL, NBA, and MLB” (Bridge). I believe that nowadays it is hard for people to sit through commercials and according to what Professor Burns mentioned in class, there is only 15 minutes of actual game time. Fans are becoming disconnected while over a third of young NFL fans feel that the games do not get exciting until they are almost over (Bridge). I believe that it is posible for people to become more engaged in live games. For example, there could be live polls throughout the game for fans to vote on. The only downside to this is I am not sure people will want to lose focus of the game by going on their phones to vote. However, with such a rising young generation who are always on their phone, maybe it would appeal to this specific demographic. Another downside of sports fandom is how fans do not realize their lack of respect and harsh demands of getting a new coach can effect players and the coach’s personal lives. Yanity stated that “coaches move their families. They lose their families for months of the year… Fans don’t see that. And, even if they did, I’m not sure they’d care” (Yanity). Overall, there are many motivations and perks of being a sports fan, however there are many downfalls people have not realized.
ReplyDeleteBridge, Gavin. “The Changing Face of Sports Fandom.” Variety, Variety, 4 May 2021, https://variety.com/vip/the-changing-face-of-sports-fandom-1234920561/.
Simons, Eric. “The Psychology of Why Sports Fans See Their Teams as Extensions of Themselves.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 30 Jan. 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-psychology-of-why-sports-fans-see-their-teams-as-extensions-of-themselves/2015/01/30/521e0464-a816-11e4-a06b-9df2002b86a0_story.html.
Yanity, Molly. “When Sports Fans Assume They Are in Charge...anger Rules.” Open Court, 30 Jan. 2015, https://opencourt.bulletin.com/500707027682616/.
Nicole Clemons
ReplyDeleteFor many people sports are a way of life. You grow up watching sports with your family and start to explore sports on your own. Many people find an identity in sports whether they are playing or watching and become fans of their respective sports. Many people choose their teams based on their location, family, history and sometimes by the team’s success. I am a Montreal Canadiens fan and to me there is no better feeling than being in an arena with my jersey on watching them play: “The most important motivational factor behind viewing mediated sports is for the enjoyment and emotional satisfaction that comes from cheering on a favored team as it follows an undetermined (yet hoped for) path to victory” (Raney 3). I have never been to the Bell Centre, so I have not got to experience being at a home game. Although I haven’t been to a home game I still get to experience celebrating with the other Habs’ fans in the area. There is no better feeling than your team scoring and getting to celebrate and high-five those around you.
Many people go to extreme measures to show their support, superstitions are a big part of some athletes’ preparation for gameday. Fans have also adopted superstitions on gamedays, “superstitions and rituals help create a sense of imaginary control over a game’s unpredictable outcome” (Ohtsuka). I will not wear my jersey or sweatshirts when watching the game on Tv. I feel that every time I wear them the team loses and when I don’t, they have won. I know this really does not affect their play, but it is still something I do. Even on social media I won’t add a post to my story about the team pre-game, I feel that I will jinx it and cause them to lose. During last year’s playoffs I did not wear a single piece of merch or post anything on social media before the game, and as crazy as it may seem I will keep doing this.
I am the only hockey fan in my family, and they always get sick of constantly updating them and telling them stats and information about a sport they do not watch: “Most sports viewers can (and will) readily tell you about their favorite teams and players. In fact, with some fans you need not ask the question; the names of their favored clubs are proudly displayed on shirt sleeves, jackets, hats, scarves, and car bumpers. These team allegiances are at the core of the first motivation for sports viewing on television: entertainment” (Raney 3). Win or lose I love my team and will constantly represent them with merchandise. I have magnets and a license plate cover on my car, and various shirts to show my support.
The downsides of a sports fandom are the losses and the aggression that comes with it for some fans. Many fans get so angry when their team is losing that they leave the stadium/arena, or they make comments and start fights with those around them. It is the taunting and insults that make up a majority of the fights: “. An example from the world of sports is the verbal aggression exhibited by fans in their attempt to disrupt the opponent or intimidate the officials. In these instances, the goal of the spectators is not to injure the target per se but, rather, to help their team gain a competitive advantage” (Wann 10). Fans get so caught up in being a ‘part’ of the team that tensions rise, and they think they need to help out their team.
Work Cited
Raney, Arthur. “Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports.” Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 – 356.
Wann, Daniel L. “The Causes and Consequences of Sport Team Identification.” Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 358 – 382.
Ohtsuka, Keis. “Superstitions and the Sports Fans Who Love Them.” GOOD, GOOD, 17 Dec. 2021, https://www.good.is/sports/sports-rituals-superstitions-curses.
Ethan Carrión
ReplyDeleteSports can be just as much of a person’s culture as music or food is. Just like family recipes and favorite artists, fandoms are also often passed down through generations. And why not? All three of these things are shaped by your geographical location and a sense of community. For the many sports fans in my life, that seems to be the biggest selling point of a sports team, a sense of community. The value of community is clearly articulated in Michael Serazio’s “The Power of Sport”, where he states “…the affective power of the sports totem resides in its capacity to grant identity and cohere community.” (Serazio 143)
The sense of community is the biggest draw for most people I know. Everyone wants to be part of something, and when the options are to become a sports fan or join a local gang, I doubt many people would complain if their child became a sports fan. This may seem like an exaggerated example but it is one that many people in developed and under developed nations have to face at some point in their youth. Sports provides a community that anyone can be a part of so long as they enjoy it, and what better criteria is there to join a community?
The second advantage to becoming a sports fan as Serazio mentioned, was a sense of identity. A community allows a person to be part of something, but a sense of identity allows them to be someone on their own as well. Most sports have an identity in their community. For example, FC Barcelona fans tend to be more politically liberal while Real Madrid fans tend to be more politically conservative.
For many fans, being part of the community is simply not enough, they want to prove themselves to their fandom and demonstrate their loyalty. This can be displayed with things like banners or leading chants, but can get dangerous in extreme examples. An example from my hometown soccer team Deportivo de La Coruña (Depor) encapsulates just how wrong things can go. As detailed in a Bleacher report article by Timothy Rapp, after a fight broke out between ultra-fans of Depor and Atletico Madrid, one man was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. That man lost his life because ultra-fans took their dedication too far. These are the extreme and dangerous lengths that sports fanatics can go to in the wrong environment. (Rapp)
Ethan Carrion
DeleteAs this extreme example has made clear, sports fandom is not always beneficial to the fans or even the people around the sport. Though it has its benefits, sports also have their down sides. One glaring issue is that, though the fans care deeply for their team, they have little impact on the team’s performance. This can result in a feeling of hopelessness in fans as they watch their team lose while they sit at home powerless. Another downside to sports is similar with one key difference. Instead of getting sad or feeling hopeless, fans may lash out and place blame wherever they see fit. An example of this I found is from Open Court. In an article written by Molly Yanity, she mentions that in November 2021, after the Steelers tied with the Lions, Steelers fans were outraged. They believed that despite injuries, the Steelers could have played. This led to comments like “I know there’s zero chance Tomlin gets the boot but his seat should be read hot”. Tomlin is the coach for the Steelers and had the second most winning record of any coach who had been coaching for more than 10 years at the time. (Yanity)
Serazio, Michael. The Power of Sports: Media and Spectacle in American Culture. New York University Press, 2019.
Rapp, T. (2017, August 4). Atletico Madrid Ban frente Atletico Ultras after man died in Deportivo Fight. Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2284201-man-dies-due-to-injuries-caused-from-fight-before-atletico-madrid-vs-deportivo#:~:text=In%20a%20tragic%20case%20of,Madrid%20and%20Deportivo%20on%20Sunday.&text=The%20San%20Carlos%20hospital%20has,a%20fight%20between%20rival%20ultras.
Yanity, M. (2021, November 22). When sports fans assume they are in charge...anger rules. Open Court. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://opencourt.bulletin.com/500707027682616/
Emily Sweeney
DeleteSports have become much more than just a game. For me and many others, sports have become a way of life, a safe place, and a home. Football isn’t always about the plays being made and the score for me because being part of the New York Jets fandom has given me a community and has shaped my identity. Having a community and developing an identity are two major motivators for sports fans to join a fandom.
In Michael Serazio’s “The Power of Sports” he speaks upon the effect that being part of a fandom may have on a person’s identity by saying that sports are a “means to effectively shape the way people perceive their identity”(Serazio, 144). This was an effective description. In the past, the biggest icebreaker was talking about weather because it was something that everyone would know. Now, that icebreaker is often asking about sports because many people have shaped their identities around their fandom. One of the first things people learn about who I am more often than not, is that I’m a Jets fan. This stems from the same idea that Serazio spoke on; being a part of a fandom helped me shape my identity and perceive my own identity as being a fan. As for the community, everyone wants to be a part of something and feel like they belong. Fandoms are the perfect place to do that which is why it is a motivator. Having a group of people who are by your side is something that is longed for by many and the fact that sports are able to provide that is almost as if they have created a light and we are the moths that are attracted to it.
This sense of community and fan identity causes many people to go to extreme lengths to demonstrate how loyal they are. The “New Yorker” explains this with some examples when stating… “Most sports fans root for their favorite teams. Then there are those who build their entire lives around them. These are the people who go shirtless in a football stadium on a freezing day, who paint their faces and get custom tattoos of their favorite N.B.A. players, who scream jubilantly at the television in victory—and who sometimes smash that television in defeat” (The New Yorker).
Along with the upsides of sports fandoms, there are also downsides. One has to do with the extreme loyalty that fandom causes. Many people say that “they would do anything” for their family and truly mean that because of their loyalty to them. A lot of people feel that same loyalty to their favorite team. As a Murray State University study derived… “highly identified fans are more likely to experience intense affect and heightened physiological arousal while watching their team compete”(Wann). These fans are also more likely to lash out when a loss is being suffered. This is not only a downside, but a dangerous one as it has caused many arguments, physical fights, and even deaths. Another downside is that when your team isn’t doing well, there is nothing you can do about it. This leaves fans hopeless and wanting change. But, they aren’t in a position to make change which often creates frustration as well. As Molly Yanity wrote in an Open Court article, “In that echo chamber of social media and comments, the performance is one of misery, of never being happy, of calling for jobs and heads. It makes for a miserable pastime” (Yanity). Not being in a position to make changes when your community and identity is taking a punch to the gut creates this downside to sports fandom.
DeleteWorks Cited
The New Yorker. (2018, February 1). The mind of the sports superfan. The New Yorker. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/the-mind-of-the-sports-superfan
Serazio, M. (2019). The power of sports: Media and spectacle in American culture. New York University Press.
Wann, D. L. (2012). Chapter 20 - The Causes and consequences of sport team identification. Routledge Online Studies on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 1(46), 358–382. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203873670_chapter_20
Yanity, M. (n.d.). When sports fans assume they are in charge...anger rules. Open Court. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://opencourt.bulletin.com/500707027682616/
Brandon Krikorian
ReplyDeleteProfessor Burns
7 February 2022
Weekly Blog #2
Personally, sports have been a part of my life ever since I was born. For as long as I can remember my life has been consumed by sports in any way possible. Whether that came from actively participating in a particular sport or watching teams play on tv, it became a huge part of my life and something that I want to do for a living in the future. I watch sports for many reasons and even those reasons have changed over the years. When I was younger, I just enjoyed watching my teams play and still watched other teams but not as much as I do currently. As I have gotten older, I am able to retain more knowledge and information and want to know more about the other teams, so I try and watch as many games as possible and try to stay up to date as much as I can. One reason as to why the general population watch sports is because they want to be entertained. It is the same reason as to why you would go to the movies or attend a concert in that you clearly have an interest hence why you are going, but you want to be entertained and have a good time. Raney points this out in his article about how people love to rep their favorite teams on clothing or as decorations, but that all stems from them watching them and wanting to be entertained (Raney 341). That may be for the more casual fan who still supports their team and wanted them to succeed, but maybe does not take everything personally regarding their team. For the more connected fan who lives and dies with their team every week or all season, their motivation is that their team is a part of their life. What I am trying to say is that when their team loses, it wrecks their week and when they win, their week just got 10 times better. As pointed out my Molly Yanity, a “fan” is just an abbreviated version of fanatic (Gerstner/Yanity). The people that I am talking about are fanatics because they are crazy and will do anything for their team to win. For comparison, I would consider myself a fanatic as my favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, consumes my life when it is football season. I go through thousands of emotions every time they play and cannot relax until the game is over assuming that they won because if they lost then it turns to sadness.
There are thousands of fans just like me out there that use their team to represent themselves to other people and it helps when your team is good because no one can say anything to you to degrade you. While I am not someone who outwardly expresses themselves when talking about my team like dressing up in costumes and having paint all over me, I wear team gear and will let people know what is going on if they try and talk bad about my team. Having a favorite team forces you to argue and defend them like they were your own child, and this can be a good thing and a bad thing. The bad part is the amount of stress that it can cause on to your body and mind. In an article from UC Health, they talk about the surge in excitement, win or lose, that comes over a person depending on the outcome of their teams result. They state, “You have a surge; your entire endocrine system is on high alert…what happens if your team loses? You have a crash. You have a neurochemical crash within your system that can be harder to come back from if you don’t reset it cognitively” (UC Health). Like I was saying before about your team losing and it affecting your emotions as it can have a real negative impact on your mind and body. This can cause a lot of stress on a person and it is not even part of their daily life which includes work, family, and real-world problems which all cause their own amount of stress. A more literal downside to being fan of a team can be that it is expensive. If you ever wanted to go see your team play, most people can only afford to go once a year and it is usually a big deal in the family. Even to buy team merchandise and help support them, all of that costs money, which people are willing to spend, but not everyone is willing to. I am not saying that you have to spend money to support or follow a team, but if you want to express yourself as a fan of that team, you need shirts, jerseys, and gear to show that to other people. This may only apply to a certain section of fanbases, but it is a relevant problem for those people.
DeleteGerstner, Joanne. “When Sports Fans Assume They Are in Charge...anger Rules.” Open Court, opencourt.bulletin.com/500707027682616/.
Raney, Arthur. "Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 – 356.
“The Hidden Downside of Being a Sports Fan: Stress & Anxiety.” UC Health, www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/articles/stress-and-sports-why-being-a-fan-takes-such-a-toll.
For many fans there is a reason for why they watch sports, for me it has to be understanding the final result of the game. This is best described in Arthur Raney's book, specifically chapter 19 where he discusses eustress motivation(Raney 343). Many studies show that fans tend to turn on the sports channel because it provides them with something positive to look at(Raney 343). This is so accurate because prior to the pandemic I sometimes took sports for granted however, once the pandemic hit, sports was gone for a couple of months and my world felt bleak.
ReplyDeleteWhen I turned on ESPN, I was so used to seeing the updates from the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the time, but instead they were showing politics because they had no other forms of content to put on. Because of this, I ended up understanding politics a bit more so I can be prepared to vote for the upcoming election. Eventually, when the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) decided to begin their season in May 2020, ESPN decided to cover it. I would wake up at 5 am to watch the games because there was no other sporting events on at the time. This strongly proves how much of an impact sports has on the fans who are watching in the stands.
Another example of fandom is the loyalty of fans to their respective teams, a big example of this came back in 2016 when the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years. ESPN showed pictures of fans who went to their ancestors' graves who never saw the Cubs win the world series and they placed the Cubs' white "W" flag on their grave, at one cemetery, it showed hundreds of graves with the Cubs flag. This easily proves the loyalty of some fans that are mentioned in Serazio's book(Serazio 148-149).
Gage Kilborne 2
DeleteThis also shows the sense of "community" within each team, for instance, the New York Mets' fan club, The 7-Line Army travels to away games to see their beloved team play. The fan club is loyal and true to the team for the season every year, last year my dad and I were in Pittsburgh to watch the Mets play the Pirates and the 7-Line Army was with us in the hotel to go to the game with us. It brought a unique experience to see a section of orange and blue in the stands.
I have gone to various extremes to prove my fandom with my beloved sports teams, especially when I was 12 years-old. When I was in 6th grade, I was the biggest Jets fan, I got a Jets comforter for my bed with a matching pillow cover that I still use to this day. I also got a Jets jumbo-size fat head to put on my wall and I painted my walls in the Jets official green and white. Once you enter my room, you would think you entered in Jets' headquarters with all of the merchandise and paraphernalia that I collected throughout my childhood.
Although being a sports fan may be fun, there are also some negativity that comes out of fans when they are supporting their teams. The fans act like they own the team by telling the team to make decisions when they see something they don't like(Yannity). Many true fans claim that they don't do that but, we all do including me, when the Jets were struggling last season I made various comments that the higher-ups don't know what they are doing.
Another big example is when the team wins the championship, the fans believe that they won the championship also. This clearly demonstrates that fans believe that they are a part of this team as if they help this team succeed from traditions to superstitions, they don't want to break routine. With all of this being said, sports fans make sports what it is today.
Gage Kilborne 3
DeleteDraper, Kevin. “If a Dunk Echoes across an Empty Gym, Is It Still Must-See TV?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Aug. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/17/sports/sports-fans-television.html.
Serazio, Michael. “3.” The Power of Sports: Media and Spectacle in American Culture, New York University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 143–153.
Wann, Daniel L. "The Causes and Consequences of Sport Team Identification." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 358 - 382.
Yannity, Molly. “When Sports Fans Assume They Are in Charge...anger Rules.” Open Court, 2021, https://opencourt.bulletin.com/500707027682616/.
Joey O’Donoghue
ReplyDeleteSports provide so much more than just entertainment for fans all across the globe, and it’s relatively easy to get motivated for them. What motivates my friends and I to watch and attend games is being able to assist the teams we are large supporters of. According to Michael Serazio in The Power of Sports, “The fans are as much a part of the success as the team is, as the players are” (Serazio, 2019, p.222). Essentially, the fans' spirit, enthusiasm, vocal support, costumes, presence, etc. all can actually make players play better. Furthermore, my friends and I actually become superstitious about our sports teams and have to wear certain clothes on game day or eat certain food. The idea that we have an opportunity to aid our team in success is a large motivator for us. Another concept that motivates my friends and I to be sports fans, which is relatively recent, is fantasy sports. I am glued to live NFL games more than ever before as a result of being involved in fantasy sports. I need to see how my players are doing, and having the chance of winning or losing money is a very important motivator for myself and a lot of people to watch sports.
People will certainly go to extreme lengths to demonstrate fandom. According to an article by Yara El-Shaboury, “Being a fan and being a part of fan culture is a 24/7 experience” (El-Shaboury, 2021). Allowing fandom to be a hobby that consumes a person’s daily life is about as extreme a length I can think of, and it happens to be very common. Fans will watch the entirety of a sporting event, followed by post-game interviews, highlights, and then watch people debate the events of the game, and repeat the process. Due to social media posts, television productions etc., fandom has consumed close to 24/7 of super fans' lives. Not to mention the amount of money people will spend on merchandise or tickets, and Bill’s fans risking their bodies to break a folding table, there is almost no limit to what sports fans will do to express their fandom!
Joey O'Donoghue continued:
DeleteWith that said, there are certainly visible downsides to sports fandom. In an article by Molly Yanity it states, “In that echo chamber of social media and comments, the performance is one of misery, of never being happy, of calling for jobs and heads” (Yanity 2021). So, while it can be entertaining to scroll on social media and display fandom for a team, it can turn into a relatively miserable environment. People are constantly fighting and insulting others, leading to true feelings of anger, and all at the expense of professional athletes and coaches by criticizing them. It’s an unhealthy environment all around and can lead to negative feelings. Another downside of sports fandom is the gambling portion. Sports bettors lose tremendous amounts of money annually, yet develop an addiction to attempt and win it all back. Because they love watching sports and have grown addicted to sports gambling, their financial future is not bright, making for another negative aspect of expressing sports fandom by betting on one’s favorite teams and players.
References
El-Shaboury, Y. (2021, June 30). What happens when sports fandom becomes a full-time job? FanSided. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://fansided.com/2021/06/30/sports-fandom-full-time-job/
Serazio, M. (2019). The power of sports: Media and spectacle in American culture. New York University Press.
Yanity, M., & Gerstner, J. (2021, November 22). When sports fans assume they are in charge...anger rules. Open Court. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://opencourt.bulletin.com/500707027682616/
Sports play a massive role in most people's lives, both on and off the field. People have at least one team they want to win no matter what season or sport. Sports can bring out the best and worst in people, which is why there can be some consequences when rooting for your team. Everyone wants their team to win, but that doesn’t happen sometimes. I grew up playing sports and have experienced many great wins and losses. As I grow older and watch my favorite teams play, I get the same winning feeling I used to get when I was on the field.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the consequences and costs of being a sports fan, there are many ways that it can bring happiness and great memories into your life. One of the main things that motivate sports fans is the community that comes with it. Typically your favorite team is based on your location, family, or favorite player. Each sports team has its own community of people that supports them and is one of the main ways the team makes its money. People like to feel as if they are a part of something. In Arthur A.Raney’s Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports, he states, “Beyond the temporal companionship that sports viewing provides, many fans also report being motivated by a larger sense of group affiliation. Particularly, ardent fans of specific teams note a sense of belonging that is shared by them and other supporters of the team.” (Raney) People get attached to their organizations because they feel like they are a part of the team. Sports bring people together all over the world and can feel like a second family. It is basic human nature to want to be part of something, by following a team gives you a fan base of people.
Often you will find that when you wear team merchandise, people will approach you with a signature chant that represents the team so that you know they follow that team. When people recognize you like the same team, you now share a bond/friendship and are a part of the same affiliation. We buy merch to show our support to the organizations and the players we love. In Micheal Serazio’s The Power of Sports, “The fans are as much a part of the success as the team, as the players are.” (Serazio) Attending the games and wearing merchandise show team spirit and give the players a reason to play. My family and I have been attending Bruins and Celtics games for the past few years. Each night, the city is either filled with yellow and black or green. It is crazy to see so many people gather together and all want the same thing, which is a victory, of course.
ReplyDeleteMost of these people are season ticket holders, which is not cheap. Fans are willing to spend the money to attend each game and show support. This is one of the main downsides of sports fandom because fans can get carried away and spend all their money. According to the article, Sports Complex: The Science Behind Fanatic Behavior by Shirley Wang, “those regulars sitting in the stands — can also become so passionate about their team that it becomes part of their identity and affects their well-being.” (Wang) People want their team to win so badly that they lose control of their actions or emotions and are willing to do whatever it takes. In Wang's article, she talks about a couple who created a website called “Yankeessuck.com.” Obviously, they knew that this would offend people, but they didn’t care. Wang states, “that ‘sports don’t build character, they reveal it.” (Wang)
Raney, Arthur. "Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 – 356.
ReplyDeleteSerazio, Michael. “3.” The Power of Sports: Media and Spectacle in American Culture, New York University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 143–153.
Wang, Shirley. “Sports Complex: The Science behind Fanatic Behavior.” Association for Psychological Science - APS, 1 May 2006, https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/sports-complex-the-science-behind-fanatic-behavior.
Blake Guerriero
ReplyDeleteFor a large population of the world, sports are like a religion, especially depending on the location you have grown up in. The Green Bay Packers cheese heads, the Pittsburgh Steelers terrible towels, the Buffalo Bills fans slamming through tables, it is all part of a way of life for hard-core sports fandoms. For me personally sports are all I know, I grew up in a huge sports family and if you didn’t like or play sports it was weird in a way. I grew up loving and still love the New York Rangers and Dallas Cowboys, watching them play was when I was most happy, if they were losing that’s a different story. Even when they weren’t playing, I’d still watch countless YouTube videos regarding them, when I am at a low or most stressed and upset, I have always used sports as an escape from reality and be in a happy element in a way.
I personally watch sports simply due to the fact I love my teams and it gives me such a sense of thrill when they succeed, some of the best memories of my life involve the Rangers going on their deep playoff runs, Cowboys on the other hand are still working on that. It unites people across the globe who support the same team, every time I go to a Rangers game, I meet new people who I feel like I have known forever, even on social media like twitter where I am very active on “Rangers Twitter’” I have made so many friends from it. People are passionate about sports for other reasons such as betting, I have many friends who watch sports simply because they bet on the games. In Arthur Raney’s article “Why we Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports he states, "some individuals are motivated to view sports on television because of financial investment.” (Raney 2006).
The most motivational factor behind viewing meditated sports as I previously mentioned is the absolute thrill of your favorite team succeeding. When the Rangers score a goal, I celebrate like I’m the one who scored, when the Rangers or Cowboys win a huge game, I am in the best mood for the rest of the day. Basically, having a sense of self-identity and feeling a part of a community as passionate as you are what motivates people to become hard-core fans.
It seems though however that sports fans are started to change in the way they consume sports, in Gavin Bridge’s article “The Changing of Sports Fandom” he states, “The new face of fandom that’s emerging is one that values full games less but still wants to keep up via highlights” (Bridge 2021). It seems that the younger population have a shorter attention span when viewing full games live and prefer to keep up to what’s going on via highlights and other short clips, this can be trouble to the future of T.V. sports channels, and the development of how we consume sports in sports fandoms can change soon.
DeleteExtreme lengths I have gone to demonstrate my sports fandom is dressing up every game day, crying over big wins or losses, revolving my whole personality around it in a way, but with these extreme lengths come downsides of sports fandoms such as lashing out in anger, fighting with other team’s fans, being in angry moods over a game. I personally have done all those things; I have punched holes in my wall over a tough playoff loss or have lashed out on people around me over a tough loss. In a bleacher report article by Amber Lee, she states that “But it sure does seem like there has been a significant uptick in the number of ugly fan altercations in recent years” (Lee 2013).
Works Cited
Bridge, Gavin. “The Changing Face of Sports Fandom.” Variety, Variety, 4 May 2021, https://variety.com/vip/the-changing-face-of-sports-fandom-1234920561/.
Lee, Amber. “21 Ways Sports Fans Can Be Terrible.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3 Oct. 2017, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1524087-21-reasons-sports-fans-are-terrible.
Raney, Arthur. "Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 - 356.
Alex Donald 1
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of ways and motives of becoming and being sports fan either playing or watching. To me sports are not only just a huge money making business or something like that. Sports to me is basically an escape from the stress of life like a long day from school, work, and so on as one of my biggest motivators in being a sports fan or in other words “A final emotional motivation that I discuss is less dependent upon fanship and outcome. Some viewers report that they regularly tune into sports to escape the stress of daily life.” (Raney, 2006). In the past few years I have been to many NBA games in cities like New York, Miami, Philly, DC, and so on and it definitely helped me by clearing my mind from everyday stress by seeing players doing flashy moves and watching close games as well. My family isn’t really that big into sports except maybe they watch football and soccer occasionally, and also my dad does come with me to the NBA games sometimes. However since I’m a Lakers fan, I mostly go to these games in person because I like to feel the vibe or energy from the crowd and announcers and also I like to see the players do some flashy moves in person as well. However, if I was at a Lakers game in LA, I would most likely celebrate with other Laker fans as well since we both want the Lakers to have a great season. Watching sports on TV has a similar feeling if you're watching your favorite team or player, but TV also comes with some details or tips from the commentators and more importantly to save money. In other words “... it’s all about being there and experiencing the crowd, feeling the energy, and taking in the place. For TV, it boils down to knowing the details of a backstory or replay, seeing close camera shots and video, or following action across the game.” (Holloway, 2020).
Alex Donald 2
ReplyDeleteEven though everyone wants their favorite team to win, sports would sometimes take them to extreme lengths like talking trash to the other team, raiding courts or fields, fighting other fans, and so on. In fact, sometimes fans who trash talk the other usually don't help their team to win. For example, in the 90s the Chicago Bulls were playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers and during the game, Bulls’ legend Michael Jordan didn’t have a good first half and the Bulls were losing. Until it all changed when a fan started trash talking Jordan and he started to play great and led the Bulls to a comeback victory against the Cavs. Sports fandom can also lead to saltiness and sometimes fights if their favorite team lost like for example, The Malice of the Palace fight in 2004 when the Detroit Piston fans started to fight and throw stuff at the Indiana Pacers when the Pistons lost to the Pacers even though Ron Artest started it by pushing Ben Wallace.
Even though sports fandom mostly brings excitement, it still has some downsides even though it's hard to believe. However, there are many examples of downsides in sports fandom like unlawful behavior, stress from losing the game, gambling and money problems, and so on. Sometimes one of the downsides of sports fandom that people don’t realize is that watching the full game can get too boring to watch which could lead to less viewership on TV, mainly the MLB. “Apathy stretches from individual games to considering the entire regular season boring. Close to half of younger MLB fans agree with this sentiment, with the sheer scale of a regular MLB season likely adding to this.” (Bridge, 2021). Baseball is most likely to get less viewership because there’s no time clock unlike basketball and football and the game could go on forever.
Work Cited
Raney, Author A. “Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports.” Handbook of Sports and Media, E-Book, edited by Author A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 - 356
Bridge, Gavin. “THE CHANGING FACE OF SPORTS FANDOM.” Variety. 22 Mar, 2021. Visited 8 Feb, 2022 Retrieved from https://variety.com/vip/the-changing-face-of-sports-fandom-1234920561/
Holloway, Shaun “What sports do you prefer to watch in-person versus on TV?” Medium. 28 Dec, 2020. Visited 8 Feb, 2022 Retrieved from https://medium.com/lessons-from-ordinary/what-sports-do-you-prefer-to-watch-in-person-versus-on-tv-fa9ef5fea6d5
Mikala Morris
ReplyDeleteI have been a part of the sports world ever since I was a little girl. I grew watching and playing sports and it is still a big part of my life today. Growing up I would stay up late to watch basketball with my dad, drive three hours to watch an Indians game, give up my summers for camps and tournaments. Needless to say, sports were a very important part of majority of my life. My family and I have done many things to be a part of the sports world and to show our loyalty to an organization. My mom and my dad are not together, and my mom had full custody of me growing up. As a result of this I would spend two weeks at a time with my dad during the summers, and he would go all out to make sure that the time that he had with me was fun and always a good time. One of the things he would always do with my sister, and I was get us involved in sports in some way, whether it was playing them or watching them. However, every summer he made it his priority to take us to a Cleveland Indians game to let us experience what it was like to be at a professional game. Though, Cleveland was opposite of where we live so we would at time wake up at six in the morning to make it to a game because of how far it is from us. Cleveland is about three and a half hours from where we live but with traffic it can range anywhere between four to five hours and that’s just for one way. Sports was such a big part of our lives we were willing to drive eight to ten hours total just to watch and experience a game.
DeleteI think our extremes for watching a game live is similar to why other individuals enjoy sports and love being a part of the atmosphere. I think one of the biggest motivators, especially for myself and family, is the feeling that it gives you to watch the team you love play and the totally euphoria you experience when you see them win. When it comes to being a sports fan you’re always hoping that your team wins and so by watching them individuals correlate that a definite ‘good time’. Raney supports this idea because he has stated, “people view mediated sports because they expect positive emotional impacts from their viewing” (2006).
Another big motivator for why sports are so popular is that when you have a team that you support and love to watch, you feel as though you are also a part of that organization. That’s why when they win individuals will say “we won last night” rather than saying “so and so won last night” because they feel as though they belong with that team. That is why sports can be so appealing because no matter who you are everyone wants to feel as though they belong somewhere and being a sports fan gives you that opportunity, Raney again support this by mentioning, “Beyond the temporal companionship that sports viewing provides, many fans also report being motivated by a larger sense of group affiliation” (Raney 2006).
DeleteThough sports are to meant create a fun and exciting atmosphere for its viewers, there can also be downsides to sports fandom. During a game there can be many highs and lows, when your comes out victorious it can amplify those highs and create an overwhelming feeling of happiness and relief. However, when one’s team does not come out as expected it can lead to negative effects for a devoted fan. Chard a Health psychologist and a professor of psychiatry at the UC College of Medicine talked about the negative impact it could have by stating, “In that sense it’s good, but when you get your system amped up, what happens if your team loses? You have a crash. You have a neurochemical crash within your system that can be harder to come back from if you don’t reset it cognitively”(2019). Along with stress and anxiety that can be caused due to a game, a loss could also impact one’s behavior and mood depending on how devoted they are to that team. For example, it could lead one to act out of character and become verbally aggressive, Wann stated, “In addition to verbal aggression there are other forms such as hostile, instrumental, rioting, and parental violence” (2006). Although sports and meant to create positive experiences, when a fan is very devoted to an organization there can negative effects as well.
Raney, Arthur. "Why We Watch and Enjoy Mediated Sports." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 339 - 356.
Wann, Daniel L. "The Causes and Consequences of Sport Team Identification." Handbook of Sports and Media, E-book, edited by Arthur A. Raney and Jennings Bryant, 2006, pp. 358 - 382.
The hidden downside of being a sports fan: Stress & Anxiety. UC Health. (2019). Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/articles/stress-and-sports-why-being-a-fan-takes-such-a-toll