Sports fans, how do you do it?

[Sarah]

My reaction to the Canadian women's curling team's loss yesterday got me pondering:  I understand enjoying the thrill of victory, but how do you sports fan types withstand the agony of defeat?  Over the years, I witnessed numerous Red Sox* fans--family, friends, and acquaintances--descend into the slough of despond after having their hopes dashed yet again at the end of the season.  My sleep last night was disturbed by pointless, roundabout, obsessive thoughts of the game I had just watched.  The only way I can enjoy sports comfortably is not to root for a particular team/athlete but instead just to appreciate the play of the game.  How do you tolerate the ups and downs?   

*I'm talking about pre-2004 fans here.

[Smelodies]

It's not unlike gambling, except that gambling risks both your emotions and your wallet.

[nec13]

Alcohol?

[buffcoat]

I lived and died with my team in middle school.  Give it about 10 more years of fandom and you'll start to find a *little* perspective.

Or just go back to not caring!

[P.W.]

I grew up in Detroit.

[Sarah]

I lived and died with my team in middle school.  Give it about 10 more years of fandom and you'll start to find a *little* perspective.

Or just go back to not caring!

My money's on the second option (I'm not much of a gambler, either, by the way).  It's the habit of a lifetime, after all.

Note:  I thoroughly enjoyed the bronze match between the Swiss and Swedish men, in large part because I was perfectly happy with the prospect of either team winning.  And I'll be fine for the Canada-Norway match (which I'll be getting to in a moment--third game of the day) because I don't much care who wins that one, either. 

[scratchbomb]

you have to look at sports as entertainment. even though all sports are zero-sum games, where there is only one real "winner", i think you can enjoy the parts of a game/season that brought you joy, even if your team doesn't win.

at least that's how i think of things in retrospect. it doesn't prevent me from being completely bummed out and grumpy while watching a game that goes "the wrong way"

[Gilly]

The agony of defeat is quickly replaced with hope for next year and all of the things that go with that... free agency, drafts, prospects. The offseason is almost as exciting as watching the games. I could care less about Red Sox fans suffering from the agony of defeat, how about Royals fans who are teased by highly regarded prospects year after year only to see them choke when they get the call or Pirates fans who suffer as well. Both of those teams are always rebuilding because it's not worth it for them to re-sign the 1 guy out of 10 that actually pans out. It's a mixture of poor coaching and high expectations, but my hat goes off to any diehard Royals or Pirates fan. There's always some glimmer of hope and every once in awhile they come through.

It's no different than politics really, people vote every year and get excited about candidates only to get let down, but we keep voting, more often than not for the same kind of candidate. Once in awhile they surprise you and do a good job.

[ben]

The agony of defeat is quickly replaced with hope for next year and all of the things that go with that... free agency, drafts, prospects. The offseason is almost as exciting as watching the games.

Well stated.  As a Wisconsinite, I obsess over the packers to the degree that I can barely watch the games, it breaks my heart to see them lose.  I'm a brewers fan as well, so last year was rough. 

I was able to watch the entire Vikings/Saints playoff game.  Favre throwing that interception was, well, expected.  And I was thrilled.

Rodgers is awesome. 

[Gibby]

I would argue that the downsides are worse for fans of European sports. When the Red Sox/Giants/Rangers/Knicks have a bad start to a season, you scratch that season off and await next year. When my soccer team (Wigan Athletic) play badly, as they are doing this year, they face relegation - leading to an exodus of players, a dearth of money & lower attendances

I've been a fan for my entire sentient life, so I weigh up the pros and cons. Historically, we have always been a lower league team, so our five years in the top division have been a peak which we should be thankful for. It's cold comfort after some of the games I've seen this year, but perspective comes with time.

[Sarah]

It's no different than politics really, people vote every year and get excited about candidates only to get let down, but we keep voting, more often than not for the same kind of candidate. Once in awhile they surprise you and do a good job.

I have trouble with this, too.

So far, your responses confirm what I already pretty much knew:  I'm not cut out for fandom. 

[Andy]

I used to make myself sick worrying about games or obsessing over losses. Then you figure out that without the losses, the wins are meaningless.  Also, having built a couple of projects for the only team I've cared about since I was a little kid (OU Football) I see that a lot of the athletes aren't all that upset when they lose, which has been a little disheartening.

That being said, it's probably different with pro athletes or athletes that have no connection with the college except that they are using it to get to the pros.

Ultimately I can act like I've gotten past the living and dying with my team, but I obsess over losses and I'm never happy enough with the wins.

Why do I watch sports at all?  Shit.

[Martin]

I would argue that the downsides are worse for fans of European sports. When the Red Sox/Giants/Rangers/Knicks have a bad start to a season, you scratch that season off and await next year. When my soccer team (Wigan Athletic) play badly, as they are doing this year, they face relegation - leading to an exodus of players, a dearth of money & lower attendances

Ain't this the truth.

[ben]

I would argue that the downsides are worse for fans of European sports. When the Red Sox/Giants/Rangers/Knicks have a bad start to a season, you scratch that season off and await next year. When my soccer team (Wigan Athletic) play badly, as they are doing this year, they face relegation - leading to an exodus of players, a dearth of money & lower attendances

Ain't this the truth.

On the other hand, there have been decade long periods for teams like the Milwaukee Brewers where you had to scratch off this year, the next year, the next year....  If they had been in a 'special' league with the Kansas City Royals and Washington Senators, at least they might have had a fighting chance. 

Then again in baseball, many teams have an exodus of players and no money and poor attendance year after year. 

Does the relegation seem to give incentive to those teams to right the ship?  And by those teams I mean the owners?

[senorcorazon]

Does the relegation seem to give incentive to those teams to right the ship?  And by those teams I mean the owners?

It ain't the same, but I feel sorry for Knicks fans. Watching a team purposely rip itself apart for years in the outside hope that a superstar will want to come join their crap existence is joyless. Also, the Clippers have been on permanent relegation, except with being demoted to a lower league like they should be.