Tonight is Game 7 of the NBA Finals. My name is Cathy Miller, and I am a sports fan – but, a selective one.
I have my selected teams and back them no matter what. I wonder, however, how I always pick teams that so many people love to hate – Lakers, all things Notre Dame. Character-building, isn’t it?
It got me thinking that you can learn a lot from a sports fan, about who they are.
Screaming on Sunday – Chilling on Monday
Non-sports fans just don’t get it. They wonder how anyone can get so worked up about a game. Sports fans know it’s more than “just a game.”
If you want insight into a person, talk sports. You may be surprised that the quiet, hard-working person next to you at work is a mere shell, hiding a screaming, grease-painted fanatic on the weekend.
So, what can we learn about the sports fan?
Fan Versus Fanatic
As a derivative of the word fanatic, some sports fans emphatically believe we do not cross that line to the ”irrational” meaning of the word. Notice the use of the word “we.”
Why do we care so much about sports and should we be concerned?
Dr. Richard Lustberg, Ph.D., is an often quoted sports psychologist. Dr. Lustberg notes that sporting events are a diversion in our lives.
We relate the struggle of the game to our own struggles and revel in victory. We understand defeat. For a few hours, we escape from our own problems and direct our frustrations to the opposing team.
That mild and meek coworker throws away inhibitions and becomes Super Fan.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
That thin line between fan and fanatic gets thinner all the time. On the good side, a fan shows:
- Loyalty
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- Optimism
The bad and the ugly crosses that line.
The next time you want to get to know someone you do business with, ask them, “So, how about those Lakers?” Their response speaks volumes.
Note: My apologies to my non-sports fan readers. Look at it this way, you know what to look out for.
i-Stock Photo File #: 2261465
