Rooting for, and not against, sets an example of sportsmanship
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I love a good rivalry, and the intensity of competition between two opposing forces, especially when teamwork is involved and the fans play some role in the dynamic of the game, disrupting foul shots, audibles, or a batter’s concentration. There truly is something to having the homefield advantage. The energy is felt outside the stadium in sports bars and living rooms, where the spirit of friendly competition echoes the noise that is actually heard on the field.
Taking pride in one’s team, sticking with them through thick and thin, sets an example of loyalty. However, I’m troubled when I notice people rooting against their rivals simply because they want them to lose. It’s one thing to support the team you’re loyal towards, but to simply wish ill-will against a team spreads a negative image within sports culture, and a poor example of sportsmanship.
As the World Series concludes and Basketball season begins, Football draws closer to rivalry games at the end of the regular season. As a devout football fan, this is the time of year in sports that I enjoy the most. During the regular season, I try to root not only for the teams I’m loyal to, but also my rivals, because there is no greater satisfaction than beating your rivals while they are at the top of their game. Even if my teams are unsuccessful at beating their rivals, I support their continued success, as I want to be able to say that even though my team was outmatched, they were a worthy opponent deserving of respect from not only my team, but the rest of the league. Going into playoff situations, some fans will hope that the most worthy opponents are knocked out of the bracket so their team doesn’t have to face them. Our teams have no control over those situations and the outside forces that create them.
A nostalgic look into my glory days on a championship football team in Alabama.
Announcers often use the phrase “in control of their destiny,” meaning that if a team wins out, they don’t have to depend on other teams to lose to advance them into playoff situations. I like to think that all teams are constantly in control of their own destiny, and responsible themselves for falling short if things don’t pan out due to those outside forces.
As with much of sports culture, the behavior of fans is different at each level. Less of this behavior is exhibited at the level of youth sports, but it continues to grow at college and professional levels. A lesson often taught during those fundamental years of athletics is to only be concerned with yourself first, followed by your team, and never the forces you have no control over.
Photo Credits: Jeff Silverman, and the author’s mom.