2008 Woodie Awards
Editor's Column
Steve Sheridan
Issue date: 1/28/05 Section: Commentary
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It's amazing that something as insignificant as sports can make people act so crazily. With the NFL Conference Championships now in the past and the road to the Super Bowl - the most popular sporting event in the country - only nine days away, it seems like the perfect time to comment on the amazing effect that sports can have on people. On this very campus, there were unconfirmed reports of people crying after the Eagles won the NFC Championship game. What other occurrence, save for a birth or a death, could elicit such emotion from someone? Followers of professional sports teams - myself certainly included - can be some of the most passionate, dedicated and loyal people in the world. Sports has the amazing ability to make ordinary people become attached to something special, turning "The Patriots won the game" into "We killed them!" A fan feels like he or she can actually become a part of the team, providing that special spark to get the team over the top.
Many people do not understand the allure of sports; to them there is no personal connection between themselves and the multi-millionaire players. For a true fan, however, the losses are personal defeats and the victories are individual triumphs - everything that a player experiences affects the fan as well. There is no other feeling in the world like having your team win a championship or a big game; conversely, there is no greater pain than losing such a contest. The term "fan" comes from the word "fanatic," giving the simplest explanation possible of how a fan attaches him or herself to a band of men or women. Unlike a television show or movie, sporting events are live, unscripted and equally dramatic. If you want something where you can predict what will occur 10 minutes into watching it, turn on your favorite sitcom. If you want unpredictable action and heart-stopping suspense, turn on a sporting event. With any luck, you may get hooked.
Many people do not understand the allure of sports; to them there is no personal connection between themselves and the multi-millionaire players. For a true fan, however, the losses are personal defeats and the victories are individual triumphs - everything that a player experiences affects the fan as well. There is no other feeling in the world like having your team win a championship or a big game; conversely, there is no greater pain than losing such a contest. The term "fan" comes from the word "fanatic," giving the simplest explanation possible of how a fan attaches him or herself to a band of men or women. Unlike a television show or movie, sporting events are live, unscripted and equally dramatic. If you want something where you can predict what will occur 10 minutes into watching it, turn on your favorite sitcom. If you want unpredictable action and heart-stopping suspense, turn on a sporting event. With any luck, you may get hooked.