With the 2012 Super Bowl quickly approaching, Giants and Patriots fans can barely sit still. They're putting on their Manning and Brady jerseys in anticipation for kickoff. The nerves make unbearable butterflies in their stomachs as if they're playing in the game. But wait, they're not! In fact, nothing in their life will change whether their team wins or loses today. It's this concept that blows my mind about sports. People live and die with a team they literally have no connection towards. I can't deny it, I'm the same way. You don't want to talk to me the day after the Yankees or U.S soccer loses. As much as I try to remind myself a Yankees loss doesn't deviate my life's path in any way, it just doesn't work. Why I ask myself!?
Sports changes America's landscape, especially every football Sunday. Fans come together from all over the country to celebrate their team's win or cry together after their teams defeat. Sports provides a sense of belonging, gives people a purpose, unites people, brings out the best in people, and brings out the worst in people. Fans want a win for their team more than anything. Sign onto YouTube and you’ll be able to watch fans go at it in the stands all day. Stadiums, such as Red Bull Arena, and Lincoln Financial Field even have jail cells built into them to detain fighters. Why do fans ruin their criminal records over a team they’re not even a part of? It's the passion! The passion stems from pride. Everybody wants to be able to go back to work the next day with their head held high knowing they are the champions. They want to rub the loss in their co workers face or give their boss a high five in celebration of the win. On the surface, sports set up artificial competitions that don’t really serve any purpose. After all, nothing really hinges on who gets to the finish line first. But I am so thankful for sports. It brings the world together unlike anything else in existence.
Tonight, a city will be united as champions of the world. Their fans will parade in the streets, proudly wearing their team's jersey on their backs. World champions gear will be sold at record setting rates. My life may not change with the Giants victory tonight, but I'll feel a sense of belonging I haven't felt since their last super bowl win. I'll feel a sense of unity and belonging with my fellow New Yorkers and G-men nation. And that is why I have an excuse to feel as nervous for this game as our starting quarterback.
I just must say, I couldn't agree more with you. Especially the way our campus is clearly divided on opposite sides, Patriots and Giants. It is much more than just a game. It is bragging rights for the next year. It is the ultimate form of unification as you stated. We have every right to feel nervous. No one likes to be gloated at.
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You have certainly made your point about the power of sports, and I doubt many would disagree with you. There is a pull there that captures a huge chunk of our nation and certainly can be worth a lot of money. That being said, it is interesting to think in terms of the overall picture. Is it a good thing to be so vicariously entrenched in someone else's victory? Obviously there are both positive and negatives, but it would be interesting to actually examine and try to classify sports as either "good" or "bad", although that maybe neigh impossible to do.
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