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Post by GEO on May 2, 2006 15:27:10 GMT -5
I just finished watching the movie Fever Pitch in which the main character is a die hard Red Sox fan. From Spring Training until October, he lives and dies with team. He goes to every game, and everything in his life is Red Sox. When he gets a girl friend, he converts her into a giant fan too, but soon, she expects more love for her then she does the Sox. He finds this to be a very hard decision. (Who said movies made sense?)
Point is, do fans live in too much of a fantasy world?
Some fans are die-hards. Like me, for instance. I live and die with the Avs. When they lose, I'm upset. When they win, nothing can put me in a bad mood. But at the end of the day, the effects subside, and I'm over it.
Some fans however are insane. They get to the point where the only way to break their obsession is to move to another city.
How far is to far? Is it ok for people to be really attached to their favorite teams or players? And if it is, why? What has the player ever done for him?
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Post by Duckette on May 2, 2006 16:42:46 GMT -5
I'm like you GEO. If the Ducks lose, I am so angry, you don't want to sit within my arms reach. When they win, I have the biggest smile on my face. When someone's injured, I sit on the edge of my seat, worried about them. BUT, I'm not obssessed to the point that I'd need to move to get away from the Ducks. I think it's ok to be in love with your team and support them through thick and thin. BUT when you go to the point of harming someone or breaking the law to prove your point, thats too far. You can show loyalty to your favorite player. The thing about me liking Jiggy is past him being an athlete. It's more what he did for me without doing anything for me. You might think it's stupid, but it's the truth. When I first saw a hockey game, and Jiggy was playing, I was going through a rouhg time in my life, and I wanted to end it. I watched Jiggy fight and struggle and battle through the game and I loved watching him. It in a way inspired me to keep going in life and not give up. When I met him, he was the nicest guy ever, and went out of his way to make me happy. He took a picture with me when he wasn't supposed to, asked me where on my jersey I wanted him to sign it, instead of just writing on it, then wished me happy birthday and told the other guys it was my birthday. Even through the tough times now, I watch Jiggy fight and battle in games, and the anticipation of seeing him play again is what keeps me going. He was an inspiration in my life, and he's my hero. Now, to that point, I think its ok, until you start worshipping the guy, stalking him, and trying to capture him so he can sign all your stuff ![:P](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/Ge__off/tongueF.gif)
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Post by GEO on May 2, 2006 16:45:47 GMT -5
Your situation is different. In your case, Jiggy DID do something for you. Most fans never meet their favorite players, yet they worship them like none other. How many Lebron fans out there think that he's already the greatest player ever?
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Post by BlackOps on May 2, 2006 18:56:28 GMT -5
I'm not that attached. My whole (conscious) life, the Redskins have lost until last year. I have no experience with the golden years and whatnot. I'm in a bad mood for that Sunday, and was pissed for weeks after the playoffs. But it isn't life for me. Although, I think that will change next year. It's Super Bowl or bust, as opposed to this last year, playoffs or bust; I will be mad if we don't get to the NFC championship game, and chances are (my pro-sports luck), I'll finish the season mad.
On the other hand, college is different. Those guys have always been good, and I could wear it on my sleeve til I die and still be proud.
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Post by Tanguay iz da best on May 2, 2006 21:55:12 GMT -5
It's the fact that the team represents the fans. The fans follow the team and root for them. Also, there is a line between being a fanatic and being insane. There are some things that are more important than sports. Sports are entertainment, for some people, an obsession, but when it starts making the person think 24/7 about a team, that's when they have to do something.
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Post by Duckette on May 3, 2006 1:15:07 GMT -5
In that case, they love the player for their athleticism and marvel at their ability, like many do with Alexander Ovechkin. It can or can't be healthy, just depends on how far they take it.
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Post by ckwatt on May 3, 2006 14:43:30 GMT -5
Bill Shankly (ex Liverpool manager) once said "Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that".
To be honest it's only fans with that sort of attitude who I consider to be going overboard. I've come across people who put their team in front of their family, and that's taking it too far. Similarly, I read about a young girl (about 10 or 11 I think) who was such a fan of David Beckham that when he moved to Real Madrid, she begged her family to move there as well! That again is taking it a few steps too far.
It's hard to say where the line is drawn - while I would say I love Chelsea, I don't love them so much that I'd put them ahead of the really important things in life. As for the player argument, I don't so much admire our players as support and get behind them. Anyway, it's never really struck me to be attached with one particular player...I'm attached to the team in general. Of course I will respect one player more than another if I think they deserve that respect.
On a similar topic, what's your opinion on building monuments and statues of sports people? It seems a bit too much like worship for my liking.
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Post by GEO on May 3, 2006 15:11:10 GMT -5
I think, on the topic of building monuments and statues, that it's fine, as long as it is kept to the stadium. For example, the Flyers have statues of some of the guys on the 1976 team, but they aren't in the middle of Philadelphia, but rather right next to the stadium.
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Post by Tanguay iz da best on May 3, 2006 16:13:17 GMT -5
I think people idolize pro athletes is because they represent the pinnacle of their sport, they are the best of the best. THis is what every athlete aspires to be.
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Post by Duckette on May 4, 2006 0:15:20 GMT -5
The Gretzky Statue outside of Staples Center, it's very fitting (or, atleast I think its there ![:P](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/Ge__off/tongueF.gif) ) When you put the team first, before everything, that's taking it too far. I don't put the Ducks before school, health, God or Family. When people start to put it before everything, then it's an obssession and thats crossing the line.
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Post by ckwatt on May 4, 2006 14:03:54 GMT -5
I think people idolize pro athletes is because they represent the pinnacle of their sport, they are the best of the best. THis is what every athlete aspires to be. Don't you think that it's taken too far at times though? See the example in my previous post. Anyway, I personally don't think anyone should be "idolized" as such purely on athletic ability. Great players should be respected, but I don't think they should really be admired unless they've given something back to the fans (namely years of faithful service while respecting the fans and putting in 100% every game). That is what I would class as a legend, but even then, I wouldn't say I idolized them.
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Post by GEO on May 4, 2006 14:37:58 GMT -5
Where do your favorite teams rank in your lives then? Family..religion...team? Family..religion...education...etc?
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Post by BlackOps on May 4, 2006 15:39:17 GMT -5
Family Religion Sports Talkin' Sports
Education.
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Post by GEO on May 4, 2006 15:43:11 GMT -5
Family Religion Sports Talkin' Sports Education.Debate is over, BlackOps wins. ![:P](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/Ge__off/tongueF.gif)
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Post by Tanguay iz da best on May 5, 2006 16:09:08 GMT -5
Family Education Sports TS Religion
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