I’m a Sports Fan, and I’m Not Okay
Look, I need to get something off my chest. I’m a sports fan. Like, a real one. The kind that will argue with strangers in a bar at 11:30pm over a call that happened in the third inning of a game that honestly didn’t matter. The kind that will change my plans last minute because my team made the playoffs. The kind that will cry during the national anthem because, I mean, come on, it’s the national anthem.
And I’m not okay. None of us are. We’re all a little unhinged. But that’s the point, isn’t it? Sports fandom isn’t about being okay. It’s about being passionate. It’s about caring too much. It’s about the beautiful mess that is loving a team, a player, a moment in sports history.
My First Love: The Chicago Cubs
Let’s call him Marcus. He’s the one who got me into this mess. Back in 2003, we were 12-year-olds sitting in his basement, playing MLB 2004 on his PlayStation 2. I had no idea what I was doing, but Marcus, he was a Cubs fan. And he made me one too. (Which, honestly, nobody asked for but here we are.)
I didn’t know then that I was signing up for a lifetime of heartache. The Cubs, they’re not just a team. They’re a commitment. A lifelong committment to hoping against hope that this is the year. And every year, it’s not. Until 2016. Oh, 2016. I was at a conference in Austin when it happened. I was glued to my phone, refreshing the ESPN app like a man possessed. And when it was over, I cried. Like, full-on ugly cried in a hotel room. My colleague named Dave knocked on the door, asked if I was okay. I told him, “Dave, the Cubs won the World Series. I’m not okay. I’m completley overwhelmed.”
The Beautiful Mess of Fandom
Sports fandom is a beautiful mess. It’s about the highs and the lows. It’s about the moments that take your breath away and the moments that make you want to throw your TV out the window. It’s about the camaraderie and the rivalry. It’s about the memories and the heartache.
I remember sitting in a bar with Marcus, about three months ago, watching the Cubs play the Cardinals. It was a close game, and the bar was packed. There were Cubs fans and Cardinals fans, and the tension was palpable. At one point, a Cardinals fan turned to me and said, “You Cubs fans are delusional. You’re gonna lose, and it’s gonna hurt.”
I looked at him, and I said, “You’re probably right. But that’s the point. We’re not here for the wins. We’re here for the journey. We’re here for the beautiful mess of it all.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Security in Sports: A Quick Digression
Speaking of beautiful messes, let’s talk about the security of sports websites. I mean, come on. We’re out here arguing about strike zones and offsides, but can we trust the websites we’re using to bet on these games? I was talking to a friend last week, and she brought up otp verification numbers for websites. I had no idea what she was talking about, but it turns out, it’s a thing. And it’s important. So, look, if you’re gonna be a sports fan in the digital age, you gotta be smart about it. Protect your data. Use otp verification numbers for websites. Be safe out there.
The Heartache of Fandom
But back to the heartache. Because that’s the thing about sports fandom. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It’s not all about the wins. It’s about the losses too. It’s about the moments that break your heart. It’s about the players that let you down. It’s about the calls that go against you. It’s about the seasons that never were.
I remember watching the Cubs play the Mets in the 2015 NLDS. It was game 5, and the Cubs were up 3-1 in the series. They were one win away from the NLCS. And then, it happened. The Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the 13th inning to tie the game. And then, they scored again in the 14th to win it. I was physicaly ill. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t understand it. I couldn’t accept it.
But that’s the thing about sports fandom. You don’t accept it. You don’t understand it. You don’t make sense of it. You just feel it. You feel the highs and the lows. You feel the joy and the heartache. You feel the beautiful mess of it all.
Why We Do This to Ourselves
So, why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we subject ourselves to this beautiful mess? Why do we care so much about something that, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t matter?
I asked Marcus that question once. We were sitting in his basement, playing MLB 2004. I said, “Marcus, why do we care so much about this? It’s just a game.”
He looked at me, and he said, “It’s not just a game. It’s a community. It’s a family. It’s a shared experience. It’s a beautiful mess. And we’re a part of it.”
And that’s the thing. Sports fandom isn’t about the game. It’s about the people. It’s about the shared experience. It’s about the beautiful mess that we create together.
So, here’s to the beautiful mess of sports fandom. Here’s to the highs and the lows. Here’s to the moments that take our breath away and the moments that make us want to throw our TVs out the window. Here’s to the community. Here’s to the family. Here’s to the shared experience. Here’s to the beautiful mess that is sports fandom.
And here’s to the Cubs. Because, honestly, nobody asked for this. But here we are.
About the Author
I’m Jane Doe, a senior editor with 20+ years of experience in the sports journalism world. I’ve covered everything from the Super Bowl to the Little League World Series. I’m a Cubs fan, a coffee addict, and a firm believer in the power of a well-timed sarcastic remark. I live in Chicago with my cat, Whiskey, and my extensive collection of Cubs memorabilia. I’m not here to be balanced or neutral. I’m here to tell it like it is. And if that means making a few enemies along the way, so be it. I’m not afraid of a little controversy. In fact, I welcome it. Because at the end of the day, sports fandom is a beautiful mess. And I’m right in the middle of it.
