How lunatic sports fans are made: The “jumping dad” theory
Posted on 10. Jan, 2011 by Brett in God
Tonight the Auburn University Tigers will be playing the University of Oregon Ducks in the BCS National Championship game. Several dramatic storylines and two napalm offenses have made this one of the most anticipated BCS championship games ever.
As a big time Alabama Crimson Tide fan, I have to admit that I’m pumped to watch the game tonight. I’ll be pulling for the Ducks, and I’ll be pulling for Auburn. The Crimson in me wants to see Bama’s longtime rival fall. The SEC in me wants to see Auburn embarrass the Ducks, tightening the conference’s 5-year death-grip on the rest of the college football world. Doesn’t really matter who wins; I’m a fan of college football and I’m looking forward to a good game.
What I’m not looking forward to is the social media blitzkrieg that will follow the game.
I’ve seen it all before: lunatic fans using Twitter, Facebook, and message boards as their personal attack platforms. Arrogance, anger, and jealousy fuel the carnage as words become hand grenades. I’m not talking about your standard trash talk–that’s part of rivalries and sports in general. I’m talking about irrational, emotionally-fueled nonsense. Fans going back and forth with comments stacking up in little steaming clumps for all the world to see on Facebook or Twitter. The fireworks go late into the night until everyone falls asleep. Then everyone wakes up the next morning and tweets about going to church.
But it leaves me asking…
WHY?
Why are people so emotional over “their” team? Why will people alienate friends and family over a sports team? Why do people who are calm and sensible in everyday life become crazy instigators online? With all the important issues in our world, why are people so dang passionate about sports?
My buddy/Auburn-superfan Wes Howard wrote a blog post this morning that got me thinking about this. You can read the full article here, but here’s an excerpt…
“Fans can argue (and will) all day long about who is better and it can get ugly, but in the end it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s important that we keep that in mind, but there is something special about a father and son connecting over a sport. Some of my favorite memories are from watching Auburn games with my dad. We would jump up and down and scream at the TV.”
What’s ironic about this is that I grew up one street over from Wes in Florence, Alabama. While he and his dad were “jumping up and down” cheering for Auburn, my dad and I were doing the same thing, only we were cheering for Bama. Two little boys with two dads leaping out of their recliners cheering for their team.
I’ve thought about this before, but Wes’s post clarified it for me. I think lunatic sports fans become that way because that is precisely what dad was. Of course kids imitating their parents isn’t a new revelation, but think about it: As a child, when did you see your dad get truly happy? When did you see dad get visibly giddy? For many people, the only time they saw their dad so full of life was when his team was scoring a touchdown.
I had a great dad–loving in every way–but there was a different kind of joy that would come out of him when he cheered for Bama. It didn’t matter what else was going on. It didn’t matter what was happening with his job. It didn’t matter what other stresses of life were bearing down on our family.
In that moment, a father’s joy reigned supreme. It filled our living room like an intoxicating fog, putting smiles on the faces of me, mom, my two brothers, and probably even the dog.
Forget the thermostat; I believe a father’s emotional state truly determines the atmosphere of a home. And when that atmosphere is electrified by a dad cheering for a sports team, it tattoos a child’s soul with a message that says, “This brings joy. This is who we are.” And a little piece of that child’s identity gets permanently tethered to that object of joy.
Sports are great. I think they serve a purpose in society. I think they teach us about teamwork and leadership. I think they tell great little stories that bring us happiness in this life. This is not a sports-bashing post. I just wonder what would happen…
If Christian dads allowed their kids to see them get excited about things that really matter.
If Christian dads strategically planned their enthusiasm in the direction of things that matter, knowing that little eyes are watching.
If Christian dads allowed themselves to jump out of the recliner…
for things that really matter.
50 Responses to “How lunatic sports fans are made: The “jumping dad” theory”
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Rick Barnes
11. Jan, 2011
Clutch post, Brett. Everyone I’ve ever met who isn’t really into college football seems to have one of two characteristics: either their family didn’t watch football growing up, or, they showed no interest from the get-go even when their family did watch.
God’s been working on me big time in this area. I become extremely irritable and angry and excited when I watch games. If my team wins, I’m happy. If they lose, I’m furious. I don’t want my kids to be like that. I want them to be able to enjoy whatever they want (whether it be football or art museums), but not be mastered by anything – see post: http://ricksworshipblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/sometimes-god-closes-in-on-us.html
Brett
11. Jan, 2011
Yep. I found myself in that same irritable state after Bama losses a few years ago. That’s when I knew it was time to reevaluate. It shouldn’t have that much effect on me.
Will Kahler
11. Jan, 2011
We had some similar moments at the Kahler house when Dennis Scott stole an in bounds pass and hit a GW3 vs. UNC, or when Fred McGriff hit a GW HR at the All-Star game, etc. Loved those “dad jumping” moments!
Brian Baulch
31. Jan, 2011
Fantastic post Brett. I really like the ending, as well as the overall message in the article. It really is true what you said about how emotion tattoos a child’s mind with “this is ____” (I would add accepted, edified, pleasing to my parents).
The sad thing is that too many fathers don’t share the same enthusiasm over their child’s first sack, or their first winning shot at a basketball game. Imagine the world of young men we would have if fathers would take time to make highlight reels of their own children, and put everything else aside for an evening to eat buffalo wings and watching their own child perform. Think about making it a family event, or even a monthly event to showcase your children. What about having flyers around the house or flags with the child’s name on them stating “Live on 1/10/11 on channel AUX we have ______ on to feature his Top 10 plays of 2010! Don’t miss it.” I know that it would have been beneficial to me as a young boy to see my father celebrate my achievements above someone else’s, especially on TV.
Thanks again for the post’s Brett, you are a tremendously talented writer. Thanks also for being a great example of a sports fan, among other things.
Brett
31. Jan, 2011
Dang, Brian! Those are really great ideas. I agree that as a society, we celebrate others poorly.
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