Any true fan knows the pain that cheering for their team can bring. Losses, whether close or not, tear the heart out of supporters time and time again. Many times, fans are quick to play the blame game, saying things like, “if only he would have caught that,” or, “I could have done better than that.” Why is that though? Why do fans turn so quickly on their own teams? I have been guilty of this myself.
As a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, I have been witness to my fair share of atrocious losses. I have said things such as, “Jameis Winston stinks,” and “our defense looks like they have never played football before.” I do not even know why I do this.
Maybe it shows how much true devotion fans have for their favorite teams. They genuinely take losses personally and feel upset at the loss by their favorite team. Oftentimes, it means just as much to the fan as it does to the player. There is a reason fans often refer to their team as “we:” cheering for a team makes them a part of one’s identity. Their true love and devotion to the team can be expressed as anger when the team performs poorly.
Think of a time when someone you love messed up. You still love them, but you still express anger at their actions. For many fans, this same thought process applies to their sports teams. Although singing the team song or screaming at the top of your lungs is a great way to show support, getting angry at your favorite team might actually show just how much devotion and love you have for your team as a fan.