Fan Update- The NY Yankees won their division moving on to thee ALCS against Houston , Go Yankees !
As a native New Yorker I can tell you that my state has suffered a drought when it comes to winning sports teams. We have at least two teams for every major sports league. NY actually has three football teams statewide. This fall season has provided me with incredible joy and surprise. This past weekend the New York Jets, Giants and Bills won. The Yankees are in the playoffs and this success has put me in sports fan heaven. It‘s been so long that I have been privileged to enjoy a winning team, so I decided to research if this phenomenon is beneficial to your psyche.
I am a long time sports fan. As a girl growing up in the sixties there were few opportunities to participate in sports. However I did my share of playing rough and running. My father was an athlete, who actually was recruited to the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team. Needless to say, watching baseball was a seasonal activity for my family. I lived very close to Yankee Stadium and saw many games live. I loved watching the Wide World of Sports, and the Olympics which taught me about many sports.I also have an older brother who played and watched sports. He was a huge fan of the OG Knicks that were very competitive at that time.
It turns out that sports fans have higher levels of self esteem, are less lonely than non–sports fans, and being a fan can be beneficial for one‘s health. A reason for the higher self esteem can come from what is known as a mastery skill. A fan knows so much about the teams they follow that it makes them feel they have mastery about the game and its players. Watching a sports team can lift your mood and take your mind off of stress. When a team is winning the spectators feel like they‘re winning.
Fantasy sports leagues have brought camaraderie among employees. Whether you’re in the office or working remotely, everyone can participate. This enlarges common interests that fellow workers can share. This brings more enthusiasm for work. This helps the participants to feel a sense of belonging.
What Happens when the Team you Follow Loses?
Research shows that if you are watching sports with other fans it can help with the bad feelings of a loss. All fans know there is a 50/50 chance of losing. Fortunately this feeling is usually short-lived. If these negative feelings last, you need to find additional interests. Those fans that have other interests, can just revel in their enjoyment when their teams win. When your team loses. (as I well know), then you can focus on other things. The last time The NY Jets won a Super Bowl was 1969. The NY Giants last Super Bowl win was 2012.. The Yankees last World Series win was 2009. It’s been over a decade since the teams I follow have won their championship. To that I say WTH.
FYI~ This article did not include references to the NY hockey, basketball or soccer teams. The reason being I‘m not a fan.
1 thought on “How Being a Sports Fan is Beneficial to Your Psyche”
I’m Meg’s older brother and yes I rooted for the “back in the day” Knicks. Also rooted for the NY Giants football team. I did not, however, root for the Yankees. I actually vendored at Yankee Stadium as a kid in the early 60s, and after the games the players left the Stadium to get in their cars with Jersey tags to drive home to Jersey. Kids would wait by the Stadium exit for Mantle and Maris to emerge, seeking their autographs. Both those guys would brush the kids aside, cross the street to the player parking lot, get into their cars, and drive home to Jersey. Their brush off of the kids completely turned me off to them and the Yankees. Yankee Stadium was fine for vendoring and making pocket money, but a Yankee fan I was not then nor now. I rooted for the Mets. Sorry they’ve been eliminated from the playoffs.