After discussing parasocial relationships in class
and reading the blogs done thus far, I started to think about how parasocial
relationships are prevalent in sports. Parasocial relationships are one-sided
relationships with a sense of intimacy, which is how we described them in
class. I liked what user "Planet Green" had to say about them here, but I'll let you check that out on your own
since we all pretty much get the concept.
Let me preface my thought process here.
Whilst perusing the MLB news of late, I noticed
the Chicago Cubs organization is being sued by the Wrigley rooftop businesses over the
new renovations to Wrigley Field. No big deal; people sue all the time, right?
The businesses are pissed because the new renovations will obstruct view of the field from the rooftops. Here are a few simulated images of the problem (below is the one in question, left is still proposed).
What got me thinking about this whole blog idea
were the comments of the article I was reading. Fans, like me, had
opinions on the whole ordeal. There were a few people saying to just up and
ditch Wrigley field and all it's tradition for a new stadium in Chicago, or
just packing up and moving the franchise.
I noticed my eyes watering at the mere thought
of not enjoying my ritual summer ball game at the Friendly Confines, watching
the Cubs perpetually lose, with a dog in one hand and, my newest tradition, a beer in the other. The
atmosphere of Wrigley Field is absolutely intoxicating. The history and vibe of
the entire park just litter the air with nostalgia.
What is it about sports teams that get people to
feel this way? What could a team
possibly do for you as an individual that can make you feel so important?
Don't get me wrong, I get it. The problem, for
me, how can I explain what it is? Bear with me as I do my best
to articulate my thoughts.
I grew up a Cubs fan and a baseball lover. I
played ball for fourteen years, up until I came to college. I don't just love the
team, I love the sport. Aside from baseball itself, I'm a Cubs fan because I
was raised a Cubs fan. My parents are both Cubs fans, though I couldn't say
bigger than I am now, but it was always on at home growing up.
Of course, then (1998), was the great
homerun-derby of a season between Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, which single-handedly
revived Major League Baseball. But my parents didn't have that.
So how did they become Cubs fans?
My mom and pop didn’t have the vast array of TV options we did
when we were prepubescent (they’re in the mid 40’s). They used to tell me that
if baseball was on TV, you mostly had your choice between the Atlanta Braves
and the Chicago Cubs, plus the opposing teams. You would come home from school,
during the season, and a game would likely be on. They both just happened to
pick the Cubs, for whatever reason, I can’t really remember.
I find it interesting how we are attached to these teams for whatever reason. Enough so, that fans hate each other, create rivalries, fight amongst each other, talk trash, etc. It feeds our competitive sides. We can live vicariously through the team we cheer on. I don't think this is where the bond is created, though.
The Cubs, or whatever team is "your" team, will always be there for us, and I think that, most of all, is where the majority of the bond to "our" team stems from. They're not going anywhere. With the Internet at our disposal, we can find out just about anything we want to know about them. They're always within our grasp. They give us hope. They give us something to root for, but if they lose, they'll be back next year.
So, I'll end with this.
So, I'll end with this.
In the ever-true words of a Cubs fan, "there's always next year," for my team or yours.
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