I never understood sports fans until walking around Key West with my Navy buddy who wore a hat for the Browns. Random dudes kept cracking jokes at and/or with him the whole day. Still ain’t enough to get me into the cult, but I get the appeal now.
As a dude who’s sometimes socially awkward and struggles to connect with men, becoming invested in football seemed like a serious cheat code to me tbh. Sit with random strangers at a bar? They’re wearing something that makes their club affiliation obvious, or they spot yours? You’re there talking how is the season going, is their keeper recovered, when will your striker score again? And maybe throw some well-meant insults while saying cheers.
As a guy who is socially awkward with other men, the longer I’m around them, the more difficult it is for me to conceal how very different I am from them.
Sometimes I think I should spend a few minutes each day reading the sports headlines, just so I know what’s going on enough to banter with people about the latest goings-on.
As long as we get to pick our tribes, realize that it is all good-spirited tribalism and banter, and are able to tolerate if people pick a different tribe, I’m cool with it. Hell yeah, brother 🤘
Most of the time it’s the social aspect that is infectious. It gives you something in common with other fans that would otherwise be strangers to you
I never understood sports fans until walking around Key West with my Navy buddy who wore a hat for the Browns. Random dudes kept cracking jokes at and/or with him the whole day. Still ain’t enough to get me into the cult, but I get the appeal now.
As a dude who’s sometimes socially awkward and struggles to connect with men, becoming invested in football seemed like a serious cheat code to me tbh. Sit with random strangers at a bar? They’re wearing something that makes their club affiliation obvious, or they spot yours? You’re there talking how is the season going, is their keeper recovered, when will your striker score again? And maybe throw some well-meant insults while saying cheers.
As a guy who is socially awkward with other men, the longer I’m around them, the more difficult it is for me to conceal how very different I am from them.
Sometimes I think I should spend a few minutes each day reading the sports headlines, just so I know what’s going on enough to banter with people about the latest goings-on.
But, ain’t got time or energy for all that.
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
What was Wenger thinking, sending Walcott on that early?
Thing about Arsenal, they always try and walk it in.
Aye, like wearing a cool metal shirt and getting the horns from a complete stranger. We do like our tribe(s), don’t we?
As long as we get to pick our tribes, realize that it is all good-spirited tribalism and banter, and are able to tolerate if people pick a different tribe, I’m cool with it. Hell yeah, brother 🤘