I must confess, it’s really hard to write anything about the Miami Heat when they’re on a losing streak. I try to blame this heavy feeling and sense of despair on the pandemic, but nope.
I have to get real. I am really affected by my favorite team losing.
Basically, when the Miami Heat lose, I just don’t have it. Let’s dive a bit deeper on those feelings though.
Fan Psychology
Thomas Van Schalk of sportsnetworker.com had an article, “The Psychology Of Social Sports Fans: What Makes Them So Crazy?” explaining that what I’m feeling is normal. And if you look at the psychology of it, it might be remnants of when people belonged to tribes.
So, grouping ourselves with our favorite sports team or player was a way of reconnecting “with those intense emotions that tribal warfare did for their ancestors.”
Well, rooting for a team instead of hunting down another human being with an ax makes me feel better for being an avid Miami Heat fan. But the gloomy thoughts and feelings, as if I’m under a dark cloud is not such a fun thing.