Richard Gilman's The Secret Lives Of Sports Fans

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"Being a sports fan is a complex matter, in part irrational but not unworthy; a relief from the seriousness of the real world, with its unending pressures and often grave obligations.” (Richard Gilman np). Gilman captures the true essence of sports fans in his quote because he explains how complex fandom really is. Becoming too invested in a sports team may lead to psychological and physical issues due to hormonal changes, emotional spikes, severe stress, and increased media attention. Despite their potential adverse effects, however, sports may also lead to a sense of community well-being, a common language, a safe atmosphere, and the exhilarating gratification of success. In the realm of sports fandom, it 's not uncommon to become too carried away in a game and the aftermath. However, if emotions are controlled well, then watching sports may be beneficial to one 's health. …show more content…
His experience took place at the California Memorial Stadium with ten seconds left in the homecoming game. Kevin Riley, the University of California 's quarterback, was twelve yards away from a legendary victory, as they were down by three points. All he had to do was throw the ball away. As fate would have it, however, he began to run and was eventually tackled which led to a devastating defeat. Simons describes this experience as "one of the most emotionally complicated moments" of his sports fandom life. (Simons np). Although, this moment did cause him to become intrigued in the science behind the most dedicated sports

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