Fans: Why does winning the cup matter to YOU?

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

It's the same reason you refer to your team as we/us. You either get it or you don't

 

[rumrokh]

While I appreciate the coherent response, I detect a level of emotion and hostility that is unwarranted. Yes, the phrase is "I won't lose sleep" and yes, that likely implies others may lose sleep, but your leap toward levels of investment and justification of priorities are a little on the deep end. Cool it. The statement refers to those having an attachment to winning versus attachment to entertainment, but not attachment to hockey. Please temper your emotions.

On to coherent conversation.
1) Not all hockey is entertaining in my opinion. You may feel so, but do not state otherwise as fact. Trapping is not entertaining to me, no matter how beautiful system play may be.
2) Battle for success is a significant part of entertainment is true.
3) Local interests is highly overstated in my opinion. While team success can take hold of a city, it is the journey to the cup that is taking hold. The actual winning of the cup is the cherry, with a parade following, but in aggregate, is but a slice of the city's fever. This is why I feel as though entertainment trumps winning the cup.

I'm very interested to hear you tell me which of my words were hostile.

I think your point 1 settles this entire discussion. You find some hockey entertaining. Other people find other things entertaining. You are less gratified by a championship than you perceive others to be. That's not just fine, that's expected. Where it falls apart is where you say that other people "should have a more vested interest in ENTERTAINING hockey." You're directly saying that other people should share your tastes.

 

[NotProkofievian]

The question is not begged, it is raised. And the answer to your question is CUZ I WANT IT!

 

[Apotheosis]

There's a human component from evolution; tribalism. We survived by living in packs (our ancestors that is). Our traditional societies continued to thrive with gender roles and a typical family household culture. Supporting your team and wanting them to win is akin to being part of the tribe (the team being part of it as well). It's also a pre-dominantly male thing to do so. Any basic conversation between two opposing fans on a basic fundamental level always comes back to "Oh, my team is better because x and y did this to yours last time" -> basic tribalism; surviving by being the stronger/better human/team.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

There's no rational explanation for it, no good reason to be so invested in a sports team that really none of us have anything to do with personally.

But that doesn't change the fact that a Rangers cup win would be one of the best moments of my life. Why? Idk ask a sociologist.

 

[IamNotADancer]

There is only one correct answer to this and somebody already answered it.

Much like Religion this is a matter of tribalism. You feel empowered when "your tribe" becomes superior to other tribes, which you can witness every year on the playoff boards and after a team wins the cup.

Looking at it from a rational point of view it seems rather silly that a grown man is happy a team of strangers wins a trophy/cup without his/her own doing.
So, yeah tribalism at its finest. Psychology is a heck of a thing.

 

[Fandlauer]

My life is hollow and boring, so I decide to live vicariously through millionaire athletes.

 

[ACC1224]

If you have to ask this question, you won't understand the answer.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

As a fan, part of the fun part is that the team you've watched "grow up" gets the national stage. Many players who you've followed since their junior days are now the topic of conversation. You know their life story and all the challenges the team had to overcome, and that story gets shared with the rest of the hockey world.

That's why even making a deep run can be exciting. I recall back in 2012 when the devils made their Cinderella run to the finals and Adam Henrique scored a bunch of big goals along the way. It was nice to see the kid get some press.

That's all obviously besides the fact that winning is fun.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I'm not sure why for most of the time, but right now the Devils had a few really bad years, it makes it really hard to crap on Rangers fans.

But if NJ wins the cup, look out NYR fans, smack talk is coming.

 

[TheMule93]

The same reason them winning, losing, or doing anything matters for me

I'm emotionally invested in their success which makes me a fanatic

 

[hfman]

While I appreciate the coherent response, I detect a level of emotion and hostility that is unwarranted. Yes, the phrase is "I won't lose sleep" and yes, that likely implies others may lose sleep, but your leap toward levels of investment and justification of priorities are a little on the deep end. Cool it. The statement refers to those having an attachment to winning versus attachment to entertainment, but not attachment to hockey. Please temper your emotions.

On to coherent conversation.
1) Not all hockey is entertaining in my opinion. You may feel so, but do not state otherwise as fact. Trapping is not entertaining to me, no matter how beautiful system play may be.
2) Battle for success is a significant part of entertainment is true.
3) Local interests is highly overstated in my opinion. While team success can take hold of a city, it is the journey to the cup that is taking hold. The actual winning of the cup is the cherry, with a parade following, but in aggregate, is but a slice of the city's fever. This is why I feel as though entertainment trumps winning the cup.

is this for real

 

[sr edler]

Not all hockey is entertaining in my opinion. You may feel so, but do not state otherwise as fact.

Agree. Stating all hockey is entertaining is just strange. It's like a movie connoisseur would say "Ah, doesn't matter what movie we see, they are all entertaining." They aren't. Some movies are downright awful. Or if a book lover said "Oh, all novels are entertaining". They aren't. Some are just shit. Same with hockey.

 

[TheTechNoir]

Because hockey games are more entertaining when you care about the outcome.

Really simple. I root for the success of those I like. If I was 100% neutral to all outcomes and all players success, the game would be a lot more boring. I am not a, watch a few highlight reels per year sort of casual fan.

This also applies to books, movies, tv shows, other competitive sports, awards, etc.

 

[Fatty McLardy]

I look at it this way. As a die hard fan of a particular hockey team. You become huge fans of the players that play for your team. You see the sacrifices they make, the criticism they receive, among other things. To see your team go through all the hardships of the playoffs, you can't help but feel joy at the end when they achieve the final goal. You're happy for the team but i think most of us are more happy for the players that we are fans of.

 

[TheTechNoir]

Lol when I watched the mooseheads win the memorial cup in saskatoon, and I heard the loudest and longest cheering I have ever heard at a sporting event in my life, pro or not... can you imagine if no one cheered or made news except for me? Would have been the most bizarre feeling in the world. If it was 2 teams I wasn't invested in, would I still have enjoyed the game? Absolutely. But being that it was a team I have rooted for since it's first game in franchise history sure made it more satisfying. I felt like I was family with all the people around me. Quite the electrifying energy and atmosphere. My fandom took it from good game status to best game I have ever watched. Only thing that would top it I think is seeing the flyers hoist the cup live, or eliminate the penguins live.

 

[CBJx614]

Because this is Columbus and anything less than a championship is unacceptable to most here. Because of tOSU the bar is set extremely high for sports teams in Ohio.

 

[CBJx614]

Lol when I watched the mooseheads win the memorial cup in saskatoon, and I heard the loudest and longest cheering I have ever heard at a sporting event in my life, pro or not... can you imagine if no one cheered or made news except for me? Would have been the most bizarre feeling in the world. If it was 2 teams I wasn't invested in, would I still have enjoyed the game? Absolutely. But being that it was a team I have rooted for since it's first game in franchise history sure made it more satisfying. I felt like I was family with all the people around me. Quite the electrifying energy and atmosphere. My fandom took it from good game status to best game I have ever watched. Only thing that would top it I think is seeing the flyers hoist the cup live, or eliminate the penguins live.

As a Jackets fan this would allow me to die peacefully.

 

[IPS]

What a fascinating thread regarding human psychology and how it pertains to watching sports. I hope this discussion continues.

 

[CBJx614]

Also if you've ever been to a game or bought anything related to that team you are indeed literally invested into that team. As a season ticket holder I've invested $1600 in the Jackets, along with thousands of others. We are what literally allows the team to exist, so of course we want to see them win it all.

 

[SotasicA]

I think it comes down to the meaning of life. Why do we bother with any of it?

We are looking for these kind of moments, where we invest ourselves in something, spend our efforts to feel something. Even if it's all for naught in the grander scheme of things. The universe is humongous big, and life as we know it is a tiny proverbial dot in it. I guess we endure it all to have moments that mean something to us.

Why do we do anything at all?

 

[tarheelhockey]

The purpose of playing a game is to win. If I wasn't interested in seeing my team win, why would I watch the game at all?

That said, I do think the league is a bit heavy-handed about the mystique of winning a Cup. The trophy itself is a nice historical artifact, but there's much more to enjoy about the NHL than just the opportunity for one of 31 teams to win the last game of the year.

 

[socko]

I couldn't agree more with the O.P. I literally quit watching hockey for a decade because it was so boring. I don't give a damn about their team goals if they're not entertaining me. Of course, I like to win too.

 

[Everblades13]

So I can talk **** to people who like other teams.

 

[Arthuros]

I came on this website to talk about hockey, not question myself on why I do things...

Cup's big and shiny, I like big and shiny things, I want the Cup.