Why do so many people feel such pride when their sports team wins?

It’s fun and entertaining. Party pooper.

I’ve been proud of a team for doing well, but have never felt that pride for myself because they did well. I don’t feel like I had anything to do with their win, however.

Well I can only speak for myself, so I will. Passion, passion for a life long interest. I’ve celebrated the highs & suffered the lows so many times that I’ve forgotten most of them. I mean, I’m well aware it’s just a sport, in my case primarily football. Of course, when the match is over I switch off football fan mode & re-enter normal life mode. Having said all that however, I have had moments when my team is successful when I’ve thought, what the hell am I happy for. I personally haven’t achieved anything nor really gained in any real way. I guess once bitten by the bug, there’s no getting away from it. Come hell or high water. Marching on Together! <<<< My team’s song.

I haven’t a clue what that dynamic is all about. I’m not a sports nut at all.

They picked a winner before it was a winner.

Did the Phillies win today?

I think a percentage of it might be the fantasy-leaguer’s who pay untold quantities of money for… I don’t know what. Gambling, you could say, in a sense, for prizes. And a leaderboard rank. They chose a winning team and get a payout or something in return, so those who participate actually can be proud of something.

I’d just like to take this moment to say:

“Suck it, Texas! See you on Tuesday!”

@Seek_Kolinahr pwnt.

Sense of belonging.

Probably for the same reason anyone who belongs to any kind of group (political, academic, etc.) feels proud when the group wins: he/she derives individual member victory out of group victory.

Personally, I think this is often misguided pride.

I don’t feel pride when my teams win, just happiness because they won. I have liked the same football and baseball team for about 18 years now. I’ve cheered for them during some pretty bad seasons, so when they are having a good season, I’m happy they are pulling it together.

We needn’t go any further than @Seek_Kolinahr‘s answer. It’s fun.

It’s all in the entertainment value. You could just as well choose a contestant on a TB competition/game show, and cheer for them, then feel pride when they win. Probably a better choice of words would be delight , satisfaction or joy at having played or backed a winner.

Everyone must have a hero. someone or something to look up to and forward to in life. some people play the sports and that is self-explanatory. other people, for whatever reason, are only capable of being a sports fan. it gives them something to do in life, other than work or watch television.

I am not a big sports enthusiast, but i do support Vanderbilt, University of Tennessee and The Tennessee Titans. why? i live here and they are my home teams. they represent my state and where i live. one day, you will understand this.

When a fan gives up money for the team, like buying tickets or ordering a game, that fan is given a right to that feeling of ownership. Someone putting time and energy into the outcome. Who wouldn’t be happy if “their” team won. it’s a sense of pride.

Identification/transference.
I love my Steelers but when they win, that’s how I say it, I never say “we”. Apparently, the merchandising companies know that I am in the minority and are not counting on my dollars to stay afloat.

I ment you not as a singular or the minority but “you” as the consumer, that involves everyone that spends money on team nick nac’s, tickets, tv and beer. Those NFL comercials are on for a reason. And just to drop some philosophy on ya, minority is a state of mind. We, and I mean human beings, are all minority’s to someone else. Go Dolphins, even when they lose on the reg.

Wow! I guess Philadelphia really is different!

As a huge fan of the NFL, I must say that it gives me a chance to escape from my own reality and depend on a TEAM of people to do the winning. :)

And besides that, my father was a die-hard fan of the opposite team I root for so it made it so much more fun growing up to have a rivalry going on in the house.

Honestly, when I am having a bad week at work (a lot lately), I look forward to Sundays and Mondays so much because I can step out of my world for a little while and get caught up in the moment of the intensity of the game.

However, my team is losing this year so it’s been a bit frustrating but I feel I can relieve some personal stress by yelling at my team.

this is quite funny to me, I am sure other fans will get it also