Sports fandom, one of the best, worst things for oneself
American League's Julio Rodriguez, of the Seattle Mariners, bats during the MLB All-Star baseball Home Run Derby, Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
How about the Seattle Mariners?
The MLB is fresh off the all-star break and the Mariners are the talk of the league.
Mariners’ 23-year-old star Julio Rodriguez finished second at the home run derby behind Juan Soto, further cementing the Mariners folklore in 2022.
Before the break, the M's were still making waves by winning 14 games in a row, its longest winning streak since 2002.
The win streak has placed Seattle in second place in the American League East, and the wildcard standings, yet, it still seems as though Seattle fans are still struggling to believe in the Mariners.
Based on social media reactions from fans, it seems to be because they've seen this song and dance before.
It's almost equivalent to getting your heart broken repeatedly. You're full of hope and optimism, but you're skeptical because this is familiar territory.
These fans have been numb to the pain that the Mariners have dished out to them over the last two decades; it's hard to accept that the win streak isn't a fluke.
Why is that? Well, being a sports fan is one of the worst and best things you can do to yourself emotionally, especially for a team that doesn't have a winning tradition.
As a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, this is something that I can relate to. However, also as a Jaguars fan, I can see the other side of the coin, being overly optimistic and believing that the win streak is a turning point.
That's the best part about being a sports fan at the end of the day, isn't it? Sticking around with a team for so long to finally see the rewards of your fandom pay off.
It doesn't even need to be a championship, and that's the best part. It can be something small like winning a regular season game, going on a win streak, or having a good offseason.
These are the things that have given Dallas Cowboys fans optimism since 1990..
Can you blame them, though? There's an old saying that goes, "how can you not be romantic about baseball?" That saying goes for all sports, whether a competitor, a coach, or a fan.
If you're a Mariners fan, don't let the people, or the organization get you down. It may be a long season, but these small victories are going to keep you intrigued all the way until October.