Have you ever had your heart ripped out of your chest cavity in your most vulnerable time and had it crushed by the weight of 1,000 suns? No? Well I have. And I’m not talking in the romantic sense, or that of a deep love for someone, I’m talking about the fiery fervor of fandom. Whether it’s fandom for a sports team, a band, or a television show, mostly everyone is a fan of something. Of all the things that i'm a fan of, my biggest fandom is for the San Antonio Spurs, the only professional sports team in San Antonio, Texas, where I was born and raised. The Spurs are a historically great franchise winning 60% of all of their games ever played, and winning five NBA championships. But it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows for the Spurs, in fact quite recently there was a very dark period for the team, where a single shot leveled the morale of the team and an …show more content…
I was at my friend Luke’s house, he was throwing a viewing party for the game, the crisp scent of potato chips and anticipation still torment my memories. It was game 6 of the 2013-2014 NBA finals, the San Antonio Spurs were playing the Miami Heat, the Spurs came into the game with a 3-2 series lead, and just needed this win to secure the Championship. With twenty-eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Spurs held a 94-89 lead, a usually insurmountable lead at that point in the game. NBA league officials started to cordon parts of the arena floor to prepare for the championship celebration. But something miraculous happened.
Everything for a year had been leading up to this point and here I was in the middle of the happiest place on earth in tears because my friends had abandoned me in the middle of Disney on the senior trip.
Sport fans, sometimes also called sport devotees, followers, or supporters, are persons who are enthusiastically devoted to a particular athlete, team or sport. They may show their enthusiasm by often attending sporting events or watch on television, being members of a fan club, follow sport news through newspapers, online websites, and creating fanzines. Their disposition is often such that they will experience a game or event by living through their favored players or teams. These behaviors manifest itself in different ways. To enable better understanding of these behavioral patterns, we have to classify these sports fans into groups based on their devotion to teams: fair-weather fans, bandwagon and the super-fans.
The San Antonio Spurs redefined basketball in terms of their play on the court and their ability to be profitable despite being in a small market. They have to be very good on the court for them to generate revenue unlike the big market teams like the New York Knicks who struggled on the court but are #1 in brand value and revenue generation. Their team brand of basketball is not the popular version compared to the rest of the NBA, which has more flashiness and spectacular plays. However, critics and the NBA as a model franchise appreciate them. They continue to be a model team with no off field issues and are heavily involved in the local community. Prominent NBA writer, Kevin Arnovitz, chronicles the current Spurs dynasty with an important question to all the basketball fans: Do you care about the San Antonio Spurs? (7).
It all started this one day this kid or should I say man named Kyrie Irving. He and his teammate were stretching, why, because the biggest game of their life is happening! This game was a basketball game and they are playing The Golden State Warriors. The Golden State Warriors had just blew a 3-1 lead and this is the final game and this is it whoever wins gets a ring and everything. So Kyrie Irving is getting ready and he is really nervous, because it’s a really big game and Golden State has some of the best three point shooters ever. Also two time MVP Stephen Curry, but that don’t faze Kyrie Irving. So the game was starting and Kyrie had some butterflies in his stomach, but he is ready for the game. He has been ready for this
The importance of fans is vital because in addition to skill talent and hardwork, fans greatly affect how a team performs in their games. They affect the way a player plays because fans have a way of getting into their players heads and the opponent's head, even the referees are affected by the fans and we rarely notice the importance. In 2001 a Sports Ethics article “ The Ideal Fan” by Myles Dichter he explains the importance of fans and connection between fans
...e Western Conference. While a casual NBA fan probably will never root for their team to lose, it is not only an unorthodox way to root for a team; it can also prove to be extremely effective in the long run.
...d actually passed it and stole it mid-flight. He was all alone, everyone behind him, clear path to the basket. He finger rolled it out of his hands and into the hoop. Tie game with ten seconds left. LeBron James slowly dribbled up the court as the clock clicked down. He hesitated and then quickly drove by Kevin Durant. Past half court now with three seconds left. LeBron knew he only had time to hoist up a deep prayer from way outside. As he stopped, Kevin was charging from behind as he released the deep bomb. Kevin slapped the ball from behind and the buzzer sounded. They were heading to another overtime. This game was no longer a five on five matchup. It was one on one. LeBron James vs Kevin Durant. LeBron James and Kevin Durant will always be heavily compared and contrasted, long after their days in the league and while the game of basketball continues to evolve.
Two years ago, my basketball team and I made the 123 mile trip from hometown, Norfolk to Nebraska’s state capital to compete in the annual Class A State Basketball Championships. We had an astonishing 25-0 record heading into the tournament. Our 25-0 record was the best in the state and something that had never been done before in our school’s history. We went into our first round matchup thinking we were just going to show up and walk our way into the state final. Boy were we wrong. We got down early and were never able to recover. When the final buzzer sounded and we were on the losing end, my team and I were in shock. What had just happened? We were suppose to win the whole tournament, but now our season had come to a screeching halt. That one loss taught me more than all 25 of the previous wins combined.
This was an amazing day for the city of Cleveland. It was LeBron James’ first official regular season game back with the Cleveland Cavalier after leaving for four full seasons to play with the Miami Heat. While he won two championships in four tries with the Miami Heat (which at the time was more than the zero he had with his first tenure with the Cavs) LeBron apparently had a burning desire in his heart to return home. I had the amazing opportunity to attend this game, which was an absolute blessing, looking back at it today I didn’t truly understand the impact this game had on the city of Cleveland as a whole. When they announced the starting lineups excitement began to fill the arena, and when LeBron’s name was announced the whole arena, filled by 20,562 Cleveland Cavalier fans, exploded into roars and cheers. This truly was a moment that defines sports, LeBron returning home to try and win a championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that drafted him 1st overall all the way back in 2003, the team that always believed in him and his leadership ability from the very beginning. It didn’t matter who else was on the floor with him, he was a fierce competitor back then and still is to this day. As a leader on the floor we all know LeBron has absolutely no weakness in his game, he does everything great, but what most people don’t know is LeBron is a true leader off the court too. He
...t was trying to stay alive against the San Antonio Spurs. Luckily, they pulled a NBA championship against the veterans which gave Miami Heat victory.
The time on the clock was 4:30 when the doorbell rang, fifteen minutes early. My three teamates were extremely anxious to get to the Center. I opened the front door and to my surprise the whole team was outside in their cars. They were all spiffed up in their shirts and ties, determined to win the game. As I threw my equipment in my friends car I was hoping that the next time I put it in there I would have a championship medal hanging around my neck.
I held onto my teammates and my friend’s hand tightly, before we started our first game of the SAIC season of 8/9 basketball. This game was special; some might say the most important of the season. This year I wanted to leave something that the younger underclassmen can look up to and follow; a legacy for myself. As I released my good friend’s hand, who was also playing her final game at SAIC, we spoke through our eyes. No matter how insignificant this game was to the world, to us it seemed like this one victory could change everything in how others view us. There was one action that I was at first hesitant in doing, afraid of failing and encumbering my team, I had to make a shot from the three-point line. The ball escaped my fingertips, my
After countless hours of uncomfortable naps and tasteless meals between flights, we finally arrived at the unfamiliar land of America. Leaving all our dear friends and families behind, I was told that we came here in hope of a better future, my future specifically. I was never really socially active and at the time, English was a whole new concept that I have yet to understand. The inability to communicate with other makes it even harder for me to express myself and it mold my personality to become more antisocial than I ever was. There’s always this uneasy feeling that linger when someone talk to me and I cannot give them a response and it’s even harder to say something because I was afraid of making a mistake and make a fool out of myself.
Down two with six seconds to go fatigue had taken it tolls on the players. With little energy left; over time was not an option. I knew I had to go for the win. I walk on the floor confident of my ability that was until the whistle blew quickly turning my confident to butterflies. As I fought to get open I quickly saw the ball coming my way. As I rose for a jump shot time itself began to stay still. An in flesh everything became silent. As I watch the ball leave my hand I envisioned greatness; sure the ball was on its way in I started to celebrate that was until I hear the announcer say my teammate tip in miss shot to win us the game. Mix with emotion I celebrate with my teammate. “Ok guys, we have 24 hours until tip off. Get some rest because this is going to be the biggest game of your life. Let’s bring this championship back to Barton College. Go Bulldogs and Goodnight!” Why few players stay in the lobby to hang out I took it talk upon to work on my game and reflect on the semifinal game that just took place. At basketball games you will notice how there are all sorts of fans attending the game.