Does the sport we love get attached to us? Does the sportsman/sportswoman/sports team/sports icon get attached to us? In our consciousness, in our thought processes, in our ideology, in our relationships? In the core and essence of our belief systems, in the values we promise to uphold, in our faith, in our choices?
Do we change our habits, passions, performance based on our idolizing or getting attached in thought, idea or imagination to one of our sporting figures/teams or the sport that we love?
Does Sport have an influence? If so, how much?
Do sporting figures define our parameters? If so, in what way?
Does sports influence our decision making process to even a minute extent? Before you shout out a no, just look at even the decision making process involved in the purchase of a hair spray or nasal drops. Just naming two items here, it could extend to any or all of the consumables, durables and other commodities, including watches, cars, trousers, brands.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Does it matter if your favorite celebrity sports person is pushing a brand that you do not love?
Would you buy a product that your favorite sports person, sports team is pushing or advertising for?
Would you donate to a charity that your favorite sports person or sports team donates to?
Would you do some community work if your favorite sports person or sports team is associated with it?
Would you vote for the person your favorite sports person or sports team elects to vote for?
Would you take into consideration the opinion set forth by your favorite sports person when opining on any particular issue? Would it have some impact on your neural pathology?
Would you lie to yourself as you just love that sports figure?
Would you hate someone or something because your favorite sports star hates that someone or something?
Would you let your favorite sports person get into your mind?
Behavioral psychologists across the globe contend that a favorite sports person/sport has considerable to minimal impact on a person and their behavior. Do you agree? Is it minimal or a lot?
Would you ape your favorite sports person's behavior?
Would your perception of your self be different had there not been an affiliation or association with a particular sports figure/sports person/SPORT?
Okay, trust I've covered all the bases.
These are questions that we can ask ourselves from time-to-time to know how much or what influences us and leaves it's lasting impression on our persona, personality, and personal choices.
Thanks for participating, or thanks for reading and thinking at least one single question is something that you'd ask yourselves when making a choice or decision.
Standing aside, here I remain, sincerely,
Sarah
Photo Credit: 1888toys
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2 months ago
I wouldn't say that a sports person influences what I buy/what charity I support/ who I like or dislike/ who I vote for (this seems very American, on that note $3.5m for an advert?? Obama better win after that) but it beyond doubt shapes my humour and mood for the day and possibly a lot longer...
Can you guess what kind of mood I'm in after last night's match?
from 2 months ago
Hi Mary, you always add a punch to your comments and I devour them, yeah, I saw this Arsenal game where they lost and I was so irritated, same with the Liverpool game that they lost to Totenham
from 2 months ago
Ha ha Sarah "punch" is it?? Well that's the fighting Irish for you :-) Although as for buying items because sportspeople are on it no, but not buying items because Lewis Hamilton is on it is a very real possibility!!
from 2 months ago
There speaks the Irish spirit, poor Lewis -- but he has so many Brits buying into his stock
from 2 months ago
I'm not too sure are the Brits even so gone on him, the media are but as for the British public I'm not too sure. I mean fair play to the guy for winning, he got the most points and is the deserving champion but he is also a world-class pr1ck!!
2 months ago
Being a Nascar fan, sure I support my driver Bobby Labonte by buying products from his sponsor and have a few sponsors who I don't support by buying their products. Have a few charities I support, vote on my own opinion and even dumped being a fan of a NFL team for releasing my favorite player.
from 2 months ago
Mike, you always help my articles by being so perceptive and give such fine examples that one can't argue with facts :-) thanks for sharing...
2 months ago
Nah...I'm only big on Box Scores. Sports people come and go, for better or worse.
There are some that I like but I don't love 'em.
from 2 months ago
Sports people do come and go, but some leave their impact on our lives, true or false? Is like an emotion?
from 2 months ago
Honestly, the first one that comes to mind impactwise...Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa...Barry Bonds too.
I despise them...strongly.
from 2 months ago
I concur with you there, I used to despise a cricketer called Gavaskar when he was at the crease for more than 40 overs in a 60 overs match and hit a silly 30...
2 months ago
there are lot of other worse things in life to be a puppet of than sport
i actually did not much like this one - i dont know why
but cheers
from 2 months ago
Mate, you never were supposed to like this. But some are puppets on a string that dance to a tune that their favorite sports person dances to...just check popular vote...
2 months ago
I do not buy fur because Pamela Anderson done not like it. Does that count ?
from 2 months ago
:-) oh, no is Pamela Andreson as sports person and if so, what sport is she into except from those unnameable ones here on B/R
2 months ago
Teams have me on strings! It took me a while to consider that and then it struck me, Teams.
Lotus, O's, Balmer Colts, Ferrari, Wood Brothers, Phillies, Tyrell...etc. Walter Wolf for a minute too...
Players, drivers, the great ones come and go but the teams live on...pulling at the heart strings.
from 2 months ago
Imagine finding you here! I decided to explore the area called "Sports and Society." I happened to stumble into the category and wondered what it was all about....I saw Sarah had written this article and I was hooked! I am going to write here!
My experience is different. I love teams, too. But there are no teams in tennis...except in doubles and that hardly qualifies. I am always pulled toward one player--that is the hook into the sport...at least for me.
It may affect my heart but not my head...i don't turn over my life...just my imagination!! Which is exactly the point...sports are everyman's dream...everyman's fantasy...success on the field equals success in other areas of one's life...jaa
from 2 months ago
Lotus pulls at my heart strings too...
JAA, welcome to Sports & Society, sometimes the heart does rule the head or doesn't it?
from 2 months ago
Yeah - there are some teams that leave a hole in the pocket as well as a hole in the heart
2 months ago
Hi Sarah - I was interested in writing in this area and decided to explore! I saw your name and was excited to read your article--compelling topic--in such an intriguing category - sports and society...i have something in mind.
Loved your exploration of adulation...sort of the tip of the iceberg...i am always looking at this connection between sports and reality and adulation and fantasy...the world spins...
Great read...solid writing...good conversation...the best...jaa
from 2 months ago
Hi JAA, glad to see you here, it is an interesting section to be in and this piece was just one of the many that I thought would make a nice change from writing about F1 and other sports...thanks for your kind comments...bests
2 months ago
I can't decide what I like best, the article or the picture. You know I'm big on the thought behind what picture accompanies an article.
from 2 months ago
My dear BabyTate, it is always a great feeling when you come visiting by my port and add your feedback.
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