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Cowboy89 · 01-18-2023, 02:13 PM

My thoughts:

There are ~30-32 teams in each of the 4 major sports leagues in North America. Each has a salary cap, luxury tax, or some sort of revenue equalization mechanism that ensures that teams don't have too much disparity between themselves. They are the top level in each of their respective sports, meaning that management of each of these teams is all pretty top notch and they all have the same goal of winning a championship as soon as practical for their team. This is ultra competitive and it's exceptionally hard to win a championship and it also requires a good amount of random luck.

That means statistically that right off the bat your team(s) will likely only win 1-3 championships in your entire lifetime and if you're a Leafs fan, never. Pretty much every season of your expected ~75-80 year life will end with your team either a) quietly dying out of playoff contention in the dog days of a poor regular season, b) being eliminated in the last few games of the regular season with some disappointing losses down the stretch or C) losing the last game they play in the playoffs (and sometimes in d!ckpunch fashion with it ending in OT/extra innings). Disappointment is the norm.

Expect no payoff for your fandom in the form of winning and treat the moments where your team doesn't disappoint you as a delightful surprise rather than 'relief/conforming to expectations' and it will be easier enjoy the big moments and numb out the expected bad moments. To have a healthy relationship with sports requires that you accept this and not let what's going to predictably happen every year ruin / negatively effect your life.

01-18-2023, 02:13 PM	#37
Cowboy89 Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Calgary AB Exp:	My thoughts: There are ~30-32 teams in each of the 4 major sports leagues in North America. Each has a salary cap, luxury tax, or some sort of revenue equalization mechanism that ensures that teams don't have too much disparity between themselves. They are the top level in each of their respective sports, meaning that management of each of these teams is all pretty top notch and they all have the same goal of winning a championship as soon as practical for their team. This is ultra competitive and it's exceptionally hard to win a championship and it also requires a good amount of random luck. That means statistically that right off the bat your team(s) will likely only win 1-3 championships in your entire lifetime and if you're a Leafs fan, never. Pretty much every season of your expected ~75-80 year life will end with your team either a) quietly dying out of playoff contention in the dog days of a poor regular season, b) being eliminated in the last few games of the regular season with some disappointing losses down the stretch or C) losing the last game they play in the playoffs (and sometimes in d!ckpunch fashion with it ending in OT/extra innings). Disappointment is the norm. Expect no payoff for your fandom in the form of winning and treat the moments where your team doesn't disappoint you as a delightful surprise rather than 'relief/conforming to expectations' and it will be easier enjoy the big moments and numb out the expected bad moments. To have a healthy relationship with sports requires that you accept this and not let what's going to predictably happen every year ruin / negatively effect your life. Last edited by Cowboy89; 01-18-2023 at 02:22 PM.