Why We Rise and Fall with Sports Teams

If you're a sports fan, you know it happens.  If you're the die hard fan a a particular team, you KNOW it happens.  The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  The baseball playoffs are right around the corner.  Some fans can hardly wait, some are already waiting for next year, and some are agonizing over the last spot.  Boston or Tampa Bay?  Atlanta or St. Louis?  It all comes down to the final days.  You're talking about it at work.  Reading about it online.  And I know more than a few of you are praying about it at night.  But why? Are you taking home the ring or the financial benefits that go with it?  Are you pitching the final inning or driving in the winning run?  Well, no.  But for a few weeks in September and October (and lately into November), everyone is a kid again...and every one of us pretends we can.  We're out on that field with them and we feel what they feel.  That's the magic of sports.  Feel your heart pound...look away from the TV screen...fall to your knees....jump with joy.  It's Playoff time and that's what you're supposed to do.