A recent Roar article on the best football (soccer) books reminded me of Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby.
Hornby is a multi-award-winning author who also happens to be a rabid Arsenal FC fan. Fever Pitch was a wordsmith’s distillation of 30 years of fanaticism, culminating in the tragic but extraordinary 1988-89 season. I read the book in my 20s and it sang to me.
I could relate it to my own high school years, where my whole outlook on life swung depending on the performance of my team, the St George Dragons. When even Sunday evenings before school week were bearable, indeed enjoyable, if the Dragons had won. On the other hand, if we lost and a mates’ team (inevitably Manly) won, well that was a whole new Circle of Hell that you descended into for the week.
It made me recall a time when if my team won, I would read every single word I could find about them in the papers during the week. If they lost, I wouldn’t even read the match report and might only be brave enough to read anything about rugby league by about Wednesday.
For a bit of high school and a lot of the 90s I generally got the better side of that deal – late 80s aside – and the Dragons were mostly pretty good, even excellent. However, the picture in the attic for supporting the Dragons at this time was the darkness of losing four Grand Finals in 8 years.
It’s an instantly relatable pain for Dragons fans – losing twice to the legendary Broncos side of 1992 and 1993; once to a rampant Manly in 1996 in the middle of their three Grand Finals in a row; and then as a joint venture team to the Storm in 1999, finishing with THAT penalty try in front of 110,000 fans. I’ve said before on this site that I was at that game and the Glenn Lazarus cartwheel after full-time was the lowest moment of my sports-watching life (even more so than Headingley twenty years later).
That feeling came rushing back to me when I attended the NRL Grand Final a couple of weeks ago. Not that I particularly cared who won that match but as we were leaving I walked past a Parramatta fan sitting in the row behind me, probably in his early 20s, who had his head in his hands and was on the edge of tears. As a reasonably articulate person who had felt that kid’s pain so many times before, I should have been able to come up with some words to let him know this wasn’t the end of the world; that if this is the worst moment of your life you will have a pretty good life, that he had a lot to be proud of in his team’s performance this year, and that the team that won will likely be one of the great dynasties.
But the reason I couldn’t come up with anything is that I know from experience there are no words that will help at that moment; no words will drown out the delirium of the opposition fans, no words will fill the emptiness and desolation of that moment.
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In short, mere words cannot change the fact that YOUR TEAM JUST LOST THE FREAKING GRAND FINAL. For committed fans, it’s a pain that only time can heal (maybe).
At this point, I want to let you all know about my Uncle Thomas. He was as big a league fan as I was and we watched a lot of footy together. But there was one key difference – he didn’t have a team that he supported. Sure, he was happy for me when the Dragons won, he went for NSW in Origin and he had a soft spot for the Eels because he loved the way Ray Price played footy. But there was no week in week out team to ride the wave of success or failure with. And for over 30 years, I thought that that was just a weird way to watch sport.
But it worked for him.
Now roll forward to today. For the last three years, I’ve mostly worked for myself at home and this has allowed me to watch a LOT of NFL.
Confession time – I don’t have an NFL team and I’m bloody loving it!
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
I can watch a sport I genuinely admire, three times a week, without the stress of having a dog in the fight; without the heartache of a last-minute loss or the frustration of one of your team’s players making a basic error costing you a touchdown or even the match. I can watch the game for what it is – an elite athletic contest played by freakish athletes.
I can marvel at the sublime passing skill of Aaron Rogers or Patrick Mahomes, remain in awe of the game management and unbreakable will to win of Tom Brady, and wonder at the effortless throwing power of Josh Allen.
I can thank the maker that I’m not a quarterback in the crosshairs of Aaron Donald or Nick Bosa or Micah Parsons, or a cornerback trying to keep with the Olympic speed of Tyreek Hill or evasiveness of Davonte Adams or Ja’Marr Chase. I can look on in awe and the sheer mix of size, strength and speed of Robert (Gronk) Gronkowski or Travis Kelce.
And I can wince at some linebacker or defensive end playing the role of speed hump for Derrick Henry or Jonathan Taylor or Saquon Barkley. I can also laugh as Carson Wentz or Baker Mayfield throw yet another interception or at Dallas’ ineptitude at clock management.
I can watch the divisional playoff between Kansas City and Buffalo Bills last season and wonder whether, in over 40 years of watching all sorts of elite sports, I’ve even seen a contest to match it.
If that feels like a lot of “I cans” well it is. And it’s a completely liberating way to watch sport.
For the last couple of years, when lockdown gave me plenty of excuses to watch as many games a week as I could, I’ve tried to take that attitude into my NRL watching. The result, again, has been liberating.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Naturally, I still really want the Dragons to win and will suffer somewhat when they don’t, but I’ve decided that I am not going to fret about good performances by other teams. Just last season alone I enjoyed all the Roosters v Souths clashes (I even went to the recent semi-final), I loved the resurgence and heart shown by the Cowboys this year, I felt genuine pity, even anger, for the Tigers when they were torched by the bunker against the Cowboys, I enjoyed that three week period late in the season when the Bulldogs were the most entertaining team in the comp, and perhaps most telling of all, I didn’t mind it when Manly played well.
This all culminated with me attending the Grand Final, and as a neutral I enjoyed the occasion. I, as always, marvelled at the toughness of elite rugby league players and although I don’t love Penrith, it felt good and right to applaud a superbly drilled and talented side. And I barely thought of the Dragons at all (ok, that’s obviously a small lie).
So where does this leave me?
I will always love my Dragons – there’s been too much time, emotion and energy tied up in that relationship. But I think I’ve learned to love the game even more. Decades later, I can now see what my Uncle Thomas saw and I encourage others to try it.
sheek
Roar Guru
Panthers, Of course, you're talking ill-educated, ignoramus crap, but hey, keep in the dark, it suits you.
Panthers
Guest
We see your bias against Penrith in virtually all of your comments on here. You seek every opportunity to knock the players & club. As you’ve just done again. I’m pretty sure that there would have been almost zero negative comments , if Penrith didn’t have some recent success. So I think that you’re pretty much tied to your Eastern Suburbs snobby roots & always have been. Even if you try to pretend that you’ve ever been anything else. :thumbdown:
Panthers
Guest
I supported a crap team for most of my life . I remember all the lows of poor seasons . The 4 wooden spoons & the almost getting more. The virtual play off against Newcastle a few seasons back to miss the spoon. Never expecting any real success. The letting top players slip away to join other clubs often. Which still happens! So as a Panthers supporter , the last 3 seasons ( even without a GF Win in 2020 ) , has been like a miracle to me. I don’t expect it to last , but what a ride . I got to see what it’s like to support the Roosters , Melbourne for example now. Even if it’s only for a few years.
Chris
Guest
I love the EFL & have had a bit of a soft spot for Coventry . They are pretty frustrating to watch . Always seem to offer some promise of promotion at some point in the season. Then slide & miss out. Can’t agree about Sydney FC though. I go with the other team that offers promise & then slides away , in The Wanderers. :laughing:
Justin
Guest
I find that hard to do. As even in games that has no team that I really support. I kind of choose the team that I’d prefer to win. So when that team loses, the result & game is still a bit disappointing. I thought most people did this? In fact on here, I read comments that support that theory from neutrals who comment on different results.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Interesting read mate The last 5-6 years aside, I’ve had a pretty successful and lucky time as a Bulldogs fan. My ‘other’ team is Everton in the EPL. The 80s was absolutely raining premierships and titles ! It’s been a bit sparse lately In about 2008 or 09, Everton made the FA Cup final against a red hot Chelsea side. I went to a party and had a conversation with my uncle that changed my perspective on fandom I was talking to him before the game and I was almost agitated. “Do you think we have a chance? Any chance to win? Jeez, I hope we win. I’ll be filthy if we lose” My uncle replied: “it doesn’t really matter. I’ve been waiting 15 years for this. Enjoy the build up, enjoy being here, enjoy the occasion. I hope we win too, but the result won’t change my life” For context when it looked like Everton were going to be relegated one year in the mid 90s, my uncle and dad flew to the UK for about three days to watch what they thought would be Everton’s last game in the top flight - so these guys aren’t lightweight fans But it changed my outlook on this stuff. I did enjoy the occasion. Everton went 1-0 up after about nine minutes and the party erupted with absolute, unadulterated beer spraying joy. Everton were on the back foot for the rest of the game and ended up losing, but when I think back to that I remember the goal more than the result I’m all in when I watch a Bulldogs game. Desperately want to win, but have learned my identity or worth isn’t attached to the result. I’ll kick the ground for a few minutes and then get in with it…
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more, fair weather friends are beneath contempt. You pick and you stick. As a St George (Illawarra) die hard since the age of 7, when TV was black & white and I'd decided the red V was blue, my favourite colour, I got a shock when I found out it was red. But...I'd made my choice and that was that. My newfound commitment was sorely tested later that year when Easts belted them 38-0 in the GF but I stuck solid and was rewarded a few years later with two comp wins. After the drama of the '77 draw the lop sided replay a couple of days later was ecstasy. If you don't really care for a side you can't have that. 2010 after all the GF losses was also profoundly joyous, the best part being the last twenty minutes when we had it in the bag (almost) and the crowd, about 80% St George, could savour it. I do enjoy watching games where I can relax, but it's vever as good, win or lose.
sheek
Roar Guru
JGK, I tend to agree with this. I attended boarding school in Sydney's East. My school has contributed numerous players to both the Wallabies & Kangaroos, as well as Easts Beasts & Randwick Galloping Greens, Sydney Roosters & Souths Rabbitohs. I have ex-schoolmates who are either Roosters or Rabbitohs fans & loathe the other. It is an attitude foreign to me as I like both clubs. So when I watch sport I hope to see a good contest. My allegiance will change over time depending on how I identify personally with a club & its players. For example, back in 2003 I supported Penrith to beat East Sydney in the grand final. But today I'm not a fan of the Panthers who I think have a few d*ckheads in their team. Also, not being tied to one team allows you to enjoy the spectacle without the emotional roller coaster ride. If there's one thing about modern sport that irritates me, it's the attempt by commentators to make me think I'm watching the greatest spectacle ever. I can see for myself, I don't require their input. Also, the manufactured hype, like the piano playing at major games when a break occurs. That really grates on me. If the on-field spectacle is lacking, then do something to improve the game. Don't go one with all this side stuff crap. Sometimes I think today's generation has been conditioned to accept crap as actually something wonderful. It's almost like they are unable to make their own minds up on whether what they're watching is any good or not. But I digress.....
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Saints had plenty of support, they often got the match of the round at the SCG. The problem was the other clubs lost support. Parramatta, Canterbury, Easts, Souths, Norths and Newtown were playing to small crowds although Easts and Souths did make a grand final. English Soccer is huge, so it can support a competition containing a few ultra rich clubs. Rugby League had to introduce the salary cap.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yes. Obviously if you are going to support a team it's better to support a good one. I went years supporting Man U who won virtually nothing while Liverpool cleaned up. And then I had 20 years of them winning something almost every year which was a lot more fun!
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Very interesting JGK. I’ve got a few comments but it’s late now so I’ll only do one. I watched the 64, 65 & 66 grand finals live and it was great to be a Saints fan. Eleven straight grand final wins left many people bitter and twisted. Ken Arthurson was able to get revenge in 1985 when St.George were robbed. It was the time of the Jim Comans cleanup of the game so Canterbury were able to get away with merda and not be sent off and face Jim Comans.
criag
Roar Rookie
He supported Easts. You know, it's never occurred to me to find out until after I wrote that. I could probably work it out if I go through the dates...probably St George given the era....would've been in the 50s.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Don't get the lows, sure, but don't get the highs. Supporting a crap team reminds me of somethin my university lecturer once said - "why do we bang our head against brick walls? because we like the feeling when we stop". Having said that, I also don't support an NFL (or NBA) side. It does make it easier to sleep I'm sure.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
My brother lives in a canal boat in Fulham
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Fulham has a bit of a soft spot for Aussie soccer due to Mark Scwartzer playing there, same as Tim Cahill ( Everton) . While I supported West’s was fortunate enough to meet Tommy and Noel Kelly so that reinforced my support for them . It was like a stab in the heart when they were kicked out and had to merge , and definitely not the same for me .
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I get what you were saying, and don’t get me wrong, I love watching the Eels, it doesn’t distract from my enjoyment, and I’ve become more mature about it later in life. I used to have little foam bricks I could throw at the TV. I just don’t think it has the payoff without the investment, but I’m willing to accept that I’m a little unhinged.
JGK
Roar Guru
Who did he support? And who won?
max power
Guest
nice choices. each team as equally dispicable as the other
JGK
Roar Guru
What I didn’t say in the article is if you do have to choose a team, it’s a lot more fun supporting one that wins a lot! The Storm have been my second team in NRL for a while because of all the Queensland players. So I’ve had some reflected glory in the last 15 years. I used to feel the same about the Raiders because of Clyde and Mal. But that quickly disappeared in the mid 90s so I can see myself caring less about the Storm once Bellamy leaves. When it comes to NFL, I’ve generally supported players over teams. But for a while that meant I had a soft spot for the Colts when Manning and then Luck were there. Now, I guess I quietly hope the Bengals do well because of the Burrow-Chase combo.
JGK
Roar Guru
I thought the same way for a long time. But I have to say, 2010 was more a feeling of relief than out and out euphoria. I reckon if we had won in 1999, THAT would have been the most incredible feeling. if I don’t have skin in the contest, it just doesn’t mean as much. I understand. But the thrust of the article is whether that might be taking away from your enjoyment of the sport.