One Great Roller Coaster Ride
February 12, 2024
Writer: Deepa Ramesh
Editor: Anna Pierson
Imagine sitting in a roller coaster cart where the wheels never stop moving. The ascent begins slowly, propelled forward by small gusts of wind, while padded bars pull your lap close. You remain still, waiting to experience either the thrill of what is to come or the terror that inevitably follows. Seconds turn into minutes, minutes into hours, and it is only when all expectations seem to ebb away that the stomach-churning growl of brakes clasping against the track jolts your body back into focus.
At last, you arrive at the peak, and your breath floats away as everything below appears small yet significant. Trapped between the two directions, 'up' and 'down,' you have no idea what will happen next or where exactly you will plunge. However, turning around and noticing the expressions of those beside you — trembling, awestruck, or utterly lost in stupor — you realize that no matter how exhilarating or unnerving this situation may feel, you aren’t alone. This little reminder is enough to bring a faint smile to your lips until, at last, the rollercoaster resumes its trajectory.
That, my friends, is precisely how I feel whenever I watch sports — like I’m in the middle of a great roller coaster ride.
In the world of sports, nothing is set in stone. On days when a loss seems all but guaranteed, your favorite team triumphs. Conversely, sloppy play and boneheaded mistakes can thwart your team’s progress and skyrocket your blood pressure.
Despite our dreams or doubts, we find ourselves glued to the television to embrace the magic of something in the distance. How is it that the sheer act of athletes playing a game can completely consume our emotions?
The answer is different for everyone, but I believe sports have maintained their influence by being something that transcends an individual person — it creates a community.
At the essence of our souls, human beings are social creatures. We long to belong to a group where we can savor the irreplaceable taste of victory or collectively hold hands and mourn when a loss is imminent. In many ways, the summit of 'winning' and 'losing' reminds us that, no matter what happens, the game forever boils down to one consequence. On the surface level, it appears bleak, hopeless, and cruel. Yet no matter what occurs, life still goes on, time heals broken wounds, and we can appreciate the strong feelings the journey has evoked in us.
When I see the joyful tears of children receiving their favorite player’s jersey as a gift or an elderly couple holding hands and entering the Big House as though they were in college again, I think about just how special being a sports fan means to them. It encompasses a world of love and loyalty that breaks down the distance of a stranger’s game into something tangible, clear, and indescribably personal.
Ultimately, being a sports fan teaches us just how unpredictable, heartbreaking, and exhilarating life can be, all at the same time.
So the next time you find yourself trapped on the edge of your seat anticipating your team’s next move, remember the presence of those sitting beside you — friends, parents, siblings, or even strangers — and take a deep breath. No matter what happens in those precarious seconds, you are all on this one incredible roller coaster ride together.
