#1 ·
I was watching some sports highlights late last night and it got me thinking about how much we love a good underdog story. We’re basically programmed to root for the team that hasn't seen a trophy in decades, even if the actual talent gap is closing. It feels like every time a team finally breaks a long drought, the media goes into overdrive acting like it's a miracle, rather than just the result of years of quiet, grueling work.
It’s funny because, in a way, the "overnight success" trope is kind of a myth we tell ourselves to make sports more dramatic. In reality, these breakthroughs are usually just the inevitable result of a slow build-up. I remember following a different league a few years back where everyone was shocked by a massive upset, but if you looked at the stats, the momentum had been shifting for a long time. The "shock" is just for the headlines.
Do you guys think we overvalue the "dramatic comeback" in sports, or is that emotional roller coaster exactly what makes us keep watching?
It’s funny because, in a way, the "overnight success" trope is kind of a myth we tell ourselves to make sports more dramatic. In reality, these breakthroughs are usually just the inevitable result of a slow build-up. I remember following a different league a few years back where everyone was shocked by a massive upset, but if you looked at the stats, the momentum had been shifting for a long time. The "shock" is just for the headlines.
Do you guys think we overvalue the "dramatic comeback" in sports, or is that emotional roller coaster exactly what makes us keep watching?