#1 ·
I was looking at my calendar this morning and realized we are entering that specific time of year again—that weird, liminal space where everything feels like it’s about to happen, but nothing actually has. It’s that period where the preseason energy starts to ramp up, the schedules are being released, and everyone starts acting like this is the year everything finally clicks into place.
I don't know about you guys, but I find this time of year a bit exhausting. There is this inevitable surge of "new era" energy that hits every single fan base around this time. It’s like a collective fever dream. We see the training schedules, we see the preseason matchups, and suddenly, the cynicism that we spent all winter cultivating just evaporates. We start talking about "potential," "momentum," and "the foundation being laid." It’s a beautiful, dangerous cycle.
I remember back in my early twenties, I was a die-hard follower of a team that had been bottom-tier for a decade. Every single summer, I would buy the new gear, clear my schedule for the preseason games, and convince myself that the roster overhaul was actually going to translate to wins. I’d spend hours reading about the tactical shifts and the new coaching philosophies. And every single year, the inevitable happened: the season would start, the reality of the standings would set in, and I’d be left staring at a screen wondering why I let myself get so worked up over a bunch of practice sessions and exhibition games.
There’s a psychological component to this that I think we don't talk about enough in sports circles. It’s almost a form of coping mechanism. We need that preseason window to believe in the possibility of greatness because the reality of the actual season is too punishing. If we didn't have this period of speculative optimism, the grind of the regular season would be unbearable. We live for the "what if." What if this young talent actually matures? What if the scheme finally works? What if the luck turns?
But then there’s the darker side of it: the burnout. When you invest that much emotional capital into a schedule of practices and exhibition matches, you’re setting yourself up for a massive crash if the actual product on the field doesn't match the preseason hype. I’ve seen friendships dissolve over preseason debates, and I’ve seen people go completely silent on social media for months because the "optimism trap" bit them too hard.
I’m trying to learn how to approach this season differently. I want to enjoy the anticipation, but I’m trying to keep one foot firmly planted in reality. I want to appreciate the grind of the summer training, the physical toll it takes on the athletes, and the sheer organizational effort of getting a camp ready, without feeling like I need to place my entire emotional well-being on the outcome of a scrimmage.
Do you guys find it easy to stay grounded during this time of year, or do you find yourself getting swept up in the hype like I do? How do you balance the excitement of a fresh start with the skepticism that comes from years of watching the same patterns repeat?
I don't know about you guys, but I find this time of year a bit exhausting. There is this inevitable surge of "new era" energy that hits every single fan base around this time. It’s like a collective fever dream. We see the training schedules, we see the preseason matchups, and suddenly, the cynicism that we spent all winter cultivating just evaporates. We start talking about "potential," "momentum," and "the foundation being laid." It’s a beautiful, dangerous cycle.
I remember back in my early twenties, I was a die-hard follower of a team that had been bottom-tier for a decade. Every single summer, I would buy the new gear, clear my schedule for the preseason games, and convince myself that the roster overhaul was actually going to translate to wins. I’d spend hours reading about the tactical shifts and the new coaching philosophies. And every single year, the inevitable happened: the season would start, the reality of the standings would set in, and I’d be left staring at a screen wondering why I let myself get so worked up over a bunch of practice sessions and exhibition games.
There’s a psychological component to this that I think we don't talk about enough in sports circles. It’s almost a form of coping mechanism. We need that preseason window to believe in the possibility of greatness because the reality of the actual season is too punishing. If we didn't have this period of speculative optimism, the grind of the regular season would be unbearable. We live for the "what if." What if this young talent actually matures? What if the scheme finally works? What if the luck turns?
But then there’s the darker side of it: the burnout. When you invest that much emotional capital into a schedule of practices and exhibition matches, you’re setting yourself up for a massive crash if the actual product on the field doesn't match the preseason hype. I’ve seen friendships dissolve over preseason debates, and I’ve seen people go completely silent on social media for months because the "optimism trap" bit them too hard.
I’m trying to learn how to approach this season differently. I want to enjoy the anticipation, but I’m trying to keep one foot firmly planted in reality. I want to appreciate the grind of the summer training, the physical toll it takes on the athletes, and the sheer organizational effort of getting a camp ready, without feeling like I need to place my entire emotional well-being on the outcome of a scrimmage.
Do you guys find it easy to stay grounded during this time of year, or do you find yourself getting swept up in the hype like I do? How do you balance the excitement of a fresh start with the skepticism that comes from years of watching the same patterns repeat?