This is a fantastic piece on the feeling that comes with rooting for a loser. The games are hard to watch. The disappointment is perpetual. Your (non-fan) family members continuously force you to justify why you keep spending your time in this way, but you just can't pull away, because this is the team you're in love with.
It'd be great if I could go cheer for the San Francisco 49ers or the New England Patriots, but I can't. I was cursed to be a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Grace got a different flavour of the same curse with the New York Jets, but for the most part the experience is the same. The constant disappointment is all in service of those few good feelings that come, because those feelings are more intense than anything in the world.
If I could describe the elation I felt when I was absolutely sure the Jaguars were going to make the 2017 Super Bowl, I'd be a millionaire as a writer. Alas, I cannot describe it, but that feeling is what we do this for. The Jaguars did not make the Super Bowl that day, but that feeling I got for getting so close is what's kept me coming back for years and years and will keep me coming back into the future.
This is fantastic. You perfectly describe the irrational pride that comes from being dedicated to a team like this. Your description of your family watching Rodgers’ injury was especially poignant to me. It reminded me of every late-2010s, double-digit Knicks loss I watched with my parents, even if they were only invested for the MSG broadcast. To truly love a team that makes you feel stupid for watching, and still supporting them anyways.
Happy that Notes finally gave me something worth reading, and I’m excited to read more of your stuff.
Thank you so much Joe, your kind words really mean a lot❤️ This was a really personal piece and there’s nothing better than hearing that it resonated with people just as much as it did with me when I wrote it lol. I can’t wait to have you along for ride, I think you’ll like the Knicks article i have coming this week 🙂
Wonderful piece, Grace. As a lifelong Browns fan (who is taking a temporary boycott because he disapproves of the team's $230 million QB) so much of this resonated with me. If there's one true positive in losing again and again and again for me, it's the sense of community that comes with losing together.
Thank you so much Quinn 🥹 This was pretty personal piece for me to write so your kind words especially mean a lot. I've always had a soft sport for the Browns in solidarity of our disappointing franchises and was really frustrated with their decision to get Watson as well ( hopefully you can root in the playoffs since he isn't playing!) I think you bring up a great point about the community aspect of being a losing franchise, I never thought of it that way, but in a sense it is almost like trauma bonding 🙃. Hopefully in the future we can all celebrate together.
This is a fantastic piece on the feeling that comes with rooting for a loser. The games are hard to watch. The disappointment is perpetual. Your (non-fan) family members continuously force you to justify why you keep spending your time in this way, but you just can't pull away, because this is the team you're in love with.
It'd be great if I could go cheer for the San Francisco 49ers or the New England Patriots, but I can't. I was cursed to be a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Grace got a different flavour of the same curse with the New York Jets, but for the most part the experience is the same. The constant disappointment is all in service of those few good feelings that come, because those feelings are more intense than anything in the world.
If I could describe the elation I felt when I was absolutely sure the Jaguars were going to make the 2017 Super Bowl, I'd be a millionaire as a writer. Alas, I cannot describe it, but that feeling is what we do this for. The Jaguars did not make the Super Bowl that day, but that feeling I got for getting so close is what's kept me coming back for years and years and will keep me coming back into the future.
Glad you liked it Robbie, I couldn't agree more. Go Jags tonight!!!
This is fantastic. You perfectly describe the irrational pride that comes from being dedicated to a team like this. Your description of your family watching Rodgers’ injury was especially poignant to me. It reminded me of every late-2010s, double-digit Knicks loss I watched with my parents, even if they were only invested for the MSG broadcast. To truly love a team that makes you feel stupid for watching, and still supporting them anyways.
Happy that Notes finally gave me something worth reading, and I’m excited to read more of your stuff.
Thank you so much Joe, your kind words really mean a lot❤️ This was a really personal piece and there’s nothing better than hearing that it resonated with people just as much as it did with me when I wrote it lol. I can’t wait to have you along for ride, I think you’ll like the Knicks article i have coming this week 🙂
Wonderful piece, Grace. As a lifelong Browns fan (who is taking a temporary boycott because he disapproves of the team's $230 million QB) so much of this resonated with me. If there's one true positive in losing again and again and again for me, it's the sense of community that comes with losing together.
Thank you so much Quinn 🥹 This was pretty personal piece for me to write so your kind words especially mean a lot. I've always had a soft sport for the Browns in solidarity of our disappointing franchises and was really frustrated with their decision to get Watson as well ( hopefully you can root in the playoffs since he isn't playing!) I think you bring up a great point about the community aspect of being a losing franchise, I never thought of it that way, but in a sense it is almost like trauma bonding 🙃. Hopefully in the future we can all celebrate together.