Sports are fun and entertaining, but there are also times when they can be emotional, for instance when you win a jackpot in the best online games. Most sporting events are often intense and can bring out a wide range of emotions in both athletes and fans.
If you’ve been in one of the instances that involved emotions in sports, then you understand how sports emotions feel.
After interviewing players and coaches, we’ve compiled a list of eight instances that have made sports emotional. You’ll find out that most of the events are common and interesting. Keep reading as we explore the events.
Late Winning or Losing
The purpose of sports competitions is to win titles. But anywhere that you want to win, you must be willing to accept defeat too. Winning and losing are normal for any competition.
However, there are times when your win is very last minute and happens almost unexpectedly. For example, in the 2004 FA cup game between Manchester City and Tottenham, Tottenham was leading 3-0.
Manchester City changed this when they equalized and scored the fourth one in the 90th minute to win the match 4-3. This was very emotional for both teams, winning and losing respectively.
Death of a Player or Legend
January 2020 was filled with sadness for almost the whole world for the death of Kobe Bryant on the 26th of that month.
He was a famous basketball player from the United States. It was even more emotional to learn that he was in the company of his daughter during the crash.
The same year 2020 on 25th November, the world was also filled with grief after one of the greatest footballers, Diego Maradona, passed away from a heart attack.
Injury of a Player
Some players have been forced to “hang their boots” due to injuries. Adam Hughes, a former Wales U-20 Rugby team player was forced to retire at age 28 due to a brain injury.
This was very emotional for the player who is suing world rugby governing bodies for neglect together with other former players.
Long-term injuries can affect both the player, team, and even fans. A team could need their services during that period. Any loss by the team may be associated with his absence.
Ban of a Player/Team
Players put in a lot of effort to become world-class. But sometimes they make mistakes that are irreversible for their careers. For example, Lance Armstrong received a lifetime ban in 2012 for doping after a very successful career in road racing.
Unexpected Error From a Player
Players are human beings and they also make mistakes. But fans watching the game react to some of the errors made by the player with a lot of emotions. Some errors lead to your team conceding a goal making you lose, and that cannot be taken lightly by the fans.
Misunderstandings or poor relationships between players and their coaches, or fellow players lead to some players deliberately making mistakes that cost their teams.
Unfairness from the Referee
There are some moments of unfairness from the referee that lead to the defeat of your team. Such moments may be hard to take, especially for the players.
An example of such an incident is during a football match between France and Ireland for World Cup qualification in 2010. Thierry Henry committed a blatant handball that helped France qualify. This was at the expense of Ireland’s players who were very furious at the end of the game.
Breaking a World Record
This is most evident in athletics, especially long-distance competitions. In 2018, Eliud Kipchoge broke and set the world record in the marathon. This was a very big moment for him, Kenyans, and the whole world of athletics.
Misconduct of Players
There are instances where players’ misconduct makes sports very emotional. Arguments and insults during a game may escalate to a point where players fight on the field.
In 2006, Zinedine Zidane (France) and Marco Materazzi (Italy) had some exchanges during the world cup final. This led to Zidane hitting Materazzi with a header in anger. It is said that Materazzi hurled some insults to Zidane about his sister which made him furious.
Other Instances
When an Underdog Team Wins
We all love a good underdog story. There’s something special about watching a team that’s not supposed to win, come out on top. These types of victories are often emotional for both the players and fans involved.
For example, when the U.S. Men’s National Team upset England in the 1950 World Cup, it was an incredible moment for American soccer.
When a Player Retires
Many athletes play their entire lives dreaming of winning a championship. But sometimes, players are forced to retire due to injuries before they’ve had a chance to achieve their goals. This can be an emotional time for both the player and the fans.
In some cases, a player may retire on their own accord after realizing they’re no longer able to compete at the same level. Either way, it’s always emotional to see a player hang up their cleats for good.
When There’s A Come-From-Behind Victory
Come-from-behind victories are always emotional. They’re especially sweet when a team is down by a large margin and manages to come back and win the game.
These types of victories often require a lot of mental toughness and fortitude.
For example, in 2014, the San Francisco Giants were down by two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning of the World Series.
Conclusion
Sports bring together the players, managers, and fans. However, most emotional instances are caused by the players, because they are the “eyes” of the game. Most emotions are felt when there is a win or loss for a player or a team.
There are programs for players and managers which train them on how to handle different situations during a game or outside a game. Players are very passionate about the game they play. That’s why they get filled with emotions for certain instances like winning or losing a match.
