Have you ever wondered why sports players are held in such high esteem? What makes us celebrate their wins and mourn their losses? Why do we get so emotionally attached to whether our favorite team wins or loses? What is it about sports that makes it so compelling to watch? These are actually some significant questions and it’s worth diving in to explore whether we can find the real answer behind our passion for sports. 

It’s Historic

A key point to remember is that sports and the celebration of sporting events have been around for years. Thousands of years in fact. Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that we have been competing in some form of physical activity since the dawn of civilization. It’s a fundamental part of our psyche, our society, and our culture. Don’t forget that physical activities that resemble sports competitions are present in every culture and society across the world. So, it could just be a fact that this is part of human nature. 

It does make sense that we would admire the strongest amongst us from an evolutionary point of you. Think back to caveman days and the strongest people in groups would be the ones that would hunt and protect tribes from predators. These days, of course, that’s not the role of sports stars. Instead, they are there to entertain the public. But they are still held in high esteem because of what they can accomplish and the boundaries they cross that other people can’t. Many know the name of the fastest man alive because this is an amazing feat to accomplish. Athletes are in many ways, our real-life superheroes. We praise them, admire them and celebrate their greatest accomplishments. This could all come from evolutionary traits that we have likely held onto for years. 

It’s Group Psychology 

Of course, this doesn’t explain why we like to come together as a group to watch different events. Why are there massive levels of support around different teams and why are stadiums filled with thousands of people? This is all based on the concept of group psychology. You might have heard the phrase that no man is an island and that’s absolutely true but it doesn’t quite mean what you think. It’s not the case that people don’t want to be alone, it’s that they can’t be alone. Various studies have proven that there are negative consequences for people who are ostracised and separated from society. If you’re not part of a social group then you are more likely to deal with issues like depression as well as other mental health problems. 

When you’re part of a group, you become stronger because you take on a shared identity. This provides positive emotions and often euphoric sensations. You might experience this when you attend a sports event. At least temporarily, you lose your individual identity and take on the identity of the group. You cheer when they cheer, you mourn when they mourn. The same thing happens in various social activities. Think about when you’re at the cinema. If you laugh when other people laugh, then you feel connected to them. If you laugh out of place, you feel embarrassed or ashamed. In the past, this type of groupthink has brought negative consequences. But for the individual, it will largely be beneficial. It’s one of the reasons why we are so invested in things like the World Cup. 

They Are Impressive 

Of course, if you focus on psychology, you forget one fundamental point that shouldn’t be overlooked. The athletes that are at the top of their game, the ones that are performing better than anyone else. They are impressive. They have accomplished things that no one else can. That’s why it’s common for athletes such as Mahmoud Abbas to gain awards and recognition for their achievements beyond the sporting world. You can learn more about what he accomplished by visiting afootballreport.com. 

If you explore some of the feats that athletes have accomplished you’ll be amazed. Research how high Michael Jordan can actually jump or the accuracy of David Beckham when he was in his prime. Explore the world records held by the top athletes and you will begin to think that these are god’s walking among us. Athletes give various reasons for being able to accomplish their achievements. Some believe it’s down to God’s work and others feel that it’s based on the level of training and effort that they put in. However, the reason that these athletes can accomplish such wonders is quite simple. Physically and sometimes mentally, these players have reached their maximum potential. 

National And Local Pride 

Finally, there is almost always a certain element of being proud of where you come from or your country when you get invested in sports events. The World Cup is by far the best example of this. Typically, most people don’t think too much about their regional or national identity. However, things change during sports events like this. Suddenly, we are proud to be British, American, Brazilian, and Japanese. We want our teams to win, we want our players to come out on top because we are once again sharing in their identity. If they win then so do we. If they bring home the trophy or the gold medals then Britain has won which means we have won. This is again part of establishing group identity and accepting yourself as part of that group. National group identities are one of the most powerful examples of this. You can learn more about the power of national identity on foreignaffairs.com. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the reasons why people do get so invested in sports as well as the people who play them. It’s clear that there are a lot of different factors that contribute to these types of emotions. As well as group psychology, there’s a certain level of envy here that becomes praise. While most of us won’t admit it, we’d love to be able to perform like these players do every day in their careers. 

It’s no secret that sport is a driving force for the culture of America. Both fans and players admire the common values that are shared in all the popular American sports right now. Whether they are joining together to sing National Anthem at the start of a football game or they’re applauding great sportsmanship at the end of a tough match, it is a great way for USA citizens to bond. You might even say that sport is a universal language that everyone and anyone can understand no matter what their ethic, religious or geographical background may be. There are so many sports in action today, but here are some of the best ones in America right now that you should definitely consider following.

Ice Hockey

When you think about some of the best ice hockey players in the world, who springs to mind first? You probably thought of Wayne Gretzky, right? Although he’s Canadian, he reached his peak when playing for the Los Angeles Kings. Surely this means that America helped to make Gretzky who he is today! With the 2020 NHL Playoffs quickly approaching, fans are truly starting to see a rhythm across the teams in each division. It’s always a fun game trying to predict who will reign as champion with the Stanley Cup this year. Before that honor can be granted they will need to earn their title in the NHL Playoffs. Of course, The Rangers are the first American team to win the Stanley Cup (four times to be precise). However, this year the Vegas Golden Knights have been given the best odds this year.

Soccer

Soccer definitely earns the top spot when it comes to sports in Europe, however it still stand strong amongst the most popular games in America. US citizens have shown consistent support for soccer games, which stems way further than the Major League Soccer. You could say that the arrival of David Beckham to LA Galaxy really sparked interest and raised the bar for American Soccer at that time. People that were following the sport soon became die hard fans. The 2019 Women’s World Cup was won by the USA and almost 15 million viewers chosen to tune in. Interestingly, this was a huge increase compared to the Men’s World Cup Final in 2018. Many say that soccer will never quite surpass the popularity of American Football, but you never know what could happen!

American Football

As mentioned, this is one of the most popular sports in America right now and has been for decades. The annual Super Bowl brings Americans together every single year and is a much anticipated event in every sports fan’s calendar. You could even say that the Super Bowl’s halftime performance is bigger than many other sporting events! The National Football League has steadily increased viewers over the years and in 2019 over 6 million people tuned in to watch the NFL draft. Similarly, when you try and name some of the biggest sportsmen in America you immediately think of those who play American Football, such as Joe Montana and Dan Marino. We might be right in thinking that American Football has and always will be number one in the USA.

Mixed Martial Arts

Having spent years flying under the radar, Mixed Martial Arts has finally made its way into the pool of mainstream American sports. You could say that the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) put MMA onto the global map. As soon as the UFC was televised Mixed Martial Arts quickly become one of the most popular sports in America. Some of the biggest names that put MMA on the map are Conor McGregor and female champion Ronda Rousey. 2016 was the biggest year for Mixed Martial Arts and it has only grown bigger and bigger since then.

Basketball

America wouldn’t be America without Basketball; both professional and college level basketball are extremely popular in the United States of America. This could be because most of the top performing college players often get brought into the NBA draft each year. It goes without saying that Kobe Bryant has made a significant impact on the world of American Basketball. He leaves a strong, honorable and everlasting stamp on USA basketball and will be missed by sports fans for years to come. The terrible helicopter accident that occurred earlier in January 2020 will be a moment that many basketball fans remember vividly. Bryant was one of those players who helped to keep the fire alive in American basketball. It is safe to say that basketball isn’t just one of the most popular games, it is one of the most treasured and truly loved games in America and all over the world.

Baseball

Baseball is known as the USA’s national pastime and sports lovers never cease to show their appreciation for baseball. The Major League Baseball event receives a high number of viewers every single year and continues to grow every season. The popularity of baseball began in the early 20th Century and hasn’t moved from top position since then. Babe Ruth, Aaron Judge and Jackie Robinson are some of the most popular names in American Baseball today and the New York Yankees are known globally for their popularity and talent.

Golf

You can’t mentioned golf in America without acknowledging the legend that is Tiger Woods. He was definitely pivotal to bringing the game of golf into the forefront of American sports fans. Golf is a hugely competitive sport, especially in the most recent years. As the competitiveness has increase, so as the attention from golf fans all across America. It is certain that golf stands as one of the top ten most popular sports in the USA right now and half of the top golfers today are all Americans.

Tennis

Venus and Serena Williams are definitely the biggest names in American tennis to date. They, like many have consistently helped tennis to get on the sports map. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras also put tennis on the map for America, even before the Williams sisters stepped onto the scene. The US Open is a hugely popular even on the sporting calendar with consistent increases in viewers every single year.

Boxing

Muhammed Ali is undoubtedly the greatest boxer of all time and he’s an American citizen through and through. Ali didn’t just have all the skills the best boxer in the world should have, he also had charisma, nerve and the ability to communicate with the public like no boxer had ever dared to before. Joe Frazier, his main rival at the time was also American. This gave boxing a hugely, popular push in the world of sports in the USA.

Wrestling

Wrestling is most certainly one of the most popular and most watched sports in the United States of America. There are so many wrestling super stars that reached their peak of stardom so much so that they have landed film and television roles. The WWE or The World Wresting Entertainment is renowned for in the wrestling industry. This is also the reason why many people have become attracted to this sport, because of the entertainment factor.

So, there are some of the most popular sports in America right now. You may be a die hard fan of some of them or you may follow them lightly whenever you can. No matter how much you love American sports, it’s safe to say there will always be plenty to choose from!

Formula One or F1 is a motor sport that gathers millions of fans around the world. It is one sport with one of the most devoted fan bases out there.From thrilling races to drivers who become heroes, formula one has everything to keep any fan hooked.

The king of motor sports

Formula One, often shortened as F1, is the motor sport competition most popular in the world. Races on this category are named  as Grand Prix and are performed on race tracks all over the globe. 

Although professional car races have been around since 1984, modern formula one origins date back to 1950. Many professional teams participated on it, and some of them have gained a renown prestige in the actual F1 scene, like it’s the case of Ferrari and Maserati.

Many formula one fans are supporters of a particular team since then. There are more than 100 different teams of formula one spread around the world on the different Grand Prix races. Some of their fans decide to show their support by buying emblematic tokens related to the sport, like a replica helmet of their favorite team.

These sort of helmets are often used by fans as decorative pieces since they imitate the originals in full detail. The helmets have the original design replicated carefully so you would not be able to tell them apart from the original ones. They use exactly the same materials as the ones created by your favorite team, making them more than a simple decorative piece. They can be used in real races, so if you ever want to participate in a race yourself, getting a f1 replica helmet will make you feel like a member of your favorite team.

Formula One heroes

Formula One fans not only end up developing a special link with the race teams, but also with the F1 race drivers. Sometimes, the fame these drivers get can easily overshadow the one of their teams. Many fans are faithful to their favorite race driver and would support them all the way, independently of the team they drive for. 

Over the last decades, some race drivers have become real idols after their amazing performances. A good example is the case of Lewis Hamilton, which is often considered as one of the best drivers of all time. Over the last years, Lewis Hamilton helmet replicas have become some of the favorite tokens every fan would wish to have. Lewis Hamilton participated actively on the designs of his helmets, and in 2017 involved his fans on the process by holding a helmet design contest where his fans could submit their works of art for his incoming helmet. For many, his helmets are considered a work of art more than sport gear at this point. 

Another racer that has gain a lot of notoriety is Fernando Alonso. This young driver has won among other prices, the Formula One World Championship twice. His achievements have make him one of the fan favorites, making his helmet replicas one of the tokens in higher demand. Fernando Alonso is very involved with the designs of his own helmets, making sure they include two arrows (a reference to a christmas present he got as a kid) and the colors of the flag of his birthplace, Asturias.

Getting a replica of the helmets your favorite racers use is a way of bringing you closer to them, especially taking into account how much some of those racers are involved in the design. Also, since those replicas have exactly the same properties as the original ones, they can be used on real races, so you can feel just like your idol by wearing one, especially when you know the meaning behind them. The helmets also make amazing decorative pieces, so you can impress your friends and family with them, especially if they are as big fans of the motor sport as you are.