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You may be wondering why on earth an article on sports teams is here on TNA, but I promise there’s a relevant point.
Team loyalty makes no sense. When someone makes the decision to become a loyal fan of Team X, what are they saying? If it’s 2009 and they like the Yankees for example, then they are saying they are a fan of Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Johnny Damon. But what about next season when Johnny Damon moves to Detroit? What about 2014 when Jeter retires? What about when none of that core group is left? If you were a fan of the team because of the players on that team, why doesn’t your loyalty shift when those players move on?
So it can’t be the players that sustain our devotion.
Is it the city? In terms of loyalty that makes a lot more sense, but what part of your city are you actually rooting for? Players are rarely from the city where they play, so they really don’t represent the city in that manner. Our loyalty would make more sense if athletes were only allowed to play for the city or state they grew up in… but that’s not reality.
So it can’t be the city.
Is it the organization? This is still the same problem as the players – people in the organization change. The only ones who don’t are the owners, but are we really loyal to a team because of its owners?
Maybe it has nothing to do with people at all. Maybe it’s the atmosphere, climate, and principles under which the organization operates that sustains our loyalty. This seems the most plausible explanation so far, but is the climate of a team really that different from one team to the next? All teams have the same goal, do they not? And, even when a team is known for having a losing aura about them, that can change with the shifting of management. For example, ten years ago you could have pointed to the Chicago Cubs as an example of an organization with a “loser” climate, and the LA Lakers as an example of a “winner” climate. Yet, those organizations are on opposite sides of the spectrum in 2017.
So what is it? Honestly, I don’t know. That’s a question psychologists would be better suited to answer. The more important point here is how we should pick a team, and it’s not complicated. All it really takes is knowing yourself and what you really believe.
In other words, when you truly know yourself, you are able to say, “I believe in these values and principles. Which team represents those values and principles the most?” Then you look around… Well, Team X kept that guy who abused his wife, so they don’t seem to represent my values. Team Y was caught cheating and tried to lie their way out of it, so they don’t represent my principles. But Team Z… when they found out one of their players was cheating, they kicked him off the team even though he was their best player! That’s what I would have done, so that’s my team! Additionally, the moment they stray from acting in accordance with your values, they should no longer hold your allegiance.
The same thing goes for a political party, a school, a church, or a job. Don’t remain loyal out of habit and laziness. Demand that they stick to their principles, and when it becomes evident that they no longer align with your beliefs, move on. If you find that what you truly believe is much different than what your church believes, why not find one that believes something more similarly? If the company you work for is constantly making decisions you disagree with, find a better fit. And please… if the political party you support continues to disappoint you over and over again, leave it! It seems so obvious, but if the actions of the party don’t seem to be aligning with your values anymore, stand up and find one that better represents you.
Welcome to the Federalist Party.
Covid variant BA.5 is spreading. It appears milder but much more contagious and evades natural immunity. Best to boost your immune system with new Z-Dtox and Z-Stack nutraceuticals from our dear friend, the late Dr. Vladimir Zelenko.