In the midst of this spiritual crisis I have begun to ask the fundamental question. What is the nature of the loyalty that binds us to our teams? Can a team be tossed aside even though it has given you (especially during the 1970's) some of the worst years of its life?
Brooks argues love of a baseball franchise comes from three sources:
"...For some people, the love of a team is like the love of one's nation."
"...For other people, the love of a team is primarily a psychological connection. It is a bond forged during a lifelong string of shared emotions."
"...Finally, a love for a team can be a philosophical love, a love for the Platonic ideal the team embodies. For teams not only play; they come to represent creeds, a way of living in the world. The Red Sox ideal is: nobility through suffering. The Cubs ideal is: It is better to be loved than feared. The Yankee ideal is: All cower before the greatness that is Rome."
And the Milwaukee Brewer ideal? Brewer fans will tell you, if we drink enough beer we won't notice how bad the teams sucks.
