Comments on: Sports Identity (and Why I Have to Take Down My Steelers Banner) http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2008/09/25/sports-identity-and-why-i-have-to-take-down-my-steelers-banner/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:44:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christina Writz http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2008/09/25/sports-identity-and-why-i-have-to-take-down-my-steelers-banner/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Christina Writz Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:22:00 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=776#comment-396 This all reminds me of an article my ADR professor so kindly suggested we read - Tannen's "Argument Culture: Moving From Debate to Dialogue." The way that we feel we have to pick a sports team to root for is reflective of our desire to "win." As Tannen points out, in order to "win," the culture automatically assumes things are seen as black or white. People don't automatically see the gray area as winning in our culture (except for Prof. Schneider's son), even though it might be better for all involved. This all reminds me of an article my ADR professor so kindly suggested we read – Tannen’s “Argument Culture: Moving From Debate to Dialogue.” The way that we feel we have to pick a sports team to root for is reflective of our desire to “win.” As Tannen points out, in order to “win,” the culture automatically assumes things are seen as black or white. People don’t automatically see the gray area as winning in our culture (except for Prof. Schneider’s son), even though it might be better for all involved.

]]> By: Nadelle Grossman http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2008/09/25/sports-identity-and-why-i-have-to-take-down-my-steelers-banner/comment-page-1/#comment-367 Nadelle Grossman Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:53:52 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=776#comment-367 It does seem a bit fortuitous how we pick our favorite sports teams. My favorite line to this effect was uttered by Stephen Colbert a few weeks ago: "Go Team Where I Live!" Now that I have lived in five states (well, four states and one district), there are many teams I cheer for, mostly because I feel a sense of shared spirit with the teams in the cities and states where I have lived. So maybe the key to resolving conflict is to place ourselves in the shoes of our opponents - so that we can build a sense of shared identity and spirit. It also makes it harder to distinguish the "us" from the "them". (One caveat: I can imagine that this theory has its limits, for I will never cheer for the Dallas Cowboys . . . .) It does seem a bit fortuitous how we pick our favorite sports teams. My favorite line to this effect was uttered by Stephen Colbert a few weeks ago: “Go Team Where I Live!” Now that I have lived in five states (well, four states and one district), there are many teams I cheer for, mostly because I feel a sense of shared spirit with the teams in the cities and states where I have lived. So maybe the key to resolving conflict is to place ourselves in the shoes of our opponents – so that we can build a sense of shared identity and spirit. It also makes it harder to distinguish the “us” from the “them”. (One caveat: I can imagine that this theory has its limits, for I will never cheer for the Dallas Cowboys . . . .)

]]> By: What We Need Is Red and Blue Face Paint : Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2008/09/25/sports-identity-and-why-i-have-to-take-down-my-steelers-banner/comment-page-1/#comment-338 What We Need Is Red and Blue Face Paint : Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:38:25 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=776#comment-338 [...] Sports Identity (and Why I Have to Take Down My Steelers Banner) [...] [...] Sports Identity (and Why I Have to Take Down My Steelers Banner) [...]

]]> By: Richard M. Esenberg http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2008/09/25/sports-identity-and-why-i-have-to-take-down-my-steelers-banner/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Richard M. Esenberg Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:46:53 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=776#comment-336 If what makes watching sports fun - or a big part of what makes it fun - is vicarious participation in the struggle, then it is going to be more fun when we have a rooting interest. When the Packers beat the Steelers or the Eagles, Packer fans win along with the team. That may be why so many fans raise their arms in triumph (I won!) when their team does something right. All Joe Sixpack has really done is swill beer and munch on a brat, but, in his heart, he is right in the hometown huddle. The only way he can feel the thrill of victory is by taking sides. If that's so, then maybe the impulse to identify with one side or the other isn't so compelling in other contexts. Tonight at Miller Park, I want to share in the Brewers' win over the Pirates. I don't feel that way about Russia and Georgia. If what makes watching sports fun – or a big part of what makes it fun – is vicarious participation in the struggle, then it is going to be more fun when we have a rooting interest. When the Packers beat the Steelers or the Eagles, Packer fans win along with the team. That may be why so many fans raise their arms in triumph (I won!) when their team does something right. All Joe Sixpack has really done is swill beer and munch on a brat, but, in his heart, he is right in the hometown huddle. The only way he can feel the thrill of victory is by taking sides.

If that’s so, then maybe the impulse to identify with one side or the other isn’t so compelling in other contexts. Tonight at Miller Park, I want to share in the Brewers’ win over the Pirates. I don’t feel that way about Russia and Georgia.

]]> By: Bruce Boyden http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2008/09/25/sports-identity-and-why-i-have-to-take-down-my-steelers-banner/comment-page-1/#comment-335 Bruce Boyden Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:47:46 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=776#comment-335 I root for the referees. I root for the referees.

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