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Live a Longer Life: Root for a Winning Team? |
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Sports fans live — and literally die — with their team
DR. SAN DIEGO
Anyone who knows me also knows I’m not a real sports fan. I watch and play tennis, but more common sports, such as baseball, basketball and football, well, let’s just say I’m not the best guy to go to a game with or invite over to watch a game on television. If you see me reading a newspaper, yes, you can have the sports section — I don’t even bother opening it up unless there are cheerleaders to look at.
I’ve enjoyed 50-yard-line season tickets for the Chargers for many years, but always preferred watching the real fans and the “hoopla” more than the game. What can I say? That’s me.
I came across a patient not long ago who threw his shoe at his brand-new 52-inch flat-screen Samsung — destroying it in the process, all because his favorite team lost the game (a game he had no money on). I got to wondering: What’s with these fans who destroy property, including their own, get into fights and all but march on Washington?
Then I came across actual research here in Southern California, Germany and France that shed some light on how far this fan lunacy can go. How about as far as dying over your favorite team? That’s right, Padres fans, DYING over their losses.
It’s been said that a baseball fan is a spectator sitting 500 feet from home plate who can see better than the umpire standing 5 feet away. Well, let me add that a baseball fan can also be a ticking time bomb, waiting for an emotional explosion to spike a cardiac emergency should the Padres lose.
And let’s face it ... there are some for whom Petco park looks to be more of a comedy club than a baseball stadium this season. For real fans, there are only two seasons: winter and baseball.
My favorite quote comes from Hall of Fame thrid baseman George Brett, who said, “If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing your grandmother with her teeth out.” Okay, but wouldn’t you rather kiss your grandmother without her teeth than have a heart attack and die because the Chargers or Padres lost? I don’t know your grandmothers, with or without their teeth, but c’mon, DYING?
So here’s the scoop: Up in Los Angeles, the difference in the death rate in the two-week period following the Rams’ Super Bowl loss and the Raiders’ Super Bowl win, when compared to control periods, is as follows. When the Rams lost to the Steelers in 1980, heart-related deaths in LA County were up 17 percent. In 1984, when the Raiders beat the Redskins, cardiac-related deaths in LA County were down 6 percent.
These data were presented at the American College of Cardiology meetings in March. And the highly respected New England Journal of Medicine published data just last year that demonstrated a similar spike in German cardiac emergencies in 2006 on those days when Germany played in the World Cup and lost. Another study reported a decline in heart-related deaths in France when its team won the 1998 World Cup.
Championship sporting events can be hazardous to your health! It may feel natural to be wrapped up in your favorite team’s win-loss record, but remember that emotional stress associated with your team losing may not be good for your heart. Perhaps the euphoria of your team winning creates chemicals that protect the heart in some way.
So what’s the answer? Give up being a sports fanatic? Stop cheering for San Diego’s terrific teams? Only root for winners? Attend games with your cardiologist? Bring a bottle of aspirin with you next time you go to Petco?
No. The answer seems to be to remember it’s just a game ... after all, they don’t say “Work ball,” they say “Play ball.” Play, as in have fun, enjoy, eat a hot dog, kiss your grandmother if you have to, but stay alive, will ya?
Live to see the next game, fans ... the cheerleaders alone are worth it.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Mantell has successfully been bringing upbeat, friendly and helpful psychological insights to individuals, families and businesses in San Diego as a clinical and corporate psychologist in private practice. He's been a regular on Good Morning America, KFMB-TV News 8, has appeared on Oprah, Larry King Live, the Today show, authored two best-selling books and speaks regularly for audiences throughout the country.
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Reader Comments:
If I am to only root for winners, I would root for Dr. San Diego! What a captivating blog! Frankly, I would DIE before watching tennis (good grief) being an avid Raiders fan. I have to agree with his valuable insights though. Not only have I wanted to lob a shoe at the tv screen, but my heart rate does go up a notable rate when I am stressing over that need to achieve a first down with minutes left in the half. I see his point. Keep it up Dr. San Diego. You are a glint of sparkle in San Diego Magazine.
I never think of my intense passion for sports in terms of medicine and science but this is such a great blog. I know that Dr. San Diego isn't much of a fan, but he sure does understand fans. I can't wait till the next post! Maybe it will be on hotdogs and chips.
I'm one of those fans who becomes wild & crazy while watching the Game. I tend to do this in front of a TV, and my wife of 30 years always reminds me to "Try not to get carried away, honey."
No such luck. I think it dates back to my high school days when our basketball team seemed to do just fine all game long and then lose at the buzzer. After one harrowing loss in triple overtime I became physically ill (I wasn't alone - LOTS of the fans felt the same way as I did). Clearly, the sports contests we watch are some kind of replacement for hand-to-hand combat. I think my wife has figured out that the best course of action is to just add valium to my game-day snacks. Works for me.
I love sports, I love San Diego, but most importantly I LOVE DR. SAN DIEGO! Thanks for the great blog posts, keep them coming!
Dr. San Diego, I am just loving your point of view on this. Its just a game!!!! I agree its definately worth living to watch those cheerleaders! keep it up Dr. san diego!!!
I loved this blog,Dr. you are the best!! your blog just keeps me captivated from begining till end. Its important to remember its just a game!!! I am your biggest fan!!!
Hey Doc - I'm a lifelong, shoe throwing fan of the Chicago Bears and Cubs. Based on this I guess I should expect that about 20 years have been pared back off my life expectancy. Hey, if I have a heart attack at 55 can my wife sue team management?
Dr. San Diego perfectly sums up my feelings towards watching sports, but I see that for sports fan, they have something to look forward to watching on TV and discussing with friends. With the lack of good shows on TV, maybe one of the major channels should hire Dr. Mantell to help us all think clearer. I'm happy for now that I can read about him at the San Diego web site.