Sports - Athletes to Fans
The sports community is made up of several communities of teams and fans. The degree to which we participate in the greater sports community varies a lot as well: some of us are full time athletes, while some are part-time spectators. Within the sports community, each person has a unique perspective. Here are some of ours.
At Stanford, athletics create an energy that transcends the sports-community and energizes professors, administrators and students alike. Sports fans take part in a wealth of activities before and during games – ranging from tailgates, to face painting, to chanting, cheering and singing. Every sports fan can feel the gymnasium dripping in anticipation before a big basketball game and taste the electricity in the stadium before a football game. Stanford fans live and die with the success of our teams. We clap, we cry, and we scream - and when we see our Stanford athletes run onto the field, we feel a sense of pride in belonging to a strong, united community. - Eric
At an early age, many kids begin their sports lives when they join sports teams in city-wide leagues. We get to know and become friends with several other kids who are roughly the same age. As the years go by, many kids stop playing and move onto other activities. We run into each other again in middle and high school, always sharing the memory of playing together (or against each other) as little kids. - Lucas
I grew up as a part of the sports community. I realized what I liked the most about being a part of the sports community was the camaraderie, and teamwork that it involved. Here at Stanford I am a member of the Women's Varsity Field Hockey team. It is a huge commitment, averaging about 20 hours of practice a week year round, but is worth every minute when we won our Conference Championship game this past season against our rivals. Our celebration on the field after the game is pictured. - Katherine
One of the most rewarding aspects of sports is the actual competition during which members of the team are able to utilize the skills they have improved upon during hours of practice after school. Competitions require focus and endurance from the athletes so that they can attempt to edge out their opposition. In this photo of a sailing regatta at Stanford, the sailors are paying attention to the wind, currents, and speed of the boats around them in order to anticipate tactics and plan their next move in response to shifting conditions. Despite the drastic differences among sports, all entail a great amount of drive, teamwork, and competitive spirit that are the hallmark of American sports. – Katie
There are so many memories and milestones from my childhood and early teenage years that are directly related to the sports that facilitated them. From my first big hit in little league to my first street hockey joust, these images and events are as tangible as their physicality. The important ties I have with sports is a way to really get people together, whether it be a game of street ball to a Superbowl party with friends. Though academics took over later in high school, I can always remember the feeling of release when it was time for pick up football in gym. Today, I’m a fan, whose tenacity from sports at an early age is reflected in the cheers and sometimes vulgar exclamations from the stands. "Give em’ the AXE!!" – Dave
In my sport, my teammates have always been the horses I’ve been lucky enough to ride. To be able to face down an obstacle while racing the clock, horse and rider have to be able to trust one another and to understand how to work with one another. Even though riding is usually an individual sport, the horse show community that has sprung up around it is small and close-knit. At Stanford, I compete on the intercollegiate equestrian team, so for the first time I have bipedal teammates. Even though I am no longer competing on the same show circuit I did before college, the equestrian team has given me a new community of very different people all united by a love of horses and a real investment in the trials and successes of everybody else. (This is me and my last horse Penny.) – Jaslyn
Comments
I think you have great sport teams. And I like the photos!
With what teams do you usually compete? With teams from other universities?
Eric, I know fans provide great support for their favourite teams. Are fans also good at sport they like? Or may someone be, for example, a geat basketball player and at the same time he is a fan of a football team?
Posted by: Dmitry Galenko | January 16, 2009 07:06 PM
Cool pics!Made me want to do more sports!:)I actually was lucky to be even a fan on a football game in States. I was really amazed how big footbal in Amerika is!I couldn't understand all those touchdowns and stuff like that though!:)But very interesting to watch!And i liked tailgating before the game!
And thank you guys for the Conference.It was me and Dima who talked to your group;)
Posted by: Elvira Gaifullina | January 17, 2009 03:40 AM
Katie, Katherine, and I all compete for Stanford against other colleges from all over the United States (Katie sails, Katherine plays field hockey, and I ride horses).
People who aren't good at a given sport are definitely often fans of it -- for an example, I am terrible at baseball (plus, baseball is a men's sport) but I'm a San Francisco Giants fan!
Posted by: Jaslyn Law | January 19, 2009 02:26 PM
Dmitry,
Like Jaslyn said, anybody can be a fan. An example of this can be seen in the Bejing Olympics. It was often reported that people from the USA basketball team watched michael phelps race and saw our beach volleyball team in action.
eric
Posted by: eric | January 20, 2009 01:22 PM
That's the spirit of Winning team I guess!..:)
You Rock!
Posted by: K B Carey | March 10, 2009 06:14 PM
@Jaslyn
I've always admired the beauty and power of horses. Although I don't ride myself, two of my sisters are fanatics here in the U.K.
What is your take on the Venezuelan horses that died recently? Do you think it was a pharmacy mistake, or something more sinister? Horrible!
Posted by: Tina Marcano | April 27, 2009 09:36 PM
Hey, great piece.
I love the Stanford Teams Racing Team (Sailing) currently one of the top yachting schools in the US!
Rich
Posted by: Boat News World | April 28, 2009 05:05 AM
Wow. They were very good pictures. I am so jealous about their sports uniform.
Posted by: Mayweather vs Marquez | June 4, 2009 10:06 PM
hi,
stanford is one of the best among others.
regards,
rustic outdoor lighting
Posted by: rustic outdoor lighting | June 19, 2009 07:49 AM
Hi,
I'm a rugby player (CUS Roma) but I'm a big fan of a football team (AS Roma).
Francesco
Posted by: Francesco | July 14, 2009 12:44 AM
I did my undergrad at Stanford, and the sports community there exceeded everything I had ever expected. I miss it dearly! sports forum
Posted by: Sports Trivia | August 17, 2009 11:36 PM
I never got to go there, but it surely would have been nice. Great weather, a great sports program, and great academics. Can't beat that.
Posted by: Head Liquidmetal | August 17, 2009 11:38 PM
hi,
i'm an national athlete of malaysia. i played rugby but i'm also like riding horse. i just went for the riding course about nine class. only one class not finish yet.hehe. Cheers,
rugby fan
Posted by: starian1986 | August 31, 2009 02:20 AM
Cool stuff
Posted by: Christopher Lance | September 2, 2009 05:58 PM
Beautiful set of pictures, all of which capture the magic of sports.
Posted by: Microsoft Xbox 360 Repair | September 4, 2009 10:35 PM
i love this team i hope they makee it to the top
Posted by: LeBron James | September 14, 2009 08:47 PM
I am always attracted to the speed and power shown by horses in passing those obstacles. This is a great post and came to learn more about this sport.
Posted by: Buy steroids | September 15, 2009 06:56 AM
damn i wish i had the chance to be with you guys! its bee a looong time since i have weared those uniforms..!
Posted by: betsson bahis | September 19, 2009 08:02 AM
damn i wish i had the chance to be with you guys! its bee a looong time since i have weared those uniforms..!
Posted by: betsson bahis | September 19, 2009 08:04 AM
A nice selection of pictures depicting the fans supporting their team,hockey team and just loved the sailing shot. Very impressed with what I saw.
Posted by: Sailing Boat | September 26, 2009 12:49 AM
Ra Ra Ra
Go Cardinals!
Nice blog
Posted by: Pub Sofa | September 26, 2009 06:10 AM
Very nice pictures , especially first one(love it) .
Posted by: Competitions | September 26, 2009 04:25 PM
great pictures would love to see more. Keep up the good work
Posted by: Epic Supplements | October 13, 2009 08:15 PM
Go Stanford Athletics. One of the best around... Look forward to more.
Posted by: rugby league merchandise | November 1, 2009 12:07 PM
I agree with you, your saying is so good and usful for me. Thanks. Are you also like ugg australia
Posted by: ugg boots sale | November 18, 2009 12:03 AM
I agree with you, your saying is so good and usful for me. Thanks. Are you also like ugg australia
Posted by: ugg boots sale | November 18, 2009 12:03 AM