Do you remember the last time you were watching or reading a sports drama? Do you remember the climactic moments, those slo-mo, intensely detailed, nail-biting moments that shall be the defining moment in our protagonist(s)’s journey? But why are we so attracted to sports stories? Aren’t they essentially the same? Aren’t they elementally either the story of someone falling down and coming back up or rising to heights from depths of despair?
There’s something fundamentally human about sports stories that keep attracting us over and over. Even though the protagonist(s) always conquer their odds in the end (with rare exceptions), why do we pray for their success and get enthralled by their victories? We have listed 15 reasons why. Hop along, then!
1. Sources of Inspiration
Life can be tiring and frustrating, and it often is. On many days, all we want is a source of inspiration that speaks to our inner dreamer, the person who started this journey with something magical in mind. After all, can there be anything more magical than watching or reading someone persevere through all odds to fight for their dreams? In turn, these sports stories motivate us to persevere through the obstacles in our lives as well, whether it’s a tiring day job or preparing for an upcoming exam.
For instance, watching a deaf and mute boy play at the highest levels of cricket in Iqbal is certain to arouse anyone’s desire to chase their dreams, isn’t it?
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2. Underdog Triumphs
We all are the protagonists of the stories of our making, and a protagonist getting beaten up by their circumstances in one way or the other is inevitable. It follows that we all have felt like underdogs at some point or other, and watching other underdogs succeed against insurmountable challenges helps us stand up and fight against our battlehills, too.
Think of a rag-tag team of villagers in Lagaan fighting for the unjust taxation of the British through a cricket match. The odds are few and sparse, and yet we hope. We hope that they somehow manage to defeat their formidable opponents. We hope they somehow come out against the dark tunnel of their struggles. This hope is what keeps us glued to the story!
3. Teamwork and Camaraderie
Hey, I know you’re not the only one who has struggled against one team member or many (or all?)! Human beings are complex creatures, distinct from each other, each with its unique perspective and worldview. And what do worldviews do in their spare time? Conflicts, what else? There are innumerable sports stories of teams struggling against each other.
Sample Chak De India or Jungle Cry, where half the challenge arises from internal conflicts. In an Indian context, it also allows for a broader sociocultural commentary, highlighting the inherent differences between different regions and the subsequent struggles as a result. We’ve all read or heard the story of a father demonstrating the collective strength of many sticks when held together, but a reminder now and then never hurts, does it?
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4. The Power of Resilience
Not quitting after a loss isn’t that hard, with the hope of success looming somewhere on the horizon. But not quitting after several losses is, indeed, tough. Success is often not immediate, and watching others face one failure after another and yet carry on can be critical to helping us continue our own journey.
Think of an international-level boxer losing his feet, only to become a swimmer and scale new heights in Chandu Champion, and suddenly, your problems appear a lot more manageable.
5. High Emotional Stakes
A sports drama is incomplete without high stakes. At times, creators, whether directors or writers, take those stakes to their extremity to evoke emotions in their audience, ruining the story. But every well-made sports story is enjoyable because of the satisfaction that those final victorious moments provide after many losses or setbacks.
We have all experienced those highs and lows, and hence, the success of the protagonists in Mary Kom or Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in those final climactic moments feels personal (as it should).
6. The Story of the Hero
This is a larger point also applicable to why we love stories in general and ties back to my second point. We are the heroes of our stories, and hence, watching other heroes become their best selves can be a powerful reminder of what we can be. The pursuit of perfection is a long and tricky road, and sports stories are the perfect nudge to work on the hero inside us.
Think MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, where Captain Cool would have to face several “uncool” phases that many of us have had to face, too, and yet his passion for chasing his dreams eventually takes him to the highest echelons.
7. Life Lessons
Most sports stories have abundant lessons that we can imbibe into our lives. For instance, take Amrith Gopinath’s The Prodigal Sprinter. You learn the value of changing the trajectory of your life and career when the right opportunity arises. You see how the vice of arrogance can grab the best of us and how we must overcome them to reach our eventual destination. You get to know the importance of having a rock-solid support group and mentorship to get ahead in your field. These are just some of the many lessons the book and sports stories teach you, why we love them so!
8. Cultural Reflection
Even though the rules in a sport are universal, the nuances of individual stories are always regional. Sports novels and movies are often a great mirror to understanding the world around us. Think of Dangal and its commentary on patriarchy through its wrestling family in a conservative village or Mallika Ravikumar’s The District Cup, which highlights one of the many issues that plague Indian sports and keeps many deserving athletes in the shadows.
Another brilliant example of sports stories reflecting society is Sarpatta Parambarai, which tells the story of a Dalit boxer born to a poor family while portraying the political and cultural aspects of the times.
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9. Creating a Sense of Collective Identity
We all want to belong in some way or the other, no? Sports can be that glue, and sports stories often remind us of the power of shared experiences in creating something bigger and better. These stories can create a strong sense of community by bringing people together from different backgrounds through their shared passion for a game.
For example, Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu has its central team composed of players with diverse backgrounds, creating various challenges. But the collective identity that each player gets (along with the viewer supporting their journey) being part of the team eventually helps them rise through each hurdle to attain glory.
10. An Escapist Fantasy
The world of sports drama, filled with excitement and competition, can be a great escape from everyday life. Their intense and adrenaline-filled stories provide a momentary reprieve from our mundane routines. While that’s true for most stories and not just sports ones, it’s truer for the latter. The protagonist’s victory feels like your victory in the moment; their triumphs become your own.
Even while watching a movie like Sultan, where characters possess extraordinary, exaggerated capabilities, you’re carried away by the suspense of the moment.
11. Dramatic Tension
Unlike life, sports is unpredictable. Or rather, sports magnifies life’s unpredictability. This unpredictability creates inherent dramatic tension and larger stakes that make sports stories so thrilling. It’s why, despite predictable plot trajectories and climaxes, sports stories keep you on the edge of your seats. The dramatic tension acts as an additional layer over the sociocultural contexts and other emotional subplots; hence, you’re as riveted by biopics of famous athletes like Milkha Singh and Saina Nehwal as you’re by fictional sportspersons.
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12. Personal Growth and Development
Almost every sports story has personal growth at its core in some way or the other.
Even when a story follows a team, each protagonist has to go through their personal growth journeys to attain their (and their team’s true potential). It can come in the form of shedding your personal identity to play for your team and your nation as in Chak De India! or it can lead to the character understanding themselves better, as in Arvind Adiga’s Selection Day.
These stories also often highlight the transformative power of a game in helping someone evolve and mature and discover their true selves.
13. History and Tradition
Sports stories can also be a great way to celebrate our history and tradition, whether of the sports itself or the numerous achievements.
Movies like 83 or Maidaan, for instance, honour the great athletes and moments of a nation’s history and how they shape the sporting world and society at large. Such movies help us better appreciate past legacies and inspire the upcoming generations. Every sport and its participants carry a rich heritage and inherit certain values over time, and sports stories can flesh them out brilliantly.
14. The Universal Appeal of Sports Stories
There’s a reason why governments around the world (for good or bad) celebrate their sports achievements so jubilantly, arguably more so than any other field. Sports cut across the boundaries of language, culture, and geography, with their universal themes and emotions appealing to people from every walk of life.
As Shehan Karunatilaka brilliantly writes in his Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, “Sports can unite worlds, tear down walls and transcend race, the past, and all probability. Unlike life, sport matters.” The fundamental essence of the quote stands true: why sports stories matter and why we love them so!
15. Celebrating the Human Spirit
Ultimately, like the best of tales, sports stories are deeply human stories, celebrating our fundamental desires and talents. While watching or reading them, we can see the best aspects of humanity being reflected (including the depictions of vices and the subsequent triumph over them), whether courage or compassion. They show the human capacity for resilience, coordination, and, ultimately, greatness. By showing the best of us, they inspire us to fight against our challenges and become, in turn, the best version of ourselves.
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Conclusion
So there we have it! Sports stories, whether books, movies, or any other formats, whether Indian or Korean, can be sources of inspiration, a medium for escaping real-world mundanity, or a celebration of our history and heritage, among other things. But wait, we want to know your thoughts. Why do you love watching sports stories? And what are some of your sports stories? Share with us in the comments below!
