Picture a group of men, dressed in tribal colors, their faces adorned with aggressive stripes and symbols. Together they lift their voices in the ritual chants designed to intimidate their enemies. Their voices blend together as they pump their fists above their heads. Across from them, men painted in different colors chant back at them, inspiring their champions and preparing themselves for the battle to come.
For many, this description brings to mind the ancient plains of the Serengeti or the hills of Scotland, as mighty warriors prepared to do battle. But this description applies just as well to the modern stadium, where thousands of people gather, dressed and even painted in unified colors, to chant their support for their team.
For the last several hundred thousand years, give or take, human beings have lived in tribes. Other people were divided into “of my tribe” or “not of my tribe.” In fact, the word for “people” in most languages is often just the name of the tribe, while other tribes are referred to with various nicknames or epithets. Members of a tribe were often extended kin groups, meaning that its members were generally homogeneous. They looked and acted like each other. When violence occurred, it was often between separate tribes, battling over resources or land using a variety of pointed sticks and heavy rocks (the pointed rock was a major innovation). The urge towards violence that characterizes human behavior was directed away from the tribal group and towards the “other.”
Anthropologists disagree over the level of violence in early tribal societies. If our ancestors thought and acted in any way like we do now, there was probably a lot (especially after the invention of the pointed rock).
The economic and societal environment for human beings has come a long way since those forgotten times in the fog of prehistory. Now we live among people of different races, religions, cultures and ethnicities. Our economic needs are far removed from the stages where raiding another village for livestock might mean the difference between survival and starvation. Our pointed sticks have evolved into weapons capable of destroying cities, civilizations, and, if we get really mad, all life on earth.
While the environment in which we live has changed drastically, the same can not necessarily be said of our psychology. We were conditioned for countless years to perceive the world in two divisions: like me or not like me. Human societies have struggled with this tribal legacy as long as there has been civilization. Even into the modern era, desires for racial, religious and ethnic separation have led to untold violence and suffering.
So how do we deal with these ancient instincts and urges in a modern society? One way is to indiscriminately slaughter one another based on our differences. This approach, however, is frowned upon by many philosophers and religious leaders.
To avoid this option, then, what humans need is a place to channel those ancient tribal instincts into an arena that allows them to play out in a safe and structured way.
In other words, we need sports.
Sports taps into the violent tribal reservoir of the hindbrain, aka the lizard brain, aka the part in the back suggesting that the solution to any problem is to smash something. This allows us to act out our instinctive tribal desire to go invade the village across the river in a fantasy environment. The lizard brain can’t tell the difference, as long as it gets to yell and scream and wear paint, and there’s much less real violence when the animus is redirected into the safe, simulated environment of team sports.
Here’s an example. As a graduate of the University of Kansas, I hate the University of Missouri. I even use the word ‘mizzou’ as a pejorative (e.g. “Don’t go see that movie; it’s completely mizzou.”). The Jayhawks are my tribe, and the enemy tribe lives across the river. Now, instead of acting on this sentiment and gathering a group to invade Columbia, Missouri (even though they did it to us in 1863), I take my negative feelings and express them in the controlled environment of a football or basketball game. I meet people from mizzou all the time in Kansas City (the buffer zone) and I am generally cordial and civil, and they are as well, because we both know that the battle is going to be played out on a metaphorical field of battle, not a real one.
This brings me to my second point. All across Europe, soccer fans are known for rioting violently after matches (language note: as an American, when I say ‘football’ I mean American football. If I want to refer to ‘world football’, I say soccer. Any Australian readers can appropriate this article for Aussie Rules Football without changing the wording). On the other hand, violence at American football or basketball games is remarkably rare.
Is this because Americans sports fans are so much more civil and genteel than their European counterparts? Having been to many sporting events across the country, I find this somewhat unlikely. What factor, then, causes there to be riots after soccer matches and not at football games? Soccer is a relatively non-violent game, and American football is so violent that Theodore Roosevelt threatened to ban it in 1905 if they didn’t reduce the number of deaths.
Therein lies the answer. Football is a violent, conclusive game. Teams spend more than three hours trying to crush and smash each other into bloody pulps. When a team scores, it does so by either forcing the ball down the other team’s throat, or deceiving them into being out of position. When a football team advances to within 20 yards (close to 18 meters for our international readers) of the goal line, they usually score (unless the defense similarly crushes and/or deceives them and takes the ball). When you defeat a team in football, you feel as though your team has bested them, both physically and mentally, and often they have.
In soccer, on the other hand, a team can set up play after play of well-positioned attack, only to have the ball float harmlessly past the goal every time. Meanwhile, the other team can get one lucky kick that bounces off the defender’s butt, hits the post, bounces off the goalie’s head and goes in. They win, 1-0. Possibly to most reliable way to score is to flop on the ground inside the penalty area and hope to draw a foul and a free kick. Is there any other game that so rewards taking a dive?
As I mentioned, sports is a way of diverting the age-old instincts of tribalism and violence. We can express our enmity and aggression, know all the while that it is just a game, and afterward we can return to civilized conduct. This is because football offers a violent and conclusive catharsis, satisfying the lizard brain and resulting in very few riots or much fan violence. On the other hand, soccer is often inconclusive and random, with many ties and games decided accidentally. Frankly, if I paid 50 euros (that’s roughly $374 now) to watch my team lose 1-0 on a fluke shot (or worse yet- a tie), I’d riot too!
My lizard brain would demand nothing less.
Interesting idea, but I’m not sure I buy it. American Football is a superior sport to all others due to its combination of physicality and strategy. However, the violence of a sport has nothing to do with the violence of the crowd watching. I offer for an example, the Irish culture. With three of the most violent sports in existence in hurling, rugby, and Gaelic football, there are still plenty of riots and fights post full-time to go around. The Irish history is filled with violence that continues to this day, and not just in the North. Street gangs are rampant, pitting neighborhoods and families against each other.
The passive American mentality has for years desired to act out our hostility overseas and has not had a major military action at home since the time of the Quantrill raids and the entire US Civil War. My argument is that it has nothing to do with sport that pacifies the people, but it is the culture and apathy itself that slumbers within us all. There is a huge amount of complacency at home, and we have retired to become spectators of the world rather than participants of it.
America has become a very homogenous culture. With our physical and mental isolation from truly foreign ideas, we have all adapted to the popular ideas fed to us through television, movies, and other media outlets. America has basically become a 300 million member tribe. With our slight regional differences, we are basically the same at this point in our history. Bring American football to the same prominence in other parts of the world that sports such as soccer enjoy, and you will see riots at these American-style football games as well. Maybe we don’t have to. Make America active and participatory again and maybe we’ll have it at home too.
Marcus-
So your argument is that Americans don’t riot after sporting events because we’re too lazy? Interesting. Are there rugby riots? I’ve never heard of them, but that would undermine the argument. I suppose the only way to tell would be to get foreigners to play football (not futbol) and see if they riot (altho they didn’t for NFL Europe).
As long as we agree that football is superior to soccer, that’s the important thing.
Funny how Americans are the only one to see their little version of football as being “superior”. The whole world sees it at best as a boring, pussified version of rugby. Emphasis on the boring, a 3 hour match has on average 12 minutes of actual ball movement.
BTW, it is unimaginable that ANYONE (even americans) can become excited enough by American football to actual have a fight over it.
You don’t see riots at American football, volleyball, synchronized diving or chess because these sports have small regional audiences and don’t stir the same type of passion that the world’s most watched sport does. Who in their right minds would care enough about the result of an American football game enough to riot? Its an irrelevant sport in this world, like sumo wrestling.
I respect rugby for its violence, if not for its strategy, altho it is another game, like football, enjoyed by a particular segment of the world.
I have no idea why the rest of the world watches soccer. I fail to see how a bunch of men kicking a ball around in a circle for an hour and a half is entertaining. I have yet to watch a game (match) where I managed to stay awake for the entire time. If I paid good money to watch that, I’d riot too.
I find it very interesting that you Americans think your sports are so much better than the rest of the Globe’s. I mean, it’s this insular and inarticulate approach the Americans are renowned for.
The reason why ’soccer’ is so popular is because it is a very strategic game that rewards patience and technique. American sports lack those qualities in comparison because it’s just aboutgetting as many points as possible.
Granted, some ’soccer’ games can be boring, but so can many other sports. But I defy anybody to be bored of watching Pele or Maradona in their prime!
“I find it very interesting that you Americans think your sports are so much better than the rest of the Globe’s.”
Vik,
it’s not just the americans who don’t like soccer (world football so that i might not offend fanatics here). the philippines also don’t like it. i am from the philippines by the way.
well actually, the philippines is the only country untouched by “football epidemic”. canada, india, united states, australia, new zealand and other countries where world/association football (aka soccer) is not really popular ( imost americans, canadians and most pacific islander naitonalities such as samoa don’t really care about association football) have their own versions of football as well.
personally, i find football boring but i just thought i had never tried it so i remained unbiased about it but i started to dislike football the moment i watched eto’o being taunted by european fans just because he is black. i never encountered such things whenever i watch NBA Live.
i’m glad the philippines is “isolated”.
soccer is the most popular sport. Why football fans don’t riot is because they are not as passionate in their sport as soccer fans are. Soccer fans are willing to die for their team when some football fans come to the game to just take their family their and have a few drinks. At the end they don’t even no the score. That is the problem with NFL. Why NFL Europe never rioted is because no one watched it. When I was in Germany my family didn’t even know that there was a NFL league in Germany. Soccer will always be the most popular sport because there is always something going on unlike football where you get 5 second of action then the only real entertainment, a beer commercial. It will be like baseball, it will fade out and soccer will take over for it. 4 billion watched the world cup final and only 90 million watched the last super bowl.
well im not being biased but i love playing football, basketball, and soccer but when it comes to watching all 3 of them i would much rather watch a basketball or football game which is the real reason why we’re arguing right?? because to me it actually seems like we’re arguing about which is the better sport which isn’t the case because they’re all thrilling to play but watching is a whole different story and just like soccer we have our exciting players too (pele renaldino<lebron ladanian)
Hey I’m American and don’t care about soccer, but I’d rather watch soccer live than football live. Football is good on TV because theres statistical analysis, commericals, cheerleaders..etc but when you are watching it live you really realize how much downtime there is between the 5 second plays…soccer fans are crazy though, great atmosphere in foreign games from what Ive seen.
(Real) Football or what you call it soccer ends in a draw (tie) far less than you americans think, it’s one of the popular misconceptions along with 0-0. Games end in a draw around 25% of the time depending on the competition. 0-0 draws happen around 5% of the time. But the point is, if two teams are equally matched then a draw is a fair result. Two teams can be equally matched you know….
Riots are rare in Europe. It is another popular misconception. Football violence is also rare. the reasons Americans don’t understand fan violence is they don’t understand the itensity of our regional rivalries. our countries are tiny and heavily populated. Street gangs from rival cities actively follow sports teams in Europe. In many ways it’s akin to the crips following the clippers and the bloods following the Lakers, conflict is always bound to happen and will always be exaggerated by sport. It has nothing to do with being bored or being frustrated by the lack of violence on the pitch, violence is irrational hence why it’s intrisically linked to fan culture which is also, hence why we are intelligent enough to realise it has no place in non (combat) sports, and even there you see the best “fighters” are the most violent but the most tactful.
Racism is a problem in certain parts of Europe, but is down to ignorance, but not the same ignorance which drives american racism. In America you have a large black community, but you were still openly racist towards many until the 60s and many places still are today. In Europe with the exception of France and the UK and a few select major cities around the conitinent. There are hardly any native blacks so ignorance can only be expected. The problem is in many places it will take generations to get rid of these attitudes, just like it did, and still needs to be done in your country. it’s not a “European” thing however.
Finally on the game play, that is totally objective. In Europe we prefer the free flowing nature of the game and we understand the objectives and intricacies of every move. Where you see a side ways pass we see a means to an ends. Where you see Luck winning a game, we see punishment for wastefulness. You may not see the strategy because we don’t use dictionary thick play books, but there you would be so wrong. Your sports may have lots of points scoring, but we see regular points scoring as meaningless, and we see the pre occupation with physique and brawn as deluded.
Just to conclude, unfortunately this seems to be indicative of Americans, they just don’t understand and they put crazier logic in place, to try to and come even further short and look even more foolish.
Indeed our species is definately tribal,Such sports Football,Soccer,and Rugby are typical examples of warlike challenges of different parts of a nation, within itself, let alone across borders,to out do each other for the Honor,Prize,and Pride.Fortunately these sports have taken at least some of these challenges off the streets and turned it round into an activity to enjoy and take part in without killing anyone,(not so sure about fake soccer fans i.e. hooliganism ).Sport is sport ,to watch and support a team.Even Londoners support clubs in the north or vice versa.Its not so much as to real Identity,its more about membership.in the soccer world.At least with US football and Rugby you can take your family and have a good day out ,even wear opposing colours and sit amongst the fans of the opposing team.I see every now and then fans in rugby games getting autographs from both teams,Thats where the respect comes in.Well earned respect.
The skill and success of any sport is what you can do within the fixed rules of these sports.Clever tactics planning,team work,searching for holes and weakness ,working how you could use the rules to your advantage.In the case of Soccer plenty of diving and getting penalties,most of the time soccer players kick to an area and hope for the best.
My take on any sport ,is support the team you love and enjoy what ever sport youre in.Or change sport.So simple no need for politics!
Cheers all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUtZieCU2_g
ROTTERDAM HOOLIGANS!
The reason Americans don’t riot after some games is because American sports have no history or pride at stake. I am an American myself, and find American football the most pointless and non exciting game out there. Basketball is good as well as hockey because it is constant, flowing similar to soccer. What other sport in the world rewards players to weigh 350 pounds and hav e absolutely not atheltic ability other than to shove your fat ass against another person? What other sport has 5 million substitutes on the sidelines ready to come in at any second because some fat ass needs oxygen after a 5 second play. There is build up or flare in American football. Americans just do not understand the grace and elegance of real football, where you actually use your foot. They believe in sitting down drinking beer and eating fast food while watching more commercials of beer than they are of the game.
Football around the world, whether it be club or country evokes a passion most Americans have never felt or expierenced and probably never will because of their myopic view of the sport. Football represents more than a single game of 90 minutes for fans. It represents their pride, their culture, their history, and their ethnicity. For example, in terms of club soccer, Celtic FC vs Rangers FC, which is arguably the most fierce rivalry in the world, pits centuries of religious and political conflict against eachother in one game. Celtic being the club for Glasgows immigrant Irish Catholic community, and Rangers the club for Scotlands Protestant community. At this game, known as the old Firm one can feel the emotion present and I can tell you first hand it is nothing you will expierence at any American sporting event.
Now moving to international football. American football doesn’t have the same intensity because nobody else cares or plays our dumb sport in the world. Its always Americans vs Americans, over and over. Football on the other hand is a battle of countries, and each country brings with it a different style of play. The Brazilians, pace, trickery and flare. The Germans, physicality, and fierceness. The English, old school long balls with rough and tumble tackles. The Italians, rigid defensive tactics that are nearly impossible to break down. And the list goes on and on. When countries play each other it is my heritage against yours, and when that is bottled up into a stadium it can explode at any second.
The fact is Americans will never understand beauty of football. There is no restrictions to being a great player or a legend. You are not judged by how fat you are or how much you can bench press, you are judged on what you do on and off the ball. You do not need to dress like a medieval knight in order to play. All you need is a ball and anything to make two goal posts and a desire to have fun. Football is not all about scoring a goal, that is how you win a game of course but the beauty of the game lies in every second of it. The movement, the 1v1’s the counter attacks, the saves, the shots, the perfect passing.
Hopefully one day Americans understand what football really is, more than just a sport. Viva Futbol!
Sean- you are so right. world football (soccer for Americans) is about heart,honor,joy,skill and team spirit.
and one more thing that is amazing about football…
The Fifa World Cup. It’s the most amazing event in the world. Nothing comes close. One wakes up and can the tell the world is feeling different. Every country coming together for one sport. The idea is simple, which is why people come together because they understand. Unexpected goals and missed shots emotionally break you down. I love the World Cup because to every single one, the event is personal with their own experiences, and at the end, it is those experiences we talk about forever.
and the difference between the World Cup and the Superbowl is that for the people don’t tune in to the World Cup just for the commercials…