Short Wave: Why Emotions Run High For Sports Fans – Episode Summary

In the June 18, 2025 episode of NPR's Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber delve into the intense emotions experienced by sports fans. This episode, titled "Why Emotions Run High For Sports Fans," explores the science behind sports rituals, emotional synchronization among fans, and the profound impact of fandom on human behavior.

Introduction to Sports Rituals

Regina Barber opens the discussion by sharing her personal affinity for baseball season, particularly her experiences attending San Diego Padres games. She emphasizes that for many fans, it's not just about watching the players but engaging in routines and rituals that heighten their connection to the sport.

Regina Barber [00:16]: "I don’t spend a lot of time watching the players. When I go to a game, it's all about my routines around the game."

Demetrius Xigalatas: From Fan to Cognitive Anthropologist

Demetrius Xigalatas, a cognitive anthropologist at the University of Connecticut, shares his journey from being a passionate football (soccer) fan to studying the intricate rituals that bind fans together. A pivotal moment in 1985, when he attended a Greek sports stadium filled with fervent fans, ignited his fascination with collective sports fandom.

Demetrius Xigalatas [00:53]: "That experience, that ritualized chanting and jumping up and down among the fans that really turned me into a fan."

The Power of Rituals in Fandom

Building on his personal experiences, Xigalatas discusses how repeated communal actions and rituals amplify the emotional highs and lows of sports fandom. Referencing his book Ritual, he explains that these practices foster a deep sense of unity and emotional investment among fans.

Regina Barber [01:32]: "These repeated communal actions can really bring out an intense spectrum of highs and lows."

Emotional Synchronization Among Fans

Xigalatas and his research team conducted studies to measure how emotionally aligned fans are during sporting events. By monitoring heart rates using electrodes and accelerometers, they discovered that fans physically present in the stadium exhibited higher emotional synchronization compared to those watching on television.

Regina Barber [06:21]: "We’re looking at how similar their heart rates are at any given time point."

Demetrius Xigalatas [07:02]: "The most important predictor of that group synchrony is whether people are physically located in the stadium or watching the game on television."

Pre-Game Rituals: Brazil’s Street of Fire

In a fascinating study conducted in Brazil during the annual "Street of Fire" event, Xigalatas found that fans' emotional peaks often occurred not during the game itself but during the pre-game rituals. The collective actions of lighting flares, chanting, and celebrating before the match created a wave of emotional alignment that sometimes exceeded the excitement experienced when the home team scored a decisive goal.

Demetrius Xigalatas [08:30]: "We found that not only does it match that level of alignment, it actually exceeds it."

Regina Barber [09:42]: "People were more aligned that their hearts were beating as one. They were euphoric during this ritual, more so than actually just watching the game."

Comparing US and International Fandom

The conversation shifts to a comparison between American and international sports fandom. Xigalatas highlights structural differences, noting that US sports often have interruptions like timeouts and commercials, which disrupt the continuous emotional engagement seen in European football, where games consist of prolonged, uninterrupted action.

Demetrius Xigalatas [10:34]: "In Europe, it's very different... you have 45 minutes of uninterrupted action."

Regina Barber [11:49]: "We’re missing out on that unity, but we're also missing out on the beating each other up."

The Dual Nature of Intense Fandom

Xigalatas discusses the delicate balance sports organizations must maintain between fostering strong brand loyalty and preventing fan-driven violence. While deep emotional investment can unify fans, it can also lead to intense rivalries and conflicts if not managed carefully.

Demetrius Xigalatas [11:57]: "Every sports organization... try to find that Goldilocks zone between having brand loyalty and having fans that care deeply about the team."

Creating Meaning Through Sports

Concluding the episode, Xigalatas reflects on the broader implications of sports rituals in human life. He posits that the creation of meaning through rituals, art, and group identity is a defining characteristic of humanity, transcending mere survival instincts.

Demetrius Xigalatas [12:38]: "What characterizes us as humans... is our propensity, our ability, and in fact, our deep-seated need to create meaning from things that seem to be intrinsically meaningless."

Closing Thoughts

Regina Barber wraps up the episode by acknowledging how the discussion has reshaped her understanding of sports fandom, highlighting the profound psychological and social dimensions of being a dedicated fan.

Regina Barber [13:39]: "It's made me think about my obsessions a little bit differently."

This episode of Short Wave offers a compelling exploration of the emotional dynamics within sports fandom, bridging personal experiences with academic research to uncover why fans are so passionately invested in their beloved teams.