Look, I’m gonna be honest…
I’ve been in this sports writing game for over 20 years. That’s 20 years of watching, analyzing, and frankly, obsessing over sports. And in all that time, I’ve noticed something: we’re all too quick to count out the underdogs.
Let me set the scene. It was March 16, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. The NCAA Tournament was in full swing, and my buddy Marcus (let’s call him Marcus because, well, that’s his name) and I were watching a game at a sports bar. We weren’t just watching, though. We were screaming at the TV like our lives depended on it.
On the screen, the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers were playing the Miami Hurricanes. Now, Miami was the favorite, obviously. They were a big-name school with all the hype. But those Ramblers? They were a #11 seed. Nobody gave them a chance. Nobody except me, that is.
I turned to Marcus and said, “You know what? I’ve got a feeling about these guys.” He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “You’re kidding, right?” he said. “They’re gonna get crushed.” But I didn’t care. I loved their story. I loved their heart. And honestly, I loved that they were the underdogs.
Why We Root for the Underdog
You know what’s funny? We all do it. We root for the little guy. Whether it’s in sports, movies, or even real life, we can’t help but cheer for the underdog. Why is that? I think it’s because we see a little bit of ourselves in them.
Take my friend Dave, for example. He’s a personal trainer over in Austin, Texas. We were grabbing coffee last Tuesday, and he told me about this client he had. This guy was tiny, barely 5’5″, and he wanted to compete in a powerlifting competition. Everyone told him he was crazy. “You’re too small,” they said. “You don’t have a chance.” But Dave believed in him. And guess what? That little guy ended up winning his division.
“It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight,” Dave told me. “It’s about the size of the fight in the dog.” And that’s exactly what the underdogs have. They’ve got heart. They’ve got grit. And they’ve got a story that resonates with us.
The Problem with Favorites
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying I don’t like the favorites. I mean, who doesn’t love a good Tom Brady story? But here’s the thing: the favorites don’t need our support. They’ve got everything going for them. They’ve got the resources, the talent, the hype. But the underdogs? They’ve got nothing but their determination.
And that’s what makes their stories so compelling. Remember the 2004 Red Sox? They were down 3-0 to the Yankees in the ALCS. Everyone counted them out. But they came back. They won the next four games and went on to win the World Series. It was one of the most incredible comebacks in sports history.
I was at Fenway Park for Game 4. The energy was electric. You could feel it in the air. And when Dave Roberts stole second base in the ninth inning, the place erupted. It was pure chaos. And it was beautiful.
The Underdog in Me
You know, I think part of the reason I love the underdogs so much is because I see a lot of myself in them. I didn’t come from a big, fancy journalism school. I didn’t have connections in the industry. I was the little guy, trying to make it in a world of giants.
I remember when I first started out, I was working at this tiny local newspaper. We’re talking a staff of five, including the guy who answered the phones. And I wanted to cover sports. But the sports editor, a guy named Greg, he didn’t believe in me. “You’re too green,” he said. “You don’t have the experience.” But I didn’t let that stop me. I kept pushing. I kept writing. And eventually, I earned his respect.
And that’s the thing about underdogs. They don’t give up. They keep fighting, even when everyone is against them. And that’s why we love them. That’s why we cheer for them. Because we know that if they can do it, so can we.
A Quick Digression: Real Estate and Sports?
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “What does real estate have to do with sports?” Honestly, nothing. But hear me out. You know how in real estate, everyone’s always talking about the big markets? New York, Los Angeles, Chicago? But what about the little guys? The cities that are just starting to grow? They’re the underdogs of the real estate world. And they’ve got just as much potential as the big names. So if you’re looking for the next big thing, check out the real estate market news update. You might be surprised by what you find.
The Underdog Legacy
So here’s to the underdogs. Here’s to the teams that nobody believes in. Here’s to the players that everyone counts out. Because they’re the ones that make sports so exciting. They’re the ones that make us cheer. And they’re the ones that remind us that anything is possible.
And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be the underdog. And when that happens, remember this: it’s not about the size of the dog in the fight. It’s about the size of the fight in the dog.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a game to watch. The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing the Golden State Warriors. And I’ve got a feeling about this one.
About the Author: Emma Stone has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s covered everything from the Olympics to the local little league, and she’s got the stories to prove it. When she’s not writing, she’s probably watching sports, talking about sports, or dreaming about sports. She lives in Vermont with her dog, a golden retriever named Buster.