by Ethan Johnson
September 27, 2007
I have been stewing on this for some time, and am ready to in some small way unleash it on the world. Simply put, I was wondering what it is about sports (pro or otherwise) that is so captivating and exciting for so many people. Of course, not all sports appeal equally. I thought it over, and though there are more categories to add to my "filter", I have narrowed down the three biggest factors to Names, Narrative, and No Tomorrow. Let's try it out.
NASCAR:
I am so not a NASCAR or motorsports fan. NASCAR racing (and IndyCar, IRL, Formula One) is what drag racing folk called "roundy-round" racing, which is kinda boring. Well, at a glance, without paying attention. Behold the 3N filter!
Names: Where to start? The Earnhardts. The Pettys. The Waltrips. Jeff Gordon. Kurt Busch. Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart. And many, many more.
Narrative: OK, want narrative? In 2001, retired driver Darrell Waltrip was in the broadcasting booth for the Daytona 500. On the final lap, he watched two stories unfold: His brother Michael won the race (his first win) and Dale Earnhardt got into a wreck with Ken Schrader at the final turn. As NASCAR fans will always remember, Dale Earnhardt died in that crash, changing NASCAR (and their approach to safety) forever. Now here's the scoop: Imagine being Darrell Waltrip, watching your brother win his first race and a racing legend dying before your eyes. A man you knew personally. Hell, imagine being Ken Schrader, watching your car slam into #3, not knowing that its driver would be dead. That's narrative enough for me, and I'm not a fan.
These days, I suspect that the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Chase is the new arching narrative. The points chase has its ups and downs, and driver/team scuffles as a result. Which ties into...
No Tomorrow: The points chase pretty much dictates that each driver needs to finish every race as close to first place as possible. As points are accrued, certain drivers rise to the realm of possibility of being this year's winner, whereas other drivers fall too far in the standings to be cup contenders - but of course have their own fan base anyway. I suspect that there are enough "driver fans" to sustain the industry, but typically when a championship is on the line non-fans perk up a little to find out who is the favorite, or who will win.
I really blew covering this event, but know to swing back for the 2008 Olympics, and the 2011 Women's World Cup. To the 3N filter!
Names: Brazil = Marta. USA = Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Kristine Lilly. Germany = Renate Lingor, Birgit Prinz.
Narrative: I could write a book, really, but I'll try to be brief. In today's USA/Brazil semifinal, the narrative lines were many: The Team USA coach replaced Hope Solo with Briana Scurry, on the assumption that Scurry has the better record against Brazil and could be called upon for this critical game to ensure a strong defense. Abby Wambach scored in all but one WWC match this year. Kristine Lilly set a record for WWC appearances, and is expected to retire from WWC action after this tournament. (We may see her in the 2008 Olympics.) Team USA was ranked #1 in the world, and was expected to win the cup outright this year. Nike poured a lot of ad revenue into the team, cementing that expectation. The USA coach has zero WWC coaching experience (unless I missed that line on his CV). Does he have what it takes to coach the team to the final? Did he make the right decision with his bold roster move? Does USA have Brazil figured out?
For Brazil, the women's team was ranked #8 going into the tournament. Unlike the men's national team, the women aren't fully supported in Brazil. They don't have "residency" like other national teams. In fact, the Brazilian team hadn't played together for several months - shellacking USA 5-0 in the 2007 Pan Am Games. Brazil (allegedly) does not take women's soccer seriously, and the overall sentiment has been that if Brazil does not win the Cup, they'll fade back into relative obscurity. Marta, Brazil's star striker, is phenomenal. Brazil has many weapons at their disposal, but for comparison's sake, she scored 3 of Brazil's 5 goals in the Pan Am games final. Will Brazil advance to the final? Will they win the Cup? Will Brazilian women's soccer gain respect?
The answers to some of these questions, plus more narrative may be found here.
No Tomorrow: The knockout rounds are critical in the WWC. If Brazil or the USA loses, they get to play in the "consolation" game for 3rd place against Norway, but for either side, failure to win the cup outright is the same as a first-round exit. Either side will have to face Germany, who absolutely annihilated Argentina 11-0 during the first stage, and disposed of each playoff opponent 3-0. The Cup final is on Sunday, September 30. Check your local listings.
Try this with other sports. Start with any you might like. Who are the big names (or lesser known people who are on the rise)? What is the narrative that adds drama to the action? Or explains why you're a fan? What event draws the line between "fight another day" and "no tomorrow"? The answers to these questions are what will draw others to the sport (or event). Give it a try. <EM>
