Rob asserts that individuals care about professional sports because each person on the team represents the town they are from.

“every single person that's on those teams represents that town that they're from”

Akaash Singh believes that being a New York resident requires an individual to support the New York Knicks.

“you cannot be a New Yorker without being a Knicks fan and I mean that in terms of the people that move here and they're like hey I've been here for 10 years so now I'm a New Yorker not until you're a Knicks fan”

The Patriots' success during the early 2000s helped build confidence and shape the personality of the New England region.

“I think you guys did more for like the people of New England, like my age, than anything ever. Like you guys gave us genuine confidence. Like we actually thought we were good because you guys were good.”

Sports are a useful metaphor for the way in which communities can come together.

“Think of it as a metaphor about the ways in which communities can come together.”

Glenn believes the appeal of sports is rooted in the narrative and personal identification one has with the team and players.

“it's just about the finding the story the story that you identify with and the thing that you fall in love with”

Ryan Clark argues that sports fandom, including being a supporter of athletes who appear on the show, creates a personal attachment that makes their losses feel painful.

“My thing for y'all is though as people who do the show right we are also fans like we become fans like when you sit with a dude and you start to know him a little bit like you root for as the the fan in me when when he stole on him in the first round I takes Freddie T”