Dennis Prager describes losing his rational composure when the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup twelve years ago. Standing at Staples Center with half-season tickets, he cheered wildly despite having no real connection to the team, then puzzled over why he felt such intense emotion. He wonders why fanhood seems so fundamentally irrational.
I had that passion once, and so I don't dismiss it. I don't have contempt for it. I just find it a phenomenon, and I observe myself from outside myself. The time I had it was when the Los Angeles Kings went into the playoffs and won the Stanley Cup. I don't know how many years ago was that. I'd like to look it up. 12 years ago, whatever it was. And I, by chance, because I like hockey a lot, I had half-season tickets to LA Kings games. So I was able to attend the finals, the Stanley Cup Finals. And I remember when the Kings came out on the ice, I stood up and cheered like the biggest fan at what was then called Staples Center. And I remember thinking, why are you so excited, Dennis? And I had no answer. That's the interesting thing. I couldn't figure out why I was so excited. Forget not figuring out why everybody else is. Why was I? I don't know anyone on the team. I'm not originally from Los Angeles. I've been there since 19— what's— 1976. Yeah, so it's a long time. It's 50 years, isn't that right? Yeah, almost 50 years. I can't believe it. Any— if someone has a better theory, I would like to read the theory of why we are so wrapped up in our team. It's so primal that I can't wrap my rational mind around it. You know, my Bible commentary is called The Rational Bible, and I'm thinking that's possible, but the rational fan, that's not possible. The, the entire notion A fanhood. It's not rational.
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