Do the athletes on the field really need us?
They're human beings with skills most can only dream of. If one less fawning fan, like me, showed up to the game I used to think they'd be fine.
But after going to the ASU vs. Missouri game on Friday and the Diamondbacks vs. Padres game on Saturday, I'll venture to say yes, they do need us.
Fans buy tickets, and ticket sales keep the team in business. Even when money's hard to come by, going to a game can be a release and a penny well spent.
The athletes are in charge of the amazing plays, but the fans create the atmosphere. People actively participate in the game by reacting to its highs and lows. With fists pumping and hearts pounding, fans create the raucous cacophony that makes the ballpark electric, which sometimes changes the course of the game.
Fans are the ones who elevate an athlete from just another player, to a legend who is loved fiercely. The members of the 2001 Diamondbacks were on field before the start of the game on Saturday, and the packed ballpark welcomed them like long-lost family members.
Athletes need doggedly loyal fans just as much as fans need a walk off grand slam or an overtime touchdown.
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