Which tribe are you cheering for?

Tuesday, November 5, 2002
Renae Bottom

Do you think we have little in common with tribal civilizations? That we're too advanced to understand tribal philosophy? Take a trip to your nearest sporting venue and think again.

Advanced as we are, the tribal mentality is alive and well in America. If you don't believe me, consider the last football or basketball game you attended. Talk about your primitive throng.

Players descend on the scene of the battle, dressed in their tribal colors. During warm-up they huddle in groups, dance in circles, chant in rhythm, and whip themselves into a competitive frenzy.

Every step of the action follows a strict sense of ceremony. The choosing of captains. The coin toss. The hand shake. The opening buzzer or whistle.

Players shout encouragement to their teammates. Spectators pick up the cry. They chant the ceremonial phrases of power. "Go Big Red!" and "Defense! Defense!" are two common incantations. (Other colors can be substituted for "Red" if necessary. And the alternative chant, "Offense! Offense!" works nicely as well.)

Each uniform bears the insignia of the team's chosen mascot. Eagles, Tigers and Bears lend symbolic ferocity. Giants, Dragons, Spartans and Knights supply an air of intimidation. Most spectators don't wear cape buffalo headdresses or sabertooth necklaces, like tribal peoples pictured in "National Geographic." But they do brandish mammoth "Number One" fingers made of foam. And some paint their car windows and their faces in the team colors.

The most dedicated fans, especially middle-aged males, go a step further. They bare their bellies and smear them with paint too. It isn't pretty, but like those pictures from "National Geographic," it's hard to look away.

At school events the pep band adds a drumbeat to the frenzy. In professional arenas, crowds beat thunder sticks to create a furious racket. In college gyms, crazed fans wave colored towels. A few fly banners or flags.

Each team has a song. All the tunes sound alike. (Apparently just a few melodies were approved for use as "fight songs.") The songs extol important clan values -- courage, prowess in battle, victory and loyalty.

Vigorous clapping and foot-stomping accompany each performance of the team song. Naturally, all clan members must stand up whenever the song is played or sung. Anything less would constitute a breach of tribal solidarity.

And what primitive gathering would be complete without a big dinner? Food is a part of any sporting event. It may be a hamburger or hot dog feed, vendors selling pizza and nachos, or a local service club serving homemade pie.

I'm not sure what role coaches play in the tribal symbolism. Are they the big chiefs, the head honchos, the fearless leaders? Or is that position reserved for the school athletic directors? I don't know.

What I do know is that every time I attend a game, or watch one on television, I'm reminded that we are undoubtedly a tribal species. No matter what the sport, it just comes naturally.

Any sociologist who has spent time studying primitive tribal civilizations would feel right at home in a college gymnasium. The uniforms, the elaborate headgear, the cheering fans, the referees in their striped shirts, the uniformed players, the coaches, the costumed mascots, the colored banners, the marching bands, the cheerleaders--it all adds up to one big tribal shindig, complete with popcorn and candy.

Everything about sport appeals to our sense of tribal ceremony, from the music to the fierce competition to the recognition of our weekly heroes.

And judging by the time and money we invest, sports are strong medicine indeed.

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