I never understood the devotion to a sport and/or sports team, and I was all-state in three sports, played football in college and love playing just about any sport, from getting beat by my wife in tennis (she's awesome) to ultimate frisbee to pickup basketball games at the park with complete strangers. I even have favorite teams in every sport that I 'root' for and love to see them win. But if they lose, meh... I couldn't care less if I can even watch the games. I'll catch the score in the paper or Espn.com and the write up. It's just a mild hobby.
But you'd think some of my friends parents just died when 'their team' loses. It ruins their whole day/week and they turn into little bitches.
My theory: people have been stripped of any ability to be secure in themselves and have lost any sense of personal identity. In part, this is the purpose of cultural Marxism which seeks to eliminate self identifying morals, norms or culture. Without anything to believe in or identify with, people attach themselves to anything and everything with the devotion and dedication that people in the past once reserved for family, friends, their work ethic and generally their personal integrity. Being a fan of a team or a sport gives people a group to identify with that has the same common interest; can share in their joy and pain; and gives them a place to pour their pent up need to be a part of something larger than themselves. Pretty much a collective of group think in which they can feel secure and welcomed do long as they say and do the right things.
To an individualist looking in from the outside, it's ridiculous.
If you're looking for individualist sports, martial arts are your thing. Whether it's fighting or solo forms/exhibition, it's all feats of individuals. 
Solo sports are the most satisfying, IMO.
Not surprisingly, there are more people looking for individual greatness outside teh Homeland.
