Parasocial Peyton

Indiana recently had its heart wrenched out.  We understood why a change had to be made.  We understood the plan and the purpose.  But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. 

Let’s face it.  No, let’s embrace it.  Indianapolis and Indiana love Peyton Manning.  He led our beloved Colts to eleven straight playoff appearances and two Super Bowls.  We embraced his family, memorized his stats, and bawled like Jim Irsay at his departure press conference. 

For me, Peyton illuminated something.  Fandom.  The act of being a fan of a sports team or sports figure is one of the most powerful and prevalent forms of parasocial relationships in the world.

Some of you will be arguing, "well I’m just a sports fan, I don’t have a relationship like these parasocial weirdos and their Bieber-fever."  Well.  If that’s the case, then you must not wear jerseys with athletes' names on them.  You must not cheer with glee with they score a touchdown.  And you certainly don’t draft them in fantasy football leagues and name your teams after them.  No you certainly don’t do any of that. 

The truth is that we love our athletes on our teams.  We embrace them and learn all we can about them.  It’s a powerful thing.  And we do it all the time without thinking about it.  Think of names on the Colts that you’ve embraced over the years.  (Or if you’re a fan of another team come up with your own list.)  Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders, Jeff Saturday, Marlin Jackson and Joseph Addai.  Most Colts fans can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about these players.  And that’s pretty cool.  That’s what being a fan is all about.  But it’s not just about being a fan of a team, an non-person entity, it’s about the individuals that play for that team and our parasocial relationship with them, especially when that relationship is so powerful it overpowers our “team” fandom. 

Peyton illuminated that being a fan transcends just rooting for a team.  The number of people who support the Denver Broncos in Indiana skyrocketed in the period of two weeks.  Why? Because of Peyton.  Because of the emotional bond that we feel towards Peyton Manning, the loyalty we feel we owe his as part of our fidelity driven relationship. 

It’s the embracement of a figure who knows nothing of us.  He has no idea what the names of his countless fans are.  But we know everything about him.  His twins, his rookie season passing record that we cursed Cam Newton for breaking, and we can pick his voice out of a crowd.  We love Peyton Manning.

“But Peyton loves us too!” You argue. 

That’s what your parasocial dedication is driving you to say.  Sure Peyton Manning probably does care for Indiana, but not you.  Someone he doesn’t even know exists.  That's not to be callus, that’s just the parasocial truth of it all. 

So without further deliberation.  Go Colts.  And go Peyton.