By Taylor Gaines, Newsome High

What is it that drives perfectly normal people to go to football games in freezing weather wearing nothing above the waist but the paint on their chests? What makes us so interested in keeping up with every bit of news about our favorite team that we constantly check our phones for score updates and other important developments?

I pondered these questions as I, a sports fanatic myself, sifted through several of my daily sports emails, and I decided that the answers lie in an inherent need to be involved in something, to be passionate about something that’s different from the daily routine.

Sports is that outlet for a lot of people. Fans get to journey with their team throughout the long road that is the regular season, building relationships with players who earn their respect by playing their hearts out.

Some fans aren’t lucky enough to cheer their team on through the postseason, but that's just part of the ride. Winning becomes sweeter when it comes after years of suffering and wallowing in defeat.  When your team wins the championship, the joy and excitement is unrivaled. (Plus, you get to call your team the champions for the entire year after.)

That’s why people love sports: It gives them a sense of being a part of something, gives them something to care about. Most importantly, it gives people joy and it gives people happiness. What more can you ask for from a group of guys that you’ve never met?