Supporting against is more enjoyable – 11/27/2023 – Sandro Macedo

Once, a German university (always them) carried out an experiment in which they showed fans goals from their own team and, later, goals lost by their rival. The study detected that the guinea pig fan smiled and showed more satisfaction with the failure of the rival team than with the success of the so-called favorite team.

The research was highlighted in the documentary “15 Minutes of Shame”, which deals with online hate and cancellation culture — the producer is Monica Lewinsky, a girl who became an expert on the subject after being fooled by the then American president Bill Clinton, who did it, but said he didn’t do it, almost like a defender at the time of the foul.

And, if rooting against is what gives the most satisfaction, the 2023 Brazilian Championship is the most enjoyable championship in history. On Sunday (26), for example, it was common to see fans much more worried and tense about their rivals’ games, a movement commonly known as drought.

In Botafogo x Santos, this humble scribe witnessed Corinthians fans supporting the black and white team from Rio, as a way of seeing arch-rival Palmeiras lose the lead and, at the same time, hold off Santos, a competitor in the fight against relegation. The same Corinthians fans hadn’t even seen the second half of their own team’s clash two days earlier, when Menezes’ team, Mano, lost 5-1 to Bahia (because masochism has its limits).

Hours later, in the same corner bar, Flamengo fans (reinforced by the same Corinthians fans) put aside the red-black game to focus on the duel between Fortaleza and Palmeiras. The cries for a goal for Fortaleza were much louder than those for Flamengo itself (which, simultaneously, had a predictable victory against bottom team América-MG).

This joy with the rival’s pain should be the keynote of the 36th and third-to-last round, which starts early this Tuesday (28), with Vasco x Corinthians, a duel against the sticking that will have the attention/concern of fans from Bahia, Cruzeiro and Santos , at least. For this group, perhaps a victory for Corinthians (who already have 44 points) would be better, which would keep Vasco (42) on the brink of the abyss.

Still at the bottom, Rogério Ceni’s Bahia faces São Paulo, who are trying to win their first away match in the championship; and Santos hosts Fluminense in the pre-World Cup phase. In this case, Corinthians and Vasco fans will join in supporting the visitors. The idea is for everyone to stay together in the mud.

However, the game of the round is the next day, the 57th anticipated final of the tournament: Flamengo x Atlético Mineiro, at 7:30 pm, in the pasture known worldwide as Maracanã — which will host the fifth game in eight days, or something similar. The match will probably have all the Palmeirenses (and, come on, Botafoguenses) glued to the television, drying Professor Tite’s rubro-negro. A draw wouldn’t be bad either, but Galo’s victory would allow Palmeiras to take three points off the two rivals in the lead; That’s two rounds left.

Yes, yes, Botafogo can beat Coritiba and remain one point behind Palmeiras. But between you and me, dear reader, do you still believe in Botafogo’s title? Putfire has reached the point where, if they win the championship, they will be considered a big underdog.

And Professor Tite, who said before taking over Flamengo that he would not lead any team in 2023, has now stated that he is not looking at the championship score. He would be the only man involved in the dispute without a copy of the table in his pocket. I have one for each pair of pants.

If this scribe is not mistaken, it was the beloved philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who said that seeing others suffering is good — this scoundrel certainly didn’t support any team.

LINK PRESENT: Did you like this text? Subscribers can access five free accesses from any link per day. Just click the blue F below.