On Parasocial Relationships with Professional Athletes

On Parasocial Relationships with Professional Athletes

My family have always been fans of the Philadelphia Eagles. To most Philadelphians, being an Eagles fan means more than just supporting our favorite football team: it’s a lifestyle. So when my sister brought home an Odell Beckham, Jr. jersey several years ago, I was mortified. It wasn’t until years later that I realized she had recognized something crucial about the changing landscape of American sports fandom: people invest a lot more into individual players today than they have in the past.

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