define: hu·bris

ˈ(h)yo͞obrəs/

noun

1. excessive pride or self-confidence.

   synonyms:

   arrogance, conceit, haughtiness, hauteur, pride, self-importance, egotism, pomposity, superciliousness, superiority;

   • (in Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.

     
     

     
     

     
     

     one might even say falsely based pride. egoistically based pride.

     
     

     There's a lot of hubris around sports. By sports I don't necessarily mean athleticism or athletics, although that's not necessarily not true. Athletics as a substitute for violence or abuse? Isn't that a kind of hubris-based behavior?

     
     

     But most often I see it in sports fans. Maybe it's the olympics that reminded me of this observation tonight. Maybe it's the coming college football season or NFL season. Maybe it's the election season.

     
     

     It is one thing to be humbly proud of one's efforts or accomplishments. It is one thing to be grateful. It is another thing to mask hate, bigotry, greed and dysfunction with "patriotism" and "fandom". 

     
     

     Sure, it's better to channel these ugly things into sports than to roll the tanks, but it would be even better to cleanse our souls of this darkness.