Ownership in Basketball

While reading Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely, there were many themes that stuck out to me and found interesting.  One topic that Dan Ariely discusses is people and ownership. He found that, "The more work you put into something, the more ownership you begin to feel for it" (Ariely, 175). I think that this is completely true especially when I reflect on myself, especially when I am making quilts.  Ariely also made a point that, "Ownership is not limited to material things.  It can also apply to points of view or an idea--like sports" (Ariely, 175).  When I read that sports can be something that people take ownership in I immediately thought about the March Madness basketball tournaments.  I am not a huge basketball watcher but I have watched my boyfriend and his residents (He is an RA) and how they have responded to the current tournaments. All I have been listening to them talk about is what is happening in their brackets and screaming at the top of their lungs at their TVs.  It's crazy to see people get so worked up about basketball. One of my boyfriend's residents on his floor (and also his next door neighbor) was cheering alone in his room at the top of his lungs saying things like, "Let's go (team name here)!!" He chanted this over and over until someone else from the floor went and pounded on the kid's door telling him to shut up.  Then the cycle would just repeat again after a few minutes of silence.  It has been funny to see how these boys have claimed their teams and brackets and taken so much ownership in the madness. It has been interesting to see how Dan Ariely's observations in his book have become evident in other real life examples.