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I can't help but pity US sports fans. They don’t go through enough national athletic disappointment. OK, they had an invigorating shot of misery recently falling short in the prestigious golf event, yet that proved an infrequent event for them. It’s rare since they’re so dominant in every major team game that truly matter to them, especially since their biggest team sports – certainly American football and baseball – aren’t played by other nations. Or perhaps not in such a way that a different country is ever going to come close to overpowering them in any notable “world cup” contest. Hoops, admittedly, is internationally popular worldwide but basically the same applies – the US men have been Olympic champions seventeen instances in twenty attempts; in the women's division it’s nine times in twelve. Hockey is slightly different. Here, US teams have not always prevailed, and with Canada possess a true neighboring competitor. This may be one reason Trump hints about annexing them.

Thus, why extend sympathy? To begin with, how reduced must be the joy of winning if you’re winning continuously? As a fellow I attend matches with often remarks after a miserable defeat: without despair one cannot experience elation.

Failing needs rehearsal, that's the reason I somewhat understand the rather shameful conduct of some of the Americans in the past few days

Defeat requires experience, this explains I somewhat understand the quite appalling actions of certain US spectators on the course during the event. They don’t know how to do it. As a result, they behave poorly. And worse, although the US squad had performed brilliantly and almost achieved a remarkable recovery, they were leaving in large numbers, storming out amid a group pout. There didn’t seem to be any staying behind to acknowledge the worthy winners and, more importantly, honor their countrymen who , finally, did themselves great credit by nearly defeating Europe. Walking away in the direction of transit, it was like they were embodying Vince Lombardi: “Show me a good loser,” the athletic leader famously said, “and I’ll show you a loser.” OK, point taken. Yet his comments concerned the competitors rather than their supporters.

US citizens rarely have the opportunity to come together behind their national team as other nations do. It is incredibly important for a country's citizens to experience jointly, opportunities to feel such unity and connection being rather rare. And in the really big moments failure is equally meaningful like success, concerning shared participation. The day following one England final defeat I encountered a woman and her son on their way to school. They were with Indian roots. The young man sported an England shirt. I expressed sympathy to the child, and her gaze told me it had been a very difficult evening for the whole family. I felt the same. We shared that experience. The three of us and millions of others. Alright, it wouldn’t have been the ultimate goal for all 60-odd million, yet it mattered. Scottish fans, Welsh supporters, and Northern Irish followers have experienced similar events as well, when everyone’s been pulling together and feeling united. Regarding Croatia – another place I am invested in – people often remark to me that everyone disagrees among themselves all the time regarding every topic, until such time as the national football team walks on to the pitch during a major tournament.

I’ve now watched England lose two European Championship finals, and Croatia's loss in a World Cup final. On all three occasions I returned home very disappointed, however I’ve never felt more at one with my compatriots. Honestly, US sports enthusiasts fail to realize the experience they are without.