Despite last night's loss to the Tar Heels, the Michigan State Spartans had an extra motivating factor powering them through a successful NCAA tournament run. As the Charlotte Observer reported, Michigan's struggling economy served to encourage the players. Guard Travis Walton defined the situation: “It's good for us to have the city and state on our back, because they're motivating us, and when you're tired or hurt, you're thinking of playing for those people."
Other teammates expressed similar sentiments, and it seemed that the players as a group knew that they were providing a distraction and relief during troubled times. However, is such motivation a good thing? Sport psychologist Michelle Joshua can argue on both sides of the issue. On the one hand, having a powerful factor such as playing for something greater than yourself can be very beneficial. At the same time, outside pressure of such magnitude can sometimes lead to cautious, inhibited play.
Check out the article from the Charlotte Observer to see other examples of athletics representing something greater on a social scale.
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