The NFL playoffs have made me introspective. As I’ve watched my New York Giants make their improbable run through the NFC bracket and into the Super Bowl, I’ve reflected on the sports fan within me.

With the exception of a few personal tragedies, the most emotionally intense moments of my life have been sports-related: Aaron Boone’s walk-off homerun in the 2003 ALCS, Tino Martinez’s grand-slam in the 1998 World Series, Allan Houston’s runner in the lane in the 1999 NBA playoffs and Stanford’s upset of USC this year, just to name a few.

The die-hard sports fan is a hard creature to understand. We care about events whose outcomes we can’t affect; we invest our time, money and intellect in games that, in a general sense, don’t mean anything. We are relentless in our passion and display it at every turn.

Why?

So much of our lives fall into gray areas where we can’t be sure if we’ve succeeded or failed. Sports are the exception. Sports are a black and white industry: at the end of games and seasons, there are distinct winners and losers.

And along the way, we all bear witness. Sports are remarkably egalitarian — socioeconomic status, race and origin are all thrown out when it comes to fandom. We stand together, CEOs with delivery boys, as our teams compete. When our teams win, we can all claim our share of the victory; when they lose, we collectively bemoan our defeat.

The same goes for our critiques of our teams’ performances. There is no formal training for being a fan — anyone can participate. Our views, particularly in the face of the failure, vary: some will be quick to point a finger at the coaches, management and players. Others will focus on the positives and what can be learned for the next game or season. And some will hold their commentary, or find a middle ground, and tell themselves and others to “wait ‘till next year.” It is our prerogative, no matter what we think, do or say.

In all situations, true fans can find the art in the contest. Outsiders look at four-hour-long baseball games and question how anyone can hold their focus. But die-hards and students of the game see it differently: we notice how a third baseman creeps up onto the infield grass; how a pitcher shakes off signs; how a defense shifts; and how a batter adjusts to each pitch. When a manager sends up a pinch-hitter or makes a call to the bullpen, we know why. It’s not that we’re all-knowing, or even close: it’s that we are so involved with the game that we feel connected to the players, coaches and every decision involved.

This creates part of the fun and excitement we experience from watching and analyzing sporting events. It also drives up our passion. Sports can spike and deflate emotions almost instantly. They get a rise out of the most introverted people, and silence the loudest trash-talkers. Emotions run high at all times, and not just as a result of on-field events, like in the above examples.

As Stanford fans, we held our breaths when the Baltimore Ravens announced they hired Harbaugh as their new head coach, and collectively exhaled when we found out it was John, the Philadelphia assistant, who had accepted the job, and not our Jim.

When ESPN reported that Wiggins had been suspended indefinitely, we paused until we heard that it was Connecticut’s Doug, and not Stanford’s Candice, who was being punished.

That moment of dull pain, followed by the warm feeling of relief is one of many things that we experience on the journey that is fandom. It is a long experience that can potentially span a lifetime — I was born rooting for my hometown teams, and it is hard for me to imagine a situation that would lead me to change my allegiances. Loyalty is hardened over time, as we experience the highs and lows of our favorite franchises.

It’s impossible to experience the Giants’ playoff run without looking back on their season, when they were left for dead after an 0-2 start, rebounded, but struggled down the stretch, only to peak when it mattered most. Their season encapsulates the fans’ experience over games, seasons or many years.

Through all the trials and tribulations, we persevere, because the emotions we feel when our teams succeed are among the most satisfying in the world.