In the 2012 London Olympics, a judoka from my hometown of Middletown named Kayla Harrison was fighting for the chance to become the first American, man or woman, to win a gold medal. Her opponent was a Brit named Gemma Gibbons, who had had a remarkable run to the finals and was the darling of the local media and fans. I had watched a total of something like one or two judo matches in my life up to that point, but in that moment - sitting in my pajamas at my desk, streaming the match live through a ratty laptop on its last legs - I was completely transfixed on the outcome of that event.
The Men's Volleyball Championship Gives You a Chance to be the Ultimate Bandwagon Fan, and You Should Take It
