For more than fifty years, Frank Deford, a well-known American journalist, covered sports. He had a knack for picking up on the subtleties of how people interact with sports and their social relevance. He made an intriguing observation regarding the importance that sports fans attach to going to games in one of his reflections.

Imagine receiving a free invitation to see your favorite team play, but when you learn how much a ticket would cost, you realize it's pretty pricey—possibly ridiculously so when compared to what most people would pay. When Deford spoke of receiving "a free ticket," he was describing a situation similar to this, in which the value of the ticket is far greater than what one might normally consider reasonable.

Deford brought attention to this paradox by pointing out that ardent sports fans are sometimes prepared to shell out hefty sums of money for tickets, even though these expenses are frequently out of reach for many. However, there is still a strong demand to attend games, indicating a special bond between supporters and their teams or events that goes beyond money.

This statement encompasses more than just economics; it also speaks to community spirit and emotional investment. Deford was demonstrating how people can become so enthralled with sports that they are prepared to forgo expensive tickets in order to enjoy the excitement and companionship that come with going to live games or events. It's like investing all of your money in one lottery ticket because you think that winning would make everything different—you might think that the possible happiness is worth the small cost.

Deford was essentially considering how ingrained sports are in American society and how supporters' emotional attachment to their teams justifies lavish spending. His analysis sheds light on the psychology of spectator behavior as well as the intangible benefits of live athletic events.