I like to follow my favorite team and talk sports with my band

The words of Garth Brooks ring with both joy and simplicity: “I like to follow my favorite team and talk sports with my band or fans. You won’t believe how many musicians are sports fans. We have so much time on tour that we need these outlets for relaxation.” Though spoken in a casual spirit, they reveal a truth as old as mankind—that even those who labor in the realm of art and music, whose lives seem filled with glory and sound, still need the grounding of play, of fellowship, and of common joys that bind them to others.

The origin of this thought lies in the long, grueling life of a traveling artist. Endless roads, restless hotels, and stages that blur into one another can weigh heavily on the spirit. For Brooks, one of the most beloved singers of his age, the way to balance the intensity of performance was to root himself in the shared language of sports, in the camaraderie of following a team, and in the easy fellowship of talking with companions and fans about games that ignite passion yet demand no burden. This is not triviality, but wisdom: even the most gifted must rest, and even the strongest voices need outlets of joy.

The ancients themselves knew this balance. The poets of Greece, after crafting their hymns and tragedies, turned their attention to the stadiums of Olympia. Pindar, one of the greatest lyric poets, wrote odes not only to the muses but to the victors of sports, finding in athletic triumphs both inspiration and relaxation. The Romans, too, though stern in war and eloquence, filled their amphitheaters with games—not only for spectacle, but because the spirit of competition brought relief and connection to people burdened by the weight of empire. In this, we see that Brooks’s habit of following sports is part of a timeless human rhythm: the balance between work and play, between creation and rest.

We are also reminded of the power of outlets to keep the soul whole. History is filled with those who burned too brightly, artists and thinkers consumed by their craft without respite. But the wise always sought moments of balance. Winston Churchill, in the darkest hours of war, would steal away to paint, finding calm in colors though the world shook around him. So too with Brooks: he finds release not in grand escapes, but in the simple joy of relaxation, of talking sports with those who share his journey. It is a reminder that small joys are often the strongest medicine.

The quote also reveals something deeply human—that the great artist is not set apart, but joined with the common passions of the people. The musician and the fan alike can sit side by side and argue about a referee’s call or celebrate a team’s victory. These conversations dissolve the distance of fame, reminding all that no matter how high the stage, the heart still beats with the same loves as everyone else. In this way, sports become not only entertainment, but a bridge of fellowship.

The lesson is clear: no matter how great your labor, no matter how heavy your calling, you must find outlets of joy. Engage with others in shared passions, whether in sports, games, art, or simple conversation. Do not imagine that relaxation is wasteful—it is the nourishment of the spirit, the renewal of strength for the next battle, the next performance, the next challenge. As Brooks teaches, even those who fill arenas with their voices must rest their souls in laughter and common fellowship.

Practically, this means giving yourself permission to step aside from your work and seek connection. Join others in community—whether cheering a team, walking in nature, or playing a game. Allow yourself the freedom to relax, to talk, to laugh, and to be human. These outlets are not distractions from greatness, but the very soil in which greatness is sustained.

So carry this wisdom forward: let your life be a harmony of work and rest, of creation and play. Follow your team, share your passions, embrace your outlets, and remember always that the strongest spirits are those who know not only how to labor, but how to relax. For in these rhythms lies the secret of endurance, the power to continue your journey, and the joy to make that journey worth taking.