The ones that do support me and are cheering for me, man, I love

In the words of Khalil Rountree Jr., “The ones that do support me and are cheering for me, man, I love them to death, because they could so easily be on the other end,” we hear the voice of a warrior who has tasted both admiration and scorn, and who understands the fragility of human allegiance. These are not mere words of gratitude; they are the utterance of a soul that has stood beneath the weight of judgment, where love and hate hang by a thread no thicker than breath. To speak thus is to recognize that support is a choice, not an inheritance—and that those who stand beside us could, in another turning of fate, be our fiercest critics.

In the ancient days, the wise knew this truth well. The heroes of old walked paths where adoration turned swiftly to disdain. Consider Alexander of Macedon, who conquered the known world before his thirtieth year. His armies, once united by glory, later whispered against him. Those who once crowned him divine soon questioned his heart, his purpose, his right to lead. Yet still, there were a few—faithful companions who believed even when the world recoiled. And for those few, Alexander gave his trust, his love, his final breath. It is this same spirit that Rountree invokes: a deep, almost sacred appreciation for the loyal souls who stay when others fall away.

The meaning of his words is rooted in humility and awareness. He does not take the cheers for granted, for he knows how easily they could become jeers. Life in the arena—be it of sport, art, or struggle—is a dance before the crowd, and the crowd is fickle. What today they crown, tomorrow they crucify. Thus, Rountree’s statement is both a celebration and a warning: love those who love you, for they have chosen mercy over mockery, belief over indifference. Their support is not owed—it is a gift freely given by hearts that could, in another wind, have turned cold.

There is an emotional honesty in his words that few dare to express. To love those who support you “to death” is not hyperbole—it is recognition of shared vulnerability. It is saying: “You could have doubted me. You could have joined the chorus of contempt. But you didn’t. And for that, you are my kin.” Such love is rare in the modern world, where voices rise and fall with trends, and loyalty is often thinner than the veil between victory and defeat. The ancient poets would have called this bond philía, the noble love between companions who choose each other in the shadow of struggle.

Think of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, who, despite wielding supreme power, thanked the teachers, mentors, and friends who shaped him. In his Meditations, he wrote with reverence for those who guided him rightly, knowing full well that fortune could have placed him among the corrupt and the cruel. His gratitude mirrored Rountree’s insight: to recognize the good that could so easily have been otherwise is the mark of true wisdom. It is the understanding that every act of support, every word of encouragement, stands as defiance against the ease of indifference.

Let this be a lesson to those who listen: cherish your supporters—not merely when the world applauds you, but especially when you falter. When you stumble, and they still remain, count them as treasures beyond gold. Do not take lightly the loyalty of those who stand with you when others turn away. Speak their names with honor. Let gratitude be the banner you carry through both triumph and trial. For in the end, no greatness is truly solitary—it is woven from the unseen hands that lift us up when the world grows heavy.

And so, to the listener, take heed: in your life, you will find those who believe in you, and those who doubt. The doubters will come and go, but the believers—though few—will shape your destiny. Nurture their faith with humility, feed it with truth, and protect it with love. For as Khalil Rountree Jr. reminds us, every supporter is a miracle born of choice, and every cheer a spark that could have been silence. And if you would live wisely, love them to death, for in loving them, you honor the sacred bond that keeps the human heart from despair.