where, oh where, did my little dog go...

so for some reason i've been particularly interested in the american league playoffs, yankees vs. red sox. people over here are really into the game, and are usually passionate about "their team." almost everyone i've talked to is pro-sox, and i've always for some reason favored the yankees.

one of the most common reasons folks like the sox is because they're they "underdog" (nevermind that they're favored to win). as the yankees proceeded to stomp the poor sox, i admit i began to root for them a little in spite of myself. however, now that the sox are back on top, i've lost any shred of good will i had towards them.

which made me wonder - what is it, exactly, about the underdog that attracts us? why do we hate goliath, and root for david? why is it so bad to be so good, so prepared, so skilled, etc.? it could be sympathy for the less fortunate. it could be that the underdog poses less of a threat. the psychological reward for an unlikely outcome could be great. cafe hayek has a great neurological explanation - dopamine (a feel-good drug) is released something good but unexpected happens, so rooting for an underdog is like an investment in that great Da payoff.

in my ever-so-extensive google search, i found an interesting theology of the underdog that, wrongly, claims that most central Biblical characters had nothing going for them. otherwise it's an interesting read.