Lore to the Score: How Sports Echo the Hero’s Journey
- iyrunner9
- Mar 15
- 4 min read
Lore to the Score: How Sports Echo the Hero’s Journey
As many of you know, I was a professional athlete before becoming an author, and because of that, I’ve always been fascinated by the connection between the narratives of fantasy and the evolving legend of sport. The way we tell stories—whether it’s about warriors battling for the fate of a kingdom or an ace pitcher stepping onto the mound for the first time—taps into something primal. It’s about struggle, triumph, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. Thus we end up here, exploring from lore to the score: how sports echo the hero’s journey.
Bear with me, but epic fantasy bookish fans and sport heads are really the same. We might seem like we live in separate universes, but that isn’t true. One group is consumed by tales of mythical creatures, lost kingdoms, and chosen ones fulfilling their destinies. The other breathes walk-off home runs, overtime thrillers, and championship parades. But beneath the surface, they’re drawn to the same core element: an epic story.
On March 15, 2025, Paul Skenes was named the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day starter, a moment that marked more than just a roster decision. It was the beginning of something bigger—the first chapter of a new legend. A young warrior stepping onto the battlefield for the first time, staring down a seasoned champion in Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara.
For those who don’t understand the obsession of sports fans, the best way to see it is through this lens: Sports are modern mythology. Athletes are today’s chosen heroes.
The Call to Adventure: A Prospect’s Journey
Every great epic begins with a hero rising from obscurity. Whether it’s Aragorn reclaiming his birthright or Jon Snow finding his true place in the world, these stories hinge on a character stepping into their destiny. The journey of an elite athlete isn’t all that different. Just look at the tropes:
The Prophecy: Just as wizards and sages foretell the rise of a great champion, sport scouts whisper about the next generational talent. Skenes’ dominance in college and the minors wasn’t just a good stat line—it is a prophecy waiting to unfold.
The Mentorship: No hero ascends alone. Aragorn had Gandalf. Luke Skywalker had Obi-Wan (though, Obi-Wan failed at getting out Luke’s whining). Skenes has veteran teammates, coaches, and analysts shaping him, refining his raw gifts into mastery.
The Trials: A hero’s path is never smooth. In my book Aithos, Severin carries the weight of his lineage, wrestling with expectations and self-doubt. Skenes, too, must face the skeptics, the high-pressure moments, and the question that looms over every phenom: Can he rise to the occasion?
The Climactic Battle: Facing the Rival Champion
Every great tale builds toward a moment of reckoning. In fantasy, it’s a duel atop a burning fortress or a final clash against an ancient evil. In sports, it’s one warrior, or one army against another, with thousands watching. Trust me, as someone who has literally felt his body vibrate from the chants of the crowd it is EPIC FANTASY.
Skenes’ first test as the Pirates’ ace comes against Sandy Alcántara, a battle-tested veteran who has already proven himself on the sport’s grandest stage. It’s the classic clash between the rising star and the established champion. This is the stuff of fantasy legends:
Aragorn vs. the forces of Mordor – The young king must prove himself in battle.
Kaladin vs. Amaram (The Stormlight Archive) – A warrior confronts the man who shaped his past.
Ezhno vs. the hatred of society (Aithos) – A hero steps into the unknown, carrying the weight of history.
For sports fans, they aren’t just watching another game—it’s the moment that sets a story in motion. For Skenes, if he dominates, a legend is born. If he falters, his redemption arc is being prepared.
Why Sports Fandom Feels Like Following an Epic Fantasy
To outsiders, sports fandom can look like madness. Why endure years of heartbreak? Why tie your emotions to a team that might never win? But it’s the same reason we get lost in thousand-page fantasy novels: The journey matters.
So, if you’re a fantasy lover trying to understand your sports-obsessed friends, think of it like this: They’re following their own epic saga. Every season is a new book. Every game is a new chapter. They endure the losses for the thrill of the victories. And when a young star like Skenes rises, it’s the same rush as seeing a long-lost heir take his throne.
So next time you see a friend agonizing over a game, consider this: If we can invest in the fate of fictional kingdoms, why not in the drama of real-world legends in the making? And even better, when they ask how you can be so invested in something fictional, take this blog and flip the script.
Want to read Aithos and escape into a story of dragons, destiny, and the building flames of rebellion?
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