The joy that the very best athletes and teams bring is one of the great selling points of sport.
However, you only have to visit a sporting field on Saturday morning to see similar displays of agony and ecstasy - a reminder of the power of sport to engage us all.
Research that crossed my desk showed that in America each year 20 million children register for sports, and of those 70 per cent will quit by age 13.
Why? Apart from the obvious ones (didn't like the coach, not enough time, too much pressure), is one that we don't always think about - the car ride home. The car ride home after playing sport can be a game changer.
Whether you are five or 16, the journey from ground to home can be a non-stop parent teaching moment.
Whether you've played well or lousy, your parents can let you know what you should have done, should have run when you should have passed, shoulda, coulda, woulda ...
The research showed that the car ride home is when kids just want to quietly let the game sink in - whether a win or a loss.
They know if they've played well or badly, you don't need to tell them.
So despite the agony and ecstasy we all feel when playing or watching sport, there are times when we are probably better to keep our emotions in check.
So, what should you say on the car ride home? What about, "Jeez, I love watching you play out there."
