As much as I love sports, and I can get quite passionate about my teams, I can separate sports from something that has a real effect on the big picture of my life. Do I follow the players, teams, and leagues enough to have some sort of "reality" to base my judgments on? Of course...
However, when it comes to my teams, I reserve the right to obscure rationality with blind optimism. Be it a trip down the court, a run within a game, a well played half, a good game, a good week...month...season...etc...Until my team is eliminated I am always hopeful that they can turn it around.
This doesn't mean I can't recognize when my teams are playing poorly, or are up against insurmountable odds. It's just how I can best enjoy following my teams.