On Wednesday, October 30th, I hopped off The Spin podcast and onto The Sevan Podcast, where Taylor was discussing his recent clash with Danielle Brandon. They’d been going back and forth in story posts and DMs, each pushing the other’s buttons. Going in, I didn’t have a full picture of what was going on, but I was there as a friend—and, as I showed on The Spin, as a fan of a little chaos. Taylor, in that regard, is a goldmine, but my intent was genuinely to help sort things out. I believe that Taylor and Danielle could have a fantastic rivalry, if handled well.
But honestly, what’s even more interesting than the drama itself is the response it’s received!
In just four days, this unplanned, low-effort episode pulled in over 12,000 views. That might not seem huge at first glance, but consider this: an episode titled James Sprague | Reigning CrossFit Games Champion brought in only 5,600 views over six days. What?! How is drama between two athletes more popular than insight into what it takes to become a CrossFit Games champion, especially in one of the toughest editions yet?
This contrast hints at something CrossFit may be missing in terms of audience engagement. In traditional sports like football, basketball, and baseball, the objective is often to physically block or prevent the other team from scoring. This head-to-head interaction naturally drives up tension, fan involvement, and entertainment. CrossFit, on the other hand, is all about individual performance—staying in your lane, competing solo. So why should fans feel attached to one particular athlete?
The Role of Drama and Rivalries in Sports Fandom
To build fan loyalty, there’s a need for storylines and connections that happen off the field—interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and other media that reveal the personalities of the athletes. Fans need to see pieces of themselves in these athletes, reasons to root for them. Sprague’s episode could have built that connection, but it didn’t generate nearly the same buzz. Why? Because, let’s face it, people love drama.
Outrage and rivalry have become massive drivers of social media growth, and the buzz around Danielle and Taylor’s rivalry is no different. But is all this attention good or bad for the sport? In a long conversation with Danielle, we talked about this at length. She shared concerns over the amount of negative comments and DMs she’s received from the CrossFit community, saying it was overwhelming and calling out many of Taylor’s statements as “lies.”
Does All Press Really Benefit Athletes?
The truth is, “all press is good press.” Some fans will side with Danielle, others with Taylor. People will either love or hate each of them based on how they approached this situation. In the end, though, it won’t really matter. As I told Danielle, quoting Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The same principle applies to influence. Whether they like it or not, this kind of attention is part of being a professional athlete today.
The upside? Both Danielle and Taylor’s brand value will likely rise from this exchange. Is this a sad reflection on sports today? I’m not so sure. I see it more as a tool that athletes can use. Good luck, Danielle and Taylor—you’re going to need it.
This reveals something I think CrossFit is missing in a big way. Football, basketball, and baseball captivate fans because they’re inherently combative—athletes have to physically prevent the other team from scoring. This drives entertainment, interaction, and investment. But in CrossFit, it’s the opposite: stay in your lane, no interaction. It’s more a display of physical prowess than a head-to-head sport. So, why should fans care about any particular athlete?
That intrigue builds off the field—in interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and any medium that shows who these athletes really are. We need athletes to resonate with us, to give us reasons to root for them. Sprague’s interview should do that, but it didn’t grab nearly as much attention as the drama. Why?
People love the drama. Outrage has become one of the biggest drivers of social media growth, and the DB vs. Taylor showdown is no different. Is this positive or negative? Well, in a long phone conversation with Danielle, we dug into this. She was upset by the wave of negative comments and DMs she’d received from the community, calling it overwhelming. She also mentioned that many of Taylor’s statements, in her view, were “lies.”
But the truth is, all press is good press. Some will side with Danielle, others with Taylor. People may love or hate each of them based on their values or approach in this situation, and in the end, it won’t really matter. As I told Danielle, quoting Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The same applies to influence. Whether they want it or not, this is part of the territory as pros.
On the bright side, both Danielle and Taylor’s brand value will probably increase after all this. Is it a sad state of affairs? I’m not so sure. I see it more as a tool athletes can use. Good luck, athletes.
