Sports Fanatics | Sports Fanatics

Being a Fan is More Than Just for Fun: It is a Way of Life

When the essay to find and research a pop culture group was assigned, only one came to mind. It is obvious to me because it is among the largest fan-based community around. Fans, regardless of type, are everywhere. My focus on sports fans, is in part because I am one myself. From football to swimming, sports are a way of life for some. The thought of not having fans is unthinkable. Being a fan for a sports team is more than just for fun. If we thought that being a devotee is just for fun, then we are mistaken. It is incredible the amount of love and support that fans have for their team. For some it is a part of their life; it is a part of who they are.

Who are fans? Why are they around and what is their purpose? To answer that question as clearly as possible, I had to take the time to think. What kind of fan am I? Fans are everywhere. Sports enthusiasts, in particular, love a specific sport or a certain club/team. They come from every country and support every possible activity. I'd like to think that sports fans are there to support their favorite teams and show their pride. Take the world's largest sport, football (also known as soccer in the United States). This game has the largest participation in the world and has the largest fan based communities. These followers are not there just because they want to see people play; it is a way of life. Among the most predominate soccer teams is Manchester United. This English club team has the rowdiest soccer fans I have ever seen. We thought that American Football fans are crazy? Well just think about how extreme they are with their entire bodies painted and the chants and cheers to support their team, not to mention the fights that the fans get into with an opposing teams fans. I am not putting down the American sports fans, for example, the Green Bay Packers fans with the "Cheese-heads" and the Oakland Raider with the "Black Hole." I am merely stating that fans are based all around the world.

The fan communities created are a way to express one's love for the game with others that feel the same way. While surfing the web and looking at ESPN.com, I found numerous sports enthusiast websites and community sites where participants will post statistics and talk about the upcoming games, including how their feelings about the coaches and players. While looking at the Denver Broncos community website, I rolled across pictures of pumpkins that fans had carved to look like a Bronco and pictures of houses that are decorated for Christmas with Bronco memorabilia. It is a phenomenal and fun observation. I am certain that this is not the only site; the Oakland Raiders site has quotes about the 49ers calling San Francisco an "extension of Oakland." There are message boards where one can post whatever they want about the teams or even talk about their own lives. Friends are made and people share stories with one another about games they have been to and things that they have seen at those games. We all have been fans of something at one point in time, whether it is a sports team, a television show, or a scrap-booking club. There are fan communities for just about everything.

Being a sports buff is something unexplainable. While there are fans for things such as television shows and certain kinds of movies, sports fans seem to connect on a different level. Often they are in it for the love of the game. It is interesting to look and find how many there actually are. When looking at different football stadiums and how the seating is arranged, it is amazing to see that some have 20,000 seats and that are sold out almost every game. Can you imagine what it must be like at one of these games? There is an ambiance that is brought forth that everyone can fell regardless of whether they are "diehard" fans or not. These diehards go take their devotion to the extreme by painting their bodies, cheering, jeering, and supporting their team regardless of whether the team is having a great season or a horrible season. These fans make up chants, songs, or anything that they can sing or yell to make the crowds get rowdy for the game; they make the players know their appreciation. There is even a type of language used for the games in the cheers and the chants. These tailgaters party for hours before the games while conversing with others fans from the same team.

Sports fans create their own identities when in the stands. Oakland Raider fans are called "the rowdiest fans of American Football." After watching the Manchester United fans and their behavior, I wonder if all soccer fans are similar. When watching the movie "Euro Trip" I was introduced to how crazy and dedicated these fans really can be. In this stereotypical presentation, they take over pubs and buses, promoting and supporting their team. These followers make sure that those that come into their little space and communities are not from the opposing teams. It is also interesting to look at the American Manchester United fans and how they have become part of the huge enthusiastic community. Although the fans are on different continents they share the same love and passion for the team. One thing that does interest me and that I have thought about numerous times since starting this paper is whether the players realize how much their fans care about them and the their team. It is an interesting topic since not much focus is devoted to the importance of team supporters and how much pride they dedicate. After much thought, it boils down to the fact that fans are the basis for the team's success; achievements would not be recognized, the games would not be as big, nor broadcasted on television and sports in general would not be such a big deal.

Going to games and cheering for a team is an escape from reality. Radway states in her short story that women who read romantic stories are using it as a type of escape from the real world. These women are "able to escape the harsh world for a few hours of a day" by reading and getting into the books (Radway 88). The same can be said of sports. Going to a game is also a means of escaping for a few hours. It is not so much that they are losing what they have, just leaving it behind to focus on their team passion and the games that are played. In that sense, it is also keen to look at how some "diehard" fans never miss a game and how exciting and anxious they get when a game coming to at close. These fans will calendar their entire schedule around these games. It is a ritual and routine that they have come to live. Missing a game is not an option. Being anxious is normal and expected by the players, but it is interesting how restless their fans get. They are just as anxious and serious during playoffs or when playing a rival team.

Recent events have shown just how seriously involved fans can be. In the National Basketball Association, problems broke out when a fan threw a cup at player Ronald Artest. Punches were thrown and it was a melee, which resulted with players being suspended and fans having to suffer. This is not something that is to be tolerated; however, it does show how critical these fans get when their team is winning or losing. Throwing a cup at the losing teams' players is unacceptable; nevertheless, it does show us both the seriousness and the mentality of the fans.

Being a huge sports fan myself, it is funny to report on the things that we do. I have been one to paint on myself, cheer, and yell at games for the fun. Although it is not as serious as my life, it is something that I love to do and will continue my participation. At my high school there are rituals that the football team does and the fans contribute to. Before every game they perform the "Haka", which is a Samoan chant to prepare themselves for the game. There is a beat created by striking on the pads and it sets the mood. The Samoan words seem to fill the air with an attitude of preparation and excitement. As soon as the "Haka" is completed everyone is ready for the game to begin. So while I speak primarily about professional athletes and the vast majority of their fans, it is also nice to remember those of us that do cheer for our local high schools and especially those that do continue to be their own hometown "diehard" fans.

Fans are everywhere and while they continue to be a part of the community, they have created their own community. Enthusiasts have become something completely of their own creation. They are not just fans of a certain team or sport; they are FANatics. This is awesome, because as I stated before, without fans what would we do? The professional games wouldn't be aired on television and sports would not be such a big deal.

Now, that's FANtastic.