In honor of the Super Bowl Sunday and the fact that I’ve had this idea in my head for quite some time now, I am going to rant a little bit about fans of sports teams. A big, big disclaimer for this blog: I am a huge fan of sports, and I engage in the same things I will rant about.[1]
For awhile now fans I’ve seen at numerous sporting events have gotten under my skin. I’ve probably gotten under the skin of fans around me. The nature of being a fan these days is that of immersing oneself into a team so much, that we feel like a member of that team. Except since we aren’t a part of the team, we can ride the high but then disengage during the lows. I’ve thought of some of my least favorite fan tendencies and will share them now.[2]
These bug me the most. As an avid Jacksonville Jaguars fan, I knew that coming into this year with a team that had over 50% turnover and about 30-40% rookies that it would be a tough year. Apparently other Jags fans didn’t get the memo. In an online poll, over 50% said that they believed the team should go to the playoffs with some even expecting a Super Bowl berth. Please! Give me a break. Reason and logic alone should tell someone that with these circumstances an 8-8 season would be great. The Jags came out the gate roaring making those 50% look smart, but a four loss skid at the end of the year had many fans in an outrage. They called for a new quarterback, a new coach, and worst of all, Tim Tebow.[3] Also, IU basketball fans may know this feeling. IU has played some great games of late, but then has dropped some winnable ones. This should be expected with a young team. You don’t expect a child to ride a bike perfectly the first time, so why expect these freshmen to win every game now? And the topic of IU leads me to…
#2 – The last game is all a fan remembers
I think anyone from IU can agree that IU has won a couple games it probably on paper shouldn’t and lost others that they should have. This is not abnormal for a young team or any team really. However, my issue comes with how fans react to these games. A loss to Loyola (MD) in December drew comments such as, “This is the worst IU team ever,” “IU won’t win a Big Ten game this year,” and “I really regret season tickets and wish that Kelvin Sampson wouldn’t have made all those phone calls because then I could be seeing a nationally ranked team every week instead of this crappy team filled with freshmen and sophomores that won’t be good until after I graduate from college, meaning I’ll never see a tourney game featuring IU, except for that one my freshman year where the team gave up on Dan Dakich because somehow they thought that Kelvin was unjustly fired even though he broke NCAA RULES!!”[4] Why can’t fans keep some perspectives and enjoy the highs, and view the lows as a temporary setback?[5]
#3 – The fan who didn’t play the sport, but thinks he/she knows as much as the coach
I played football in high school. This means that at one point in my life I pulled on a power right, slanted into the C gap, and long snapped on a punt.[6] This fact enables me to make general statements during a football game such as, “Running inside might not be a great idea against this six man front” and “Blitzing the house against Peyton Manning is probably a bad idea if no one actually hits, no touches, Peyton.”[7] What irks me is the guy who didn’t play football at any level and is telling me how to run a triple option. I’ve done this! I know how it works! Also, many times the suggestions thrown at the coach from the couch don’t really make much sense. I have no problem disagreeing with a play call, but don’t try to take the coaches spot. He’s there for a reason. That reason is probably that he is smarter than you.
#4 – The uninformed fan
This is my personal favorite, only because I have a great story.[8] As a fan of a team, you are to be there at all times. Part of this decision to be a fan is being relatively caught up on the ins-and-outs of your favorite team. For me, this involves frequent visits to www.jaguars.com for the latest news coming out of Jacksonville. At the very least, a fan should know the next opponent. And you should definitely know your own team. When I went to the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indy Colts game this year in week one, I was met with some animosity. It probably had something to do with my Maurice Jones-Drew jersey.[9] I am prepared for smack talk and for the most part let it slide. My hopes are that the Jags can win and throw it back in their face later. Well as I’m walking to my seat for the game, a Colts fan in a Bob Sanders jersey[10] yells to me, “Bob Sanders is gonna knock MJD out!!” There was only one little problem with this. Bob Sanders wasn’t playing in that game. I politely told the man this news while other Colts fans writhed in pain at seeing one of their own fail so miserably. If you’re going to root for a team, be up to date on injuries, schedule, and any other pertinent news.
#5 – Unnecessary booing, swearing, and general un-fanness
I understand that fans have a right to boo since they paid for the ticket. That being said, booing a young, inexperienced team at home is probably not what a true fan would do. Fans are meant to an extra teammate. Teammates don’t boo each other and put them down. Instead, they pick each other up. That is what fans should do. Also, IU students[11] have a great knack for cussing. What good is this? I know of no ref that would hear a fan chanting an obscenity and think that he should give us a good call. Also, the booing and cussing of Ralph Sampson III at IU a few weeks ago was atrocious. Its one thing to be a villain, but this guy was getting booed and harassed because of his dad.[12]
Being a fan gives us a reality that we couldn’t make happen ourselves. I feel that as a fan, one should feel lucky that he can even watch and enjoy these sports and view them as that, sports. Being a fan doesn’t involve personal health or wealth risks.[13] Sporting events should be enjoyment and a way to have a great time. If this perspective is kept intact, the world will be a better place.[14]
[1] Perhaps just not as much as some people
[2] In no particular order
[3] Tim’s a great guy. Just not going to be much of a NFL player, if you catch my drift
[4] Sorry, that was my comment after the game
[5] Viewing the lows as a setback doesn’t apply to Knicks, Browns, Texans, Raiders, Lions, Rams, Royals, Pirates, Clippers, Nets, and any other really, really crappy sports franchises
[6] Okay, long snapping is pretty much all I did, but I knew what all the other stuff meant and could do it
[7] Actually, that’s a comment I make almost every time the Jags play the Colts
[8] To come later
[9] Just a guess
[10] This turns out to be a tad ironical
[11] And others elsewhere, IU just happens to be the ones I see the most of
[12] His dad, Ralph Sampson Jr., was one of the biggest busts in NBA history. Although some scholars of the game (Bill Simmons and Chuck Klosterman) argue that he was just grossly overrated.
[13] Assuming you don’t bet on games, which is illegal in the United States outside of Vegas
[14] Or maybe not, there will still be wars, famines, and natural disasters, but I guess it’s a start!
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