The Battle of Ohio That You Likely Don’t Know About
June 18, 2008Eric Wedge: Persona Non Grata
June 19, 2008Editor’s note: halfway through this project I came across something similar over at Epic Carnival. It’s a good piece, but I did too much on this one to abandon it. The differences should be obvious…
Have you ever taken one of those personality surveys? Maybe it was for marital counseling or even part of a job screening procedure? The results are designed to give insight into what makes you tick. They help an employer know what motivates you, or a spouse understand why you act the way you do. Usually you find out that you have a little of this personality type, mixed with a little of that one, and so on. I started wondering about sports fans. Could there be different types that maybe we all have tendencies towards? What might these categories be? Let’s look together at the different type of fan that you may be.
The Blatant Homer– This fan loves all the local teams. They bleed the town colors. (Conveniently, all Black and Yellow in Pittsburgh.) They probably grew up with a parent or other significant person of influence that took them to games and watched or listened to the games on the radio. They probably don’t watch much sports if their favorite team isn’t involved. In extreme cases, this fan voted Travis Hafner to the all-star team. They may also have difficulty admitting that another team was actually better and deserved to win.
The Entitled Fan– This fan believes that his team should always win, that somehow they are more deserving, or even owed a championship. The phrase “re-building year” never applies to them. On the plus side, they are always optimistic, and never think they are out of the game. The extreme entitled fan likes to taunt you with the number of banners/trophies/rings that ‘they’ own.
The Romantic– This fan has a special place in their heart reserved for their favorite players and teams of a bygone era. Over time of course the facts are skewed by emotion, and they can hardly recall any failure or shortcomings of said player or teams. Romantics will never admit that a current player/team is as good as in previous years.
The Antagonist– The Antagonist exists to make your life miserable. Generally speaking, they like the rival of your local team. However the circumstances unfolded, this fan also loathes your favorite team. These fans can be tough to spot after your team beats them, but are loud and obnoxious when their team wins. Nobody likes the Antagonist, yet somehow they always get invited to the big game party.
The Front Runner– (AKA Bandwagoneer) This one is pretty self-explanatory. Let’s face it, losing sucks. These fans don’t want to invest in teams that are no good, so they root for whoever looks like they have the best chance to win. A mark of the Front Runner is when their favorite teams aren’t from the same state. Front Runners may have loyalty to certain teams now, but became fans when that team was in it’s hay day. This is why there are Bronco fans outside of Colorado.
The Left Behind Fan– This fan hasn’t really followed the team since the last title run, but still thinks they know everything about them. It can be fun to get this fan talking, simply to try and guess what year they last tuned in. This type blends well with the Romantic.
The Super Network Fan– Became a fan by watching TBS, WGN or ESPN’s coverage. With the wealth of information on the internet, and the ability to buy out of market games, these fans were beginning to thin out until ESPN decided everyone was a Yankees or Red Sox fan. Thanks for that.
The One Sport Wonder– As you probably guessed, the One Sport Wonder only follows a single sport. Usually, it is outside of the big three. They know more about that sport than even some of the athletes. This group would be relatively harmless, except they have a tendency to be snobbish and elitist.
The Alumnus– This fan follows only college or Olympic sports, because the pro’s have “ruined the game”. They blame agents and call players greedy. Good thing collegiate sports are pure as the winter snow…
The Fantasy Fan– This fan appears schizophrenic until you realize they are rooting for the members of their fantasy team. The Fantasy Fan doesn’t really have an allegiance otherwise. If you are denying that you are this type, ask yourself a simple question- would you rather win your league or your team win a championship?
The Encyclopedia– Need to know who someone was traded for? This fan has the answer. How much is the team paying for this stiff? Check with the Encyclopedia, they can tell you. Not only that, they can tell you exactly what is wrong with the current team and what needs to be done to fix it. Here’s a hint- 99% of all sports bloggers have some of this in them.
The Catalyst– This is your basic superstitious fan. The Catalyst believes that they have some sort of affect on the game by what they wear, where they watch, or what they eat when the game is on. Taken to the extreme, the Catalyst may not change undergarments for weeks. This is not good for anyone.
The Heckler– This fan is not really enjoying a game unless they are allowed to belittle someone. The best target for them is obviously the opposing team, but they will settle for opposing fans if they have to. Hecklers feed on attention (and usually alcohol.)
The Back of the Jersey Fan– This fan roots for individual players as opposed to teams. There is always a story as to why a particular player. Maybe they came from the same area, went to the same school, or even gave them an autograph.
So what type are you? I tend to be a Homer/Catalyst with some Encyclopedia thrown in for certain.
12 Comments
Easily the homer by your list. Like the Browns, Cavs, Indians (although my interest in baseball has dwindled over the last 5 years they’re still my favorite team). Encyclopedic about the Cavs and most of the NFL.
Somewhat Jersey fan. I definitley pull for guys like Northcutt with the Jags for no reason than he used to play for the Browns.
Basically everyone else in Columbus is Alumnus. Every Cavs/Browns game has at least one person who can’t get into the pros, it’s just not as exciting/pure/real as college.
/rant
I can’t stand the Fantasy Fans. No one ever has a fantasy football conversation, it’s always two people talking only about their team. It’s just as interesting as listening to people talk about their kids, pet, etc. You can’t even be good at it. You can not suck, but if your team is doing well in a marginally competent league, plenty of luck is involved.
/fantasy rant
Although I’m turning into a romantic for the “old” Tribe teams, I agree with the Homer/Encyclopedia mix…
Part Catalyst 20%
Part Encyclopedia 25%
Part Fantasy 15%
Part Entitled 30%
Part Homer 10%
This was a fun post
I am easily the homer.
Certainly the Homer as I can round up at least two or three loads of clothes in my house during any given month with either OSU, or Indians across the front, back or in-between! I also believe a lot of the Romantic as I still find myself missing the players I have watched and respected for their amazing talents. (I did quit buying the jerseys with numbers and realize that nobody is here forever. And…. I have learned NOT to purchase anything ‘championship’ until it’s won, thank you very much Rick)
Big homer with the jags. I am a big braves fan so that =super network fan. Enclyclopedia in for the nfl, nba and mlb. I agree with was a fun post.
I left out the Transplant. This is a Homer that through life circumstances ended up moving to a new area. A big reason why you have Cleveland fans around the country.
I would have to say I am 75% encyclopedia, 20% catalyst, and 5% homer.
Well, I’m from Philly. Let’s just start things off with that, because that will help explain some of the other stuff. In recent years I’ve become more and more of a homer. I’ve always been a Flyers fan but only started rooting seriously for Phillies/Eagles/Sixers in the past couple years or so. I was a loyal hanger-on on the Astros and Buccaneers bandwagons from the earlier part of this decade, but stuck around until I turned back towards the home team.
I hate to admit it, but I’m definitely a good part Antagonist. I love getting people riled up by trash-talking their favorite team, especially people from Boston. I remember during the Seahawks-Steelers Super Bowl I pulled for the ‘Hawks (who I don’t particularly like) in a room full of Steelers fans just for the heck of it.
I think the Transplant could get a little of their own definition.
The homer miles away from home. This guy shells out whatever extra cash he has for the “All Inclusive” cable/internet packages just to catch him favorite teams. In many cases, he/she will befriend a local bartender so they can see their teams games without having to shell out thousands of dollars. They proudly wear their team swag around town and enthusiastically start up deep conversations with anyone wearing the right logo. They rely heavily on sports blogs to keep them in the mix of what the real fans are talking about.
As somebody who left NEO 10 years ago (first SF now NYC) I totally agree with Eli . . . In fact, rocked my Tribe hat into work and hat three people on the F train give me the nod of agreeance (misery loves to acknowledge other misery, or something like that)
I think I’d be homer/encyclopedia/catalyst.
For fun, let’s guess what the Cincinnati fan who said this:
“cleveland sports fans: The most obnoxious, inexplicably arrogant, all in all worst fans in all of sports. Most cities would hesitate to celebrate their last place team’s victory over another last place team as though they have won the world series, but not cleveland. Most cities without a title since the sixties would be a little more humble, but not cleveland. Most cities that lost the season series to the reds, of all teams, including a 3 game sweep, would be hard pressed to be arrogant about anything, let alone baseball.
But no, not cleveland.”
Antagonist? Heckler? Can we make a new category “Completely Unknowledgeable Idiot”?