Two kinds of Sports Fans...

[fischer]

I've been doing some thinking on this subject, and I have come to a realization that sports fans can be divided into two different groups.

Fan #1:

This fan loves his team. He goes to games, watches them on t.v., reads articles about them, listens to radio shows, etc. This fan tends to feel like he is part of the team, that he knows the ins and outs of the team because he follows them so closely. This fan is very passionate. On the other side of that coin, though, this fan begins to feel like an "expert" in regards to his team. Often, this fan aligns himself with members of the media whom he perceives as an expert. If something bad happens to his team, Fan #1 often looks for guidance from media "experts". In turn, this fan is very wishy washy on opinions, changes his mind often, and is up and down all the time. His fatal flaw is that he has no real identity as a fan, and any talking head can sway his opinion.

Fan#2:

This fan also loves his team. He goes to games, watches them on t.v., reads articles, listens to radio shows about them, etc. Fan #2 lives and dies by his team just as Fan #1 does. He feels like he is part of the team, just as Fan #1 does. But, whereas fan #1 tends to align himself with the media and their "experts", fan #2 is very skeptical of media. He thinks most media members are wrong. Sometimes fan #2 even thinks the media is against his team. Fan #2 tends to give a little more leeway to coaches. He is slower to question moves, always falling back on "they're the professionals, they know what's going on, and I trust them."
Fan #2 is more headstrong in his beliefs, his mind doesn't often change, and he tends to have more thoughts that are self reliant. That is not to say he is not ever wrong. His fatal flaw is that he is too reliant on the powers that be, and sometimes the powers that be are wrong.

Our small sample of posters in this forum represent both types of sports fans.

I think there are some gray areas and I think sometimes you may be fan #1 of one team and #2 of another.

But for the most part, I feel like you are one or the other.


What do y'all think?

[P. Marf]

I can see that, however, there obviously has to be other categories for fair-weather fans and T-shirt fans, etc. Both of the fans you described seem to be both die-hard and fully dedicated.

When it comes to these two I seem myself as #2 because I feel I am headstrong in my beliefs. Most media type frustrate me and make me mad when talking about the teams I feel like I know a lot about. But, the media guys I do trust I may sometimes put stock in what they say. The reason I feel like I am not Fan #1 is because that fan is described as wishy washy and I do not feel that I am at all wishy washy. While I may have been overly optomistic during the Rangers season, I feel I was the most consistent fan by far.

[fischer]

fair assessment, Framp.

And yes, I do think there are other categories for fair weather types. I am talking about real FANS.

[cowtownmike]

Put me down as #2. I KNOW the mainstream media is against my team. I tend to trust sources that have proven to be correct in the past. I wouldn't say I blindly agree with the powers that be, I have been known to rant against coaches and administration of my favorite team.

[sully]

My teams are Rangers, Cowboys, University of North Texas State Mean Green Eagles, and guess that's about it really.

I am up and down on all of them. But, I don't think I fall into #1 for the following reasons. I trust the people who I feel like know what they're doing (JD, Nolan, Cowboys PR people and Cheerleading sponsors, Jerry at times). I'm down on NT because of repeated bad moves since firing Dickey. The media never sways my opinion. I have my own HSO's and some media people I like, and agree with 70% of the time, and some I hate, and only agree with 30% of the time.

Those people know a hell of a lot more than I do about their jobs, but they make mistakes, and their mistakes are very public. Do I jump on the bandwagon of ridiculing them for those mistakes? Yes, sometimes. Do I pump them up when they succeed? Yes, always.

I'm a hybrid.

[fischer]

Mike, you are a #2


Sully, you and stubbs are the biggest #1's I know.

[sully]

Prove it.

[sully]

And let me guess...

You're the more respectable number 2? Correct???

So what's the point of this thread? To separate the REAL fans from the 'identity-less fans'

[P. Marf]

Dec 10, 2010 16:28:38 GMT -5 sully said:

Prove it.

Good job Sully.

[The Real Doyle]

From what Sully wrote I believe he is a number one with lots of gray area. But I don't know the true Sully as much as the rest of you......well at least we haven't come out about it yet.

My brother is the biggest type 1 fan there is. He lives in Boston and always text me crap about the cowboys and rangers from stuff he heard in the media. I don't get mad anymore cause I realize he is like this and won't change. He believes in some reporter as much as he believes in God I think, forgot his name.

I think I'm type 2 mostly because I argue with people who rush to judge which is what the media does a lot of. I'm definitely more of a wait and let's see cause these coaches are coaches for a reason.

[P. Marf]

Bob Ryan?

[The Real Doyle]

No it's a pretty big name. I want to say there's an S in it.........

[The Real Doyle]

Dec 10, 2010 17:05:00 GMT -5 P. Marf said:

Bob Ryan?

Bill Simmons. espn analyst?

[P. Marf]

yea

[The River Assassin]

I like to think I'm #2, but I probably have some #1 in me as well.