What it means to be a healthy sports fan
I don’t care how many jerseys you have or if Sidney Crosby is your bae.
Sure, I love a good tailgate down by the stadium and a rowdy sports’ bar during a hyped game- however, just because I like the environment of watching sports with others doesn’t mean I enjoy listening to their commentary about the game or their opinions, knowledge, or what makes them a “diehard” fan.
Too be honest, I don’t care how many jerseys you have, if you have season tickets, if Sidney Crosby or Tom Brady is your bae, that you watch every game and I don’t because I have a life outside of baseball or whatever sport, that your dad knows somebody who knows the owner of the team, or any of that.
If you’re a fan- you’re a fan, but there is such as thing as a healthy fan.
To me, being a healthy fan has nothing do with what you have, that be knowledge, connections, or memorabilia. If you have some interest in the sport, enough knowledge to differ a “touchdown” from a “homerun,” then you are a healthy fan.
Those who feel the need to separate themselves as “better” fans or “truer” fans, are more likely to be the worst and unhealthiest fans because they push away the potential growth of their team’s fan base by telling people they do not have the right to be a fan because they don’t do this or that, and don’t have some original pregame ritual.
Unhealthy fans don’t have class, but they think they do- meaning they also feel the need to take the game to the next level creating unnecessary anger, damage and drama beyond being just being mad about a penalty call, game loss or win, or about another fan’s opinion while thinking that’s totally socially or humanly acceptable. People like this ruin the game for me.
So what does it mean to be a healthy sports’ fan?
It means embracing your fanhood while also realizing it’s just a game. In reality, who wins the game doesn’t matter except for those who make a living playing the game, coaching the game, owning the team playing the game, or profiting from the team’s win. This is a lot coming from me who knows that playoffs losses equal death and emotional havoc.
Win or lose, it shouldn’t matter what your team does- you support them. Sure, you get emotional over a loss, but you don’t let it take over your life. Yes, sports can be your everything, but those who don’t have any boundaries- they aren’t fans to me anymore because sports weren’t created to consume your entire life, but to add to it as leisure.
So are you a healthy sports’ fan? Answer these questions:
- Do you understand the sport enough to follow the game?
- Do you desire for the fan base to grow even with those who cannot afford 10 jerseys?
- Do you not unnecessarily gloat about how you have or where you are as a fan?
- Do you enjoy watching the sport/game?
- Do you cheer for your team regardless if they win or lose?
- Do you understand sports cannot take over your life and shouldn’t?
- Do you realize the line between being upset and being dangerous to others over a game?
If you answered yes to all of them, then you are a healthy sports’ fan. Keep fanning.