An Open Fan
Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:31
So a friend of mine who attended USC and her fiancé, who attended UPenn got into a bit of an argument the other day. While he enjoys attending USC football games with her, he refuses to wear any USC gear or wave any USC props, because he feels that would be a deep portrayal to his most favored team, UPenn.
He wouldn’t be moved on this matter, even when she offered to wear UPenn swag if they ever went to a game at his alma mater. In fact, he chastised her for making the offer. And he wasn’t joking.
Now I’m the kind of chyck that loves team gear. In fact, if I have no personal connection to the team and I’m going to the game, the gear is the only thing that keeps me happy and involved. I love dressing the part of a fan. In fact, while in London in my mid-twenties, I almost agreed to go to a soccer game in the freezing cold on New Years Day, just so I could get one of those clever scarves.
Alas, I was too hungover to get out of bed that morning (note to travelers, if ever offered wine, champagne and hashish at a NYE dinner party, don’t make plans for the next morning). But I would’ve gone otherwise, even though I had never heard of the two teams that were playing. The scarves were that cute.
And part of the reason that I can’t get into the Lakers, though they’re reputedly a good team is that I don’t like their colors. Purple and Gold? Really? I don’t think that jersey would look cute on me.
I know what a lot of you are thinking right now, “Not a true fan.” But in my opinion, true fandom is rather overvalued – especially these days when players leave teams at the drop of a kajillion-dollar, multi-year contract. Why bother with being a true fan? I’d rather be an “open fan” – as in if I didn’t go to your college or live for a time in your city, I’m still open to cheering for your team.
As long as you have cute team colors.
So Purple and Gold? No.
Kelly Green and White? Hmm, I could definitely work that. Go Celtics!
Read more of Ernessa at Fierce and Nerdy.
Nate Barlow
says:
February 12th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
One of your counterarguments is because "players leave teams at the drop of a kajillion-dollar, multi-year contract." But a true fan is loyal to the team, not the player–the player doesn't matter, the team does. He just betrayed us, the team didn't. So if that player leaves, why would that affect our loyalty? Screw him. Why should that justify being an "open fan"?
ernessa
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Oh God, Nate. You and your true fandom. Wearing another teams' jersey doesn't make me any less of a fan. And you can only take true fan dom so far. For instance I'm a true fan of The Cardinals, The Rams, The Steelers, The Blues, and The Penguins. BUT I didn't grow up following basketball or soccer, so why not cheer for the team with the best colors? Would you rather I go to other countries and not participate in sporting events? I think there's enough room for diehards and people who are just having fun.
Also, though I love The Cards, I loved them a lot more during the Ozzie Smith and Mark Maguire years — and yes he broke my heart when it came out that he was using performance enhancers. I'm still loyal to my team — I even cheered for them when they were up against the Red Sox and NOBODY else was cheering for them in L.A. But I do get connected to the players, too. I mean how would we feel if Polamalu just up and left The Steelers? Sad.
Nate Barlow
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 1:17 am
If you have no basis for following a team (like you say, you didn't grow-up following basketball or soccer), then any basis you have for wearing merchandise is fine. If I go overseas and go to a soccer team, I'd probably wear whatever team's jersey I'm rooting for, because I have no prior association with soccer, especially in another country. There's no loyalty I'm breaking. And even if it were a Japanese baseball game, I might wear the local team, because the Japanese leagues are completely different than the American. Same sport, but different league not at all in competition with my team.
You actually prove my point with the Polamalu example. Of course we're sad when a favorite player leaves a team. But that doesn't mean you stop following the team. The loyalty to the team comes first. You might even still follow that player (as long as he didn't go to an arch-rival, as Johnny Demon did from the Red Sox to the Yankees), but when his new team comes into town, guess what? You're rooting against him and for your team.
Nate Barlow
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 1:23 am
There are exceptions… For example, if you're at a special, historic game and buy some of the commemorative gear, that becomes part of the association of that unique experience. But as a general rule, any baseball game I go to, I don't care what two teams are playing, I wear my Red Sox cap. If they give me something to wave as a freebie night, I might wave it, but I'm not going to buy other team's clothing.
ernessa
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Okay Nate, that's ridiculous. I can see that you're basically a stodgy, by-the-unwritten-book, rule-follower when it comes to these things, whereas I'm basically a super-awesome and open person as far as sporting events are concerned. No insult, intended. Just noting that fact.
Nate Barlow
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 4:06 am
You are a super-awesome person, but I am not stodgy, just diehard. In New England, the Red Sox are literally religion. If you were to grow up in that atmosphere… you would understand.
Garzo
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Yeah Nate, you're stodgy!
Ernessa, my super cool friend, you are so far off base I could pick you off with a beach ball.
Everyone knows I sweat black and gold. I was a Penguin fan when their colors were powder blue and white. About 15 years ago I bought a xxxl Anaheim Ducks sweatshirt. I did so for three reasons: I was looking for that heavy duty sweatshirt I could immediately cut off and wear while punching my heavy bag–and it was on sale from 59.00 to 14.00. Also, the logo reminds me of the Daffy Duck cartoon where the Fuddster shotguns Daffy and his bill flaps off. Cracks me up to this day.
But Ernessa, you gotta respect the Protocol of Fandom.
For example, I never have and never will wear what I refer to as that Daffy Duck sweatshirt, right side out. Never. And the day after I work-out, I wear one of my Penguin Tees to make the universe right again.
Nate is a Pasties fan. If he came over to watch a Steeler game and inadvertently touched one of my Terrible Towels, I would have to wash it in a special mixture of Isaly's chipped ham gel and warm Iron City before I could expect it to emit any positive Mojo.
My Aunt Clara crocheted me what has since become known as the "Atrocious Afghan" Except for Championship games and Super Bowls it remains nestled in a sprinkling of stale Primantis bread crumbs atop crusty old bottles of Heinz ketchup.
Ernessa, I implore you, DO NOT dismiss the power of such forces. The Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1924 (? Nate?) and the Red sox never sniffed a World Series ring for the remainder of the century–and then some.
Did you ever wonder why Nate is so stodgy?
Nate Barlow
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Gary, I knew you would understand.
The year Harry Frazee (may he rot in hell) sold Ruth was 1919–one year after the last championship prior to '04.
I am not a superstitious person, but when it comes to the Sox, I have my fingers crossed almost every second of every game during the post-season. To the point that the hurt.
But, Gary, really? Wash the towel in Iron City? You admitted in a prior post that's not good beer. :-)
Gairzo
says:
February 13th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Not good beer for drinking–For washing away Non-Steeler Mojo, it's like the run-off from Mount Olympus.