Sport All Sports

What actually constitutes a true sports fan? Could owning NBA merchandise from a favorite team transform an individual into a bigger sports fan than an individual who does not? Some might claim that a team jersey is the basic team merchandise a fan should have as gesture of loyalty to a team. Quite a few so called followers will go on a shopping spree for MLB fitted caps just as soon as their team wins a championship. But when the team is not winning anything, they can hardly be found with memorabilia related to the team they support.

A large number of of the faster selling team uniforms of more famous or better performing teams are sold at a premium price. This would mean that there would be a number of true fans out there who would be unable to afford such items. It is the same for season tickets.

Why do we support teams or have favorite players in the first place? People primarily the male of the species have a thing about games and being part of a team. This behavior stems from our childhood. Some things just do not change. We still idolize the Michael Jordans of current times because they afford us to live vicariously through them. Not everyone can throw a three pointer or hit a home run at will but certainly anyone can own an NBA sports team jersey. And, for many of us, it is not just the games gets our attention but the lifestyle as well.

Knowledge is an pivotal part of being a real fan. Information of team history, current team events and the overall sport is important. A lot of fans who attend weekend games are only there to experience atmosphere as it might be the only time they have a chance to wear their MLB uniforms or parade their other team logo merchandise. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that as the experience is unbelievable. However, attending games alone does not qualify a person as a real fan according to some.

Loyalty is yet another very essential virtue of being a genuine fan. As mentioned earlier, some fans are fickle and only support a team during the good times. These individuals are known as band wagon jumpers. The second a team drops in performance, these fans jump to the next best team or the new leader of the group.

There are quite a few fans all over the country who are considered armchair fans and have never been to a game. There are those who love a game in spite of not ever having played it. This could be due to a persons physical or psychological restriction. It is difficult to ascertain what attracts us to a game we have never played. Could it be the the common love for a team? Could it be euphoria of attending a major final? Or could it be the fact that we are merely able to appreciate a good thing when we see it.