My year of sports fandom!

[Ultralight]

I am, on April 1st (no foolin') going to become a sports fan for one year.

Insights, ideas, suggestions, and words of caution are welcome.

Yes, this is a lifestyle experiment. And my intention is to become a fan of one major league baseball team, one NFL team, and one NHL team.

Obviously I will be a fan of the OSU Buckeye football team. That almost goes without saying.

My goals are to learn about people, our culture, and to have some new and interesting experiences.

Thoughts?

[Chicken lady]

I’m not sure that word means what you think it means...

deciding to to “become a fan” seems like deciding to fall in love or find religion....

[Ultralight]

I’m not sure that word means what you think it means...

deciding to to “become a fan” seems like deciding to fall in love or find religion....

1. It is just for a year.
2. I think it is different than deciding to fall in love.
3. It is like a religion, I suppose, minus requisite belief in the supernatural.

I actually have two "spiritual guides" on this journey. Two coworkers who are huge sports fans are helping with this process.

[Yppej]

You can combine attending live games with televised ones, but to best understand the sports you should play them yourself. Do you get free phys ed classes as an employee benefit? Or will an amateur league welcome you?

[Ultralight]

You can combine attending live games with televised ones, but to best understand the sports you should play them yourself. Do you get free phys ed classes as an employee benefit? Or will an amateur league welcome you?

I have played backyard football and baseball when I was a kid. But I have not played hockey. I am not much of a skater.

The experiment is mostly about fandom rather than actually playing the sports.

[iris lilies]

...

The experiment is mostly about fandom rather than actually playing the sports.

This reminds me of my years of fascination with Diana, Princess of Wales. It was more The Cult of Diana that was interesting than she herself, a not too smart but an incredibly media-savvy person.

[Yppej]

I have played backyard football and baseball when I was a kid. But I have not played hockey. I am not much of a skater.

The experiment is mostly about fandom rather than actually playing the sports.

Field hockey and basketball then.

[Ultralight]

Field hockey and basketball then.

Playing sports might be another lifestyle experiment altogether. Time is short.

[SteveinMN]

I think you definitely will experience a kind of tribalism that you'll find interesting.

My suggestion is to read a lot, both about the team you follow and about other teams and the sport itself. IME only listening/watching quickly devolves into an echo chamber.

And go to a game. Even just one game. Any game. All the sports are very different when they're away from the long lens of the TV camera.

[Ultralight]

I think you definitely will experience a kind of tribalism that you'll find interesting.

My suggestion is to read a lot, both about the team you follow and about other teams and the sport itself. IME only listening/watching quickly devolves into an echo chamber.

And go to a game. Even just one game. Any game. All the sports are very different when they're away from the long lens of the TV camera.

Yes, the tribalism is intriguing.

I do intend to attend some games, either home, away, or both.