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From: Cristen Simkonis
Date: 17 Dec 2001
Time: 10:02:17
Remote Name: 152.163.205.76
All Types of Fans! “Let’s Go Pens! Let’s Go Pens! Let’s Go Pens!” Similar chants can be heard coming from the loyal-to-the-end fan at a local Penguins hockey game. However, not all fans are this enthusiastic about their team. There are always a few different types of fans attending any sporting event. The different types encompass, of course, the “loyal-to-the-end fan,” the “fair-weather fan,” and the “socializer.” Almost every fan will fit into one of these categories. Very few will comprise their own little group, “the whatevers.” The first, and arguably most extreme, are the “loyal-to-the-end fans.” These are the people coming out to every game or event, whether the team is winning, losing, or doing a little bit of both. Regardless of any reasoning, the “loyal-to-the-end fan” will stay with their team. They will be the fans visibly arising some noise and havoc at a sporting event, the ones cheering until they lose their voices, their hands swollen from applauding. If attention is caught from any single type of fans, the guilty party is this one. Fans with this type of character usually spur and support a Booster Club. This is just one of the numerous ways they support their team all the way. A “loyal-to-the-end fan” may also have each player’s statistics memorized down to a science. They can recite the lineup, inside and out, and would very easily be able to replace the coach in an instant. People interested in a winning team characterize the next type of fan. These are the people that come out to an event on the weekends, when they have some free time, or when they know a team is sure to win or at least come close to it. These fans are often discriminated against because of their “fair-weather” loyalty. A “fair-weather fan” is not going to be heard throughout an arena or stadium, cheering and applauding. They are just not dedicated enough to compete with the loyal fan. This type of person would know only the popular or most talented players on a team, the ones whose names can be heard or seen almost constantly. This type of fan would never travel to an away competition. Why would someone do that? The “fair-weather” person is simply not as dedicated for their own reasons, and that is just fine. However, they should, in their best interest, not claim to be a “loyal-to-the-end fan.” This would not be right, and the typical “loyal-to-the-end fan” will let them know it. The last, and probably most familiar type of fan is the “socializer.” They are the most familiar and probably the most recognizable of all people. They usually stick out like sore thumbs at a sporting event. This group would be the ones too busy talking and trying to impress. The “socializer” is usually a woman, not saying that the role could never be reversed. However, they’re typically the ones dressed in mini skirts or very formal attire to attend an extremely casual event like, say, a hockey game. In this case, rather than watching the action, as most people usually do, they will talk throughout it. These are probably the most aggravating fans because everyone knows they are not truly interested in the subject matter of the sport. They are just there to pick up guys, or in a man’s situation, a pretty girl. This type of fan will, too often, try to cheer the team on. If they do, it will instantly be known that they have no clue what they’re talking about. Then, as expected, they will go back to talking to their neighbor, or maybe they’ll take a walk out to the bathroom, or to grab something to eat. This fan is characterized by their lack of interest and is usually scorned upon by everyone else at a particular sporting event. As you can see, there are various types of fans. Each is distinguishable in his or her own way. The “loyal-to-the-end fan” will turn out to be the true fan and will support their team no matter what. The “fair-weather fan” will only come out in “fair-weather.” That is, they’ll be there when the team is winning. And, last but not least, the “socializer” will always be present. However, this type will be present for different reasons. Those reasons, usually being to “socialize,” hence the name.