Full disclosure: I have been one of these five fans during at least some point in my 22-year life span.
Recently I attended a Cleveland Indians game with my family. The sun was as blistering as I imagine the Sahara Desert's sand to be. As we descended to our seats, I started to people watch. I quickly could pick out who was the casual fan, the die-hard fan, etc.
These quick observations lead me to dissect the five fans you meet in your lifetime.
1. The Casual Fan
They generally attend the event to "enjoy the game" and take in the sights. Often times, they'll wear either a t-shirt of the team they are supporting or even a polo that doesn't represent the teams colors. This person doesn't care if their team gets destroyed or keeps the game close until the final closing seconds. They often state "it is just a game" when their team loses. Don't associate with this person because something is off with them.
2. The Knowledgeable Fan
You swear that this fan must have been around since their team first started up. They know the player's hometown, favorite song, what brand they are represented by and who they are dating. The only problem with The Knowledgeable Fan is the statistics they are rattling off to you. You start to realize all they care about is trying to impress you with numbers when in reality, no one is impressed by facts you have memorized from Google.
3. The Drunk Fan
In 2006, I attend the Fiesta Bowl with my Dad, Donnie (my brother) and my Uncle Tom. Notre Dame was playing Ohio State. ND lost, but it was an experience of a lifetime for me. One reason was that I was able to attend a bowl game watching my favorite team. There was one flaw to this; The Drunk Fans. Every sporting event has them, but this was the worst I have experienced. At the age of 13 I had cheap beer poured all over me by both Notre Dame and Ohio State fans.
Moral of this story? Don't be The Drunk Fan spilling beer upon a 13-year-old.
4. The Bandwagon/No Fan-Fan
You know who you are. You await in the shadows all year long until the playoff time to "chose your team." Often times you see these people flock to the high octane teams (Oregon, Kentucky, FC Barcelona, Seattle Seahawks, etc). These fans usually have the bandwagon team shirt or even follow them on Twitter showing you that "Hey, I am a fan!". Then there is the No Fan-Fan who for some unknown reason has no team that they cheer for. If you know someone like this, red flags should be immediately raised. Avoid this person at all costs, even if you have to spill beer on them (kidding).
5. The Die-Hard Fan
For most of my lifetime, I was the Casual Fan (Point #1) and it wasn't until recently that I have become The Die-Hard Fan. This fan has seen it all: come from behind victories, heartbreaking finishes, unruly trades, the favorite player knocked out for the season... you name it, it happens. This fan lives and dies by their team. The rest of their week is determined by whether their team wins or loses. They get too emotional over the game, screaming at the TV (like the players in Minnesota can even hear that?) and occasionally will turn the channel because, and I quote, "it is too painful to watch." The Die-Hard Fan is there through thick and thin and is often the life of the party at sporting events. Official jerseys, retro t-shirts, hats, underwear, socks are worn by The Die-Hard Fan. Pure respect right there.
In the end, we are all one of these fans, whether you will admit it or not.
