Fan or Fanatic

Fan or Fanatic

Are you a fan or fanatic of something? Do you have musicians or actors that you follow? Are there certain famous people in your field of interest that you enjoy learning more about?

I’m a fanatic of almost anything related to chocolate. I am certainly a fan of the beach! For those of you who follow me on social media, you know I’m a sports fanatic. Baseball and football are my jam. However, I find that all sports can grab my attention.

What is it that makes someone a fan? For me, it’s the excitement of competition. The energy the fans give off while cheering for their team. I must admit that being a fan does not make me an expert at any sport.

I played basketball in eighth grade. I was a guard when girls had six players on the court. True story. I got fouled and had to shoot a foul shot. Of course, I missed–guards didn’t practice foul shots. We got the rebounds and passed them to the rovers. That was the end of my basketball career. I lost interest in basketball until Michel Jordan came on the scene. It was entertaining to watch someone with that level of talent.

My children tried various sports. I was their biggest fan. I yelled the loudest encouragement. I will always be their number one fan.

In certain areas, I am an occasional fan. When I watch golf on TV, I enjoy it and may even —recognize a few players. After those eighteen holes, I may not think about those golfers again unless they appear on the news.

Then there’s the bandwagon fan. True story. I found myself marrying a guy from Western New York in 1988. Guess who’s a Buffalo Bills Fan. Of course, I jumped on the bandwagon and became a fan too. I still remember the first sweatshirt with the Bill’s logo on it that I had. Football season is part of our family. The Bills have had their ups and downs. I admire fans who are not occasional or fair-weather fans but are true die-hard fans. If you’re a part of the Buffalo Bills’ Mafia, win or lose, you support your team.

I feel that way about the Atlanta Braves baseball team. I grew up watching them on TV. Hank Aaron was a household name. I made my children stand in line for an hour to get a picture, with Hank signing his name on cereal boxes. That’s what a fan does!

I’m a fanatic about Baseball —It is one of my favorite sports. I love the energy I feel going to a game.

Last year, I followed four teams—The Atlanta Braves, The Tampa Bay Rays, The Texas Rangers, and The Yankees. Why? Well, the Yankees are the history of baseball to me. “Yogi” Berra, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Derek Jeter are just a few of the stars of the past.

What about the players that your favorite team trades? Will you leave the team your grandmother introduced to you and caused your love of the game? I think not. This team represents the relationship you and your gramma share. There will be more players. Easy come, easy go. You’re a team fan.

When you know a player on the team personally, there’s a specific connection that makes you take ownership. I taught Nathaniel Lowe, the Texas Rangers first baseman, and his brother Joshua Lowe, one of the Tampa Bay Rays’ outfielders. What happens when one of these players gets traded? Do I switch teams? It depends. If I’m an avid fan, I will follow their careers and cheer them on through each success and failure, no matter which team they’re on.

Are you an enthusiast? I enjoy going to all baseball and softball games—no matter the level. I get giddy attending a game in a stadium. I am a baseball fan. When my husband and I were on vacation in Clearwater, FL, I asked if we could go to Tropicana Field to catch a game. It was about a forty-five-minute drive down to St. Petersburg. Not only did we see home runs hit in a non-retractable dome baseball field, we witnessed Derek Jeter’s last game against the Rays. I wasn’t pulling for either team that night. I was enjoying the game of baseball—I’m a fan.

My fandom is baseball. I get ecstatic just being in the stadium with 28,000–plus or minus–other fans, watching a little white ball fly through the air and listening to the crack of a bat as one lucky player hits it out of the park! I can’t tell you the players’ batting averages or how much they make. I can tell you how exciting it is to see the players connect with the fans and the fans connect with other fans.

As a teacher, I would watch some of my students play ball at a local field. I miss that. I tell my neighbors and friends I would like their child’s schedule. I think they think I’m weird or just trying to be nice. I want to relive some of the baseball mom moments. My grandkids will be suiting up soon. I can’t wait!

You may not be a sports fan. There’s no shame in that. Are you a fanatic about something?

What kind of fan or fanatic are you? Please leave a comment to tell us about your fandom.