PASSIONATE SPORTS FANS

Passionate Sports Fans Passionate Sports Fans

PRISHA MODY, staff writer

Every sport has its fans. Whether it’s tailgating since the break of dawn or simply showing up, the intensity of people’s love of the game can come from a variety of factors. Tennis fans are unique since they have a few people they support, as most of the time it is not a team sport. Each fan has a unique reasoning behind what makes them prefer one player over another. All dedicated fans have things in common, like owning a closet full of clothing apparel to have the exact same racquets and gear as their favorite player and most fans are supportive, regardless of the outcome of the match. When Rafael Nadal lost in the fourth round of the tournament in 2009 his fans still believed in him and supported him, and now he is considered by many analysts to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Kids who are tennis fans can go as far as to replicate their style of play and the techniques that these professional players use in their matches. People of all ages look up to and admire these respectable players. Many professional players have certain attributes they are known for, whether that may be hitting an underhand serve or hitting the tennis ball between their legs while running backwards. Junior tennis players copy the attitudes and attributes of these professional players and look up to them as role models and idols. Fans have their own reasoning behind what motivates them to wake up Saturday morning for game day, decked out in their team’s gear and driving through heavy traffic. The most common reason, however, is that it is their home team, the team they grew up watching, their parents’ favorite team, and that equates to loyalty. Some of the most dedicated fans would be those of the Chicago Cubs. These fans have been through a lot, from a team that had a couple of grueling seasons to winning the World Series followed by another round of grueling seasons. Advanced Placement Biology teacher Mr. Ernst is a Cubs fan who has been supporting the cubs through their 2012 season with a record of 61 wins to 101 losses as well as celebrating

when the team won the World Series in 2016. For him, being a Cubs fan was a lifestyle. “[Growing up in North Chicago], you just were a Cubs fan, there really was not anything else,” Ersnt noted. With his family being Cubs fans and his house a few blocks from Wrigley field, location and family were essential contributors to his love of the Cubs. After moving to Georgia, his love for the Cubs has not diminished, but he has grown to love the Braves as well. Baseball is not the only sport with loyal fans. College football fans, many of them alumni, show some of the strongest passions for their schools. Walking into Mr. Anderson’s room, the first thing students see is the giant University of Georgia flag behind his desk. At first glance, it appears that he is supporting the university, but after seeing the UGA lunchbox along with other UGA gear, students and faculty realize that this teacher is a dedicated fan. This passion for UGA stemmed from him being a student at the school. “Honestly I ended up going to school there and…[that’s how I] fell in love with Georgia.” After graduating from the University of Georgia, he continues to have season passes and tries to attend as many games as possible. Ultimately, Anderson is a sports fan who loves and supports his college. Supporting and showing up for a team are big aspects of what makes many fans so dedicated, despite whether the team has a winning or difficult season. This includes cheering for the big wins and continuing to cheer after the devastating losses. This dedication could stem from the environment that the fan grew up in or the college that they attended. Fans of different sports teams and players celebrate wins and losses very differently. The main thing that separates extremely passionate fans from regular fans is the dedication that they display during the wins and losses. Losing a match or game is something that every athlete experiences, and learns to deal with. For most fans, dedication and loyalty is what drives their commitment to their teams. Ultimately, dedicated fans support their team no matter the circumstances.