Fantastic Fanatics
Ritualistic behavior has been an integral part of societies since the days of the Trobriand Islanders, not to be confused with the New York Islanders. Rain dances, face painting, and a list of other rituals have been culturally transmitted through the centuries in hopes of bringing good fortune. Today our rituals are still with us, however strange they appear to be, including the rituals displayed by dedicated sports fans, but also the athletes who dazzle them.
The word “fan’ has a short-stroke background, but not from out of the sand-trap. Linguistically it’s described as a back formation for the word “fanatic.” Some offensive coordinators in the NFL might not get the joke. Avid sports fans will do just about anything to help their team win the big prize, and the rituals of a sports fan may seem weird to some, but the fan sees things differently. Somehow there’s a connection between the ritual itself and a team’s success. If it can’t be felt, it can certainly be seen in many sports venues. It’s all for the love of the game, but winning it all makes the process of ritual taste even sweeter.
During the NFL season, many fans begin their football frenzy rituals hours before the game actually starts. For eager fans watching on television, showing up at a friend's house the or the local sports bar every Sunday is common practice. Wearing hats and jerseys goes without saying. Buffalo wings, chips, and drinks accompany the festive atmosphere, where friends and foes alike find their usual seats. Fans quietly chow down during the pregame show, but when the game starts, screaming and yelling at the TV is a constant; talking about stats, records, and likelihoods are all part of it as well.
For those who actually have tickets, tailgate parties set the tone for a big day. Barbeques and hibachis filled with beef, pork, and chicken odorize the parking lots; loud music fights for domination over pregame chants, rants, and raves. Groups of men go shirtless and paint their chests to spell out their team’s name, no matter how cold it is outside.
Football isn’t the only sport with die-hard fanatics. Major League Baseball fans are just as dedicated, with their own customs and habits, not to mention the players themselves. The bleacher creatures won’t sit anywhere else, hoping to snag a home run ball. In Chicago, Cubs fans will throw the ball back when an opposing team’s player hits one over the ivied walls. When a known strikeout pitcher is on the mound, fans will drape a “K” sign for each strikeout over the top deck. Boston Red Sox fans believed in the “Curse of the Babe” until 2004, and the rally cap is now standard, where fans and players alike turn their caps around. Some ball players won’t shave until getting a base hit, and no teammate ever speaks to a pitcher who’s on the verge of throwing a no-hitter. Many players signal to their higher power before coming up to bat or after reaching base. Perhaps the most notable ritual in baseball is the one performed by Nomar Garciaparra. After every pitch, he steps out of the box, readjusts his batting gloves and parts of his uniform, and then repeats the process until he's on base or is called out. Ball players are just like their fans from a ritualistic standpoint; they all want to win, even if they have to put their socks on inside out, and for as long as needed.
NBA fans do much of the same in terms of rituals, especially during the playoffs. Miami Heat fans wear white shirts, and Utah Jazz fans wear blue. Philadelphia 76er fans will even boo their own team. No matter where the Los Angeles Lakers travel, the chant “Beat LA” can be heard repeatedly. Le Bron James throws talc powder in the air before every game. Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics gets a bit more involved. He naps from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, white chicken and rice at 2:30, and gets to the gym at 3:45 exactly; he also walks onto the floor at 4:30 on the dot. He does all of this before every game. Kobe Bryant hugs Sasha Vujacic before every game. The routines seem endless.
Many more rituals exist in the world of sports. Fans will continue to express their passion by doing strange and unconventional things, and the same goes for the athletes who make watching sports an awesome experience.
