| Call them fanatics, call them over indulging, but one | | | | few of the teams. Mind you I still don't have a favorite |
| thing is clear you know what team they root for, win | | | | team; I began to think about becoming a fan of a |
| or lose. These sports fans are very knowledgeable of | | | | favorite team. Which team would it be? How would I |
| the game and of the franchise that supports the | | | | go about choosing a favorite team? If I chose a team, |
| game. They display their loyalty to the teams in their | | | | would it be one that I could actually see on Television |
| cars, trucks, homes, offices, desks and even their | | | | once in a while, or one that I could afford to attend a |
| computers. They follow the every move from the | | | | real live game? I found more questions than answers. |
| general manager's desk down to the club house | | | | As these questions entered my mind I thought about |
| worker. Knowledge and mastery of the game is | | | | my favorite sport, baseball. Does anyone know that I |
| crucial to their enjoyment of the game. Does it matter | | | | follow one team in particular? No, not unless they |
| what game? No, the game could be auto racing, | | | | know me really well. Pondering me choosing a favorite |
| baseball, basketball, cycling, football, ice hockey, running, | | | | team, I thought about my beloved Chicago Cubs. How |
| soccer, softball, tennis, or a host of other organized | | | | can I enjoy them more? We all know that they rarely |
| sports. The game may be one of those or a | | | | produce a winning team. My gosh! The answer lies in |
| combination of sports. The real sports fan is emotional, | | | | front of me and all I have to do is use my finger tips. I |
| passionate and knowledgeable about his chosen sport, | | | | have access to the Internet. I can find out right now |
| and they share their enthusiasm with everyone that | | | | what's happening to my team. Am I ashamed of being |
| comes in contact with them. | | | | a Cubs fan? (The Cubs are not known for their |
| The task of becoming a better sports fan is easier | | | | winnings.) No, I just keep my passions inside myself. |
| than one might think. In this world of the Internet and | | | | What would happen if I became a real honest |
| thousands of television channels the information one | | | | passionate fan of Chicago Cubs baseball? I am going |
| seeks about a favorite team or sport is easily gotten | | | | to find out, I am visiting their Internet website weekly |
| from your fingertips. Each professional team has a | | | | and sometimes daily, and I've even signed up for their |
| website, and all of the colleges have websites with | | | | newsletter. I'm allowing my passions to surface. I'm |
| information on all of their sports. You'll understand the | | | | seeking the information available to me to guide my |
| politics of the sport by visiting and reading about the | | | | understanding of the game and the organization. |
| inner workings of the franchise or the sponsoring | | | | The other sport that I have been watching closely is |
| organization. Delve into the sport as if you were | | | | cycling. Information about cycling is available through |
| studying the stock market, real estate options, mutual | | | | magazines, and Internet websites. I'm disappointed in |
| funds, bonds, and other money saving/making | | | | cycling right now. The guys I follow are being accused |
| endeavors. Dig into the information available and find | | | | of using performance enhancing drugs. Yes, these |
| out what's happening to the organization. | | | | drugs are also prevalent in the other sports, but those |
| The next component of being a better sports fan is to | | | | folks are not being singled out as much as the cyclist. |
| allow your passions to surface. If you are passionate | | | | Since I follow cycling closely on the Internet, then I |
| about a sport, then show it. I understand that there are | | | | should be able to transfer my skills and information |
| people out there who like watching a sport, but who sit | | | | seeking strategies to other sports and other teams. |
| quietly by as good plays are executed, and scores are | | | | Besides, cycling I only get to see on television usually in |
| made. Find out about the players who are executing | | | | the summer. There's always a football, basketball, |
| those plays and making those scores. The information | | | | baseball, and soccer game being shown on TV. |
| you seek is available, and let your passion flow to the | | | | I'm choosing to explore my passions, and I'm going to |
| surface. You'll find that the game becomes more | | | | be soon choosing a pro football team to follow and |
| enjoyable. | | | | root for as they play. I've narrowed it down to about |
| I've been watching NFL football this year. I don't have a | | | | four teams. One thing is very certain, I've enjoyed |
| favorite team; however, I have a few teams that I will | | | | watching the playoffs, and I know that I'll enjoy |
| root against. Last year I watched the Super Bowl, and I | | | | watching the Super Bowl. I'll let my passions flow at |
| hadn't seen either team play all year long. I had no clue | | | | Super Bowl time because I will have seen all the |
| as to who would win. In fact I didn't even care. I would | | | | teams play, and I will find one team I like better than the |
| be happy with either team winning. This year as the | | | | other. Indulge yourself, and learn the game, from the |
| season began I began to think about how much more | | | | water boy or bat boy to the general manager or |
| enjoyable the Super Bowl would be if I at least had | | | | Athletic Director. Finding out about the organization and |
| seen some of the teams in action. Now the playoffs | | | | the team members will make a better fan out of you, |
| are here, and I'm watching the games and rooting for a | | | | and you'll enjoy the game with passion. |