she’s a fan she’s a fan she’s a fan

I was deep in thought at work about this topic & felt this deep urge to talk about. Mainly due to the fact that, if I were to ever pursue a PhD it would be on the topic of fans and fandoms because this is just utterly fascinating to me. But, sorry to my Kat get a PhD hive, I am simply not doing that.

Anyway, I was at work and started to think about how very different I act in relation to all of the sports & teams that I follow. Granted, I am someone who naturally follows her teams more closely (y’all I literally started a blog to talk about them) but even then, it’s all at varying levels.

I should also say, after going through my masters program, it really made me even more aware of how I interact with the teams I follow. Aware in a way where it allows me to check the anger levels about the decisions made on the business side of the organization.

I don’t have any cool names for these level of fandom. Like a tier level or a scale? I’m not sure. Maybe I will flush this out a bit more but I did kind of put them into 3 different categories.

“Oh, she knows ball for real”

Under this category it is for all of my normal levels of fandom. I follow these teams closely, I stay up to date with all the moves the team makes like player wise, & follow on socials. These teams are ones that I make sure I am watching each weekend & try not to miss their games. For these teams, I am not doing the absolute most such as following every player or any secondary accounts but again, will engage with content when it comes across the feed.

These teams for me are Tottenham Hotspurs & Alabama college football. These are 2 teams where I am sat every game & I am watching for player signings, transfers, & any other major organization moves but I am okay to not engage with the discourse online heavily. I don’t follow any real commentators of the sport but if it’s suggested or comes across my FYP on Twitter, I definitely interact.

“delightfully unhinged”

This category is borderline unhealthy levels of fandom. It’s where my rent free teams fall. I am following every team, a majority of the athletes, commentators, & the algorithm is feeding me the weird fan accounts that are one step too far into the parasocial realm. (These accounts are scary & I mute a lot of them, I need girlies to go touch grass; truly in a league of their own)

But, these teams are ones that I will 100% make sure I am reading into all of the headlines that are coming out, I will willingly do extra research on certain topics. I could be on one of those youtube channels where they have you argue people. Potential Ted Talk topic energy.

For me, this is F1. It’s not a specific team but rather the sport in general because it is so small comparative to some other sports. I follow McLaren & Ferrari the closest. So, any given Sunday throughout the year, these teams have the potential to put me in a bad mood or rage throw something across my apartment. Ideally, they perform well & I turn on Abba and have a dance party. These teams have the power to trigger a wide variety of emotions that would scare away so many people if they watch these races with me.

“Headline Warrior”

I follow these teams just enough to know that the season is happening & if they win or lose. I will miss games & not pay attention too closely until things matter or if one of my other teams isn’t in season.

Sadly, this is the Cavs & the Guardians. I follow them on socials & I will tune in to a few games more often than not but I am not in the she knows ball category with them. But, I think this is also due to me thinking I am a jinx when it comes to these teams.

“the peanut says, it’s dark in here”

This is my I simply do not care if we win or lose. Or, if the team disbands, I would probably throw a party. Overall, this has been me with the NFL. The Browns organization has an enemy in me. I used to love the team & last year I decided my NFL fandom was up for grabs.

Last year, the wheel I put all other 31 NFL teams on selected the Houston Texans. It was quite an exciting season to follow them honestly. It just didn’t feel right to be a fan of them. We just weren’t a match.

The journey to find an NFL team to follow continues this season, where I will be a fan of the NY Jets. Listen, going from the Browns to the Texans to the Jets is less than ideal path but maybe this will stick! Maybe I will be a huge Jets superfan. We will find out at the end of the season. I am heading into this season with a positive attitude & an open heart. Someone give me the money to make this a TV show parody of the Bachelorette.

I am quite looking forward to Fangirl Saturdays or Sundays where I get to watch all of these teams play in one day. Truly, what more could a girl ask for. (Her own bookstore/ cafe to run in a city near the water but that’s besides the point)

Please let me know where you stand with the teams you follow & if you have any name suggestions for these categories.

Everyone reading this, tell David to pick a date for our Fantasy Draft so I can write an entire blog on how that goes.

Talk soon.