NFL: Can Clueless Englishmen Such As Myself Really Call Themselves NFL “Fans” ?
Published by Greg Lott on February 10, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
I am English, removed and ignorant. To me American football is a sport of passive, aesthetic enjoyment. I have no bonds, I simply enjoy the spectacle. I have watched a few games, seen a Super Bowl at Wembley in my capacity as a steward at the stadium, but yet I am clueless.
Admittedly now, in my country the sport has transcended stratospheres and the Englishman’s love of American football is on the boom. I have no problem with that, I have even gone for a trial for my University team (but ultimately had to revert my attention to my athletics).
I enjoyed the sport immensely, and if more provision were given to American football, my country would quite possibly have taken it up at an early age.
All this being said I want to tell you a story which is the crux of my ramblings.
After the Super Bowl on Sunday, many of my friends and acquaintances were debating the finer nuances of the game, when one claimed he was now a Chicago Bears fan, coming from as left field as it did the conversation somewhat abated.
Not only had said individual only watched one American Football game before, but he had never seen the Bears play.
Why then? Well said lunatic claimed, “I like the name, It’s funny.”
To me a sport “fan” is one that takes the rough with the smooth. Fandom is built up through years of pain as well as joy.
Fans aren’t formed overnight. Voyeurs maybe, but not fans.
I would feel exactly the same if the roles were reversed, ignorance can never breed fan-ship. To me such unfounded “supporting” undermines the deep attachment the Bears true fans feel for their club, fans that have actually seen their team play, not just Wikipedia’d them.
In my country there is a brand of fans of the iconic Manchester United known as “the prawn sandwich brigade,” who in essence are fans with no true ties to Manchester or Old Trafford yet like the moniker of “Man U fan.”
I think my friend might be partial to a few prawns?
Basically my intentions in penning these bitter mutterings was to gage reaction from the knowledgeable community. Is this common practice in American Football and American sport in general? Is patronage from a fan as loosely bound as to derive a humorous reaction to an otherwise-intentioned name welcomed?
And, ultimately what does this say about the state of sport fellowship today? Or am I reading too deeply into this?
You see this is something new for me. I have been brought up in a society in which allegiances are not turned or formed on a whim. My friend is now talking about ordering a Bears shirt. Surely an allegiance based solely on Wikipedia would make that one hollow shirt to bear (to pardon the pun).
Agree or disagree, I would generally like to gauge the reaction of true fans. Nothing more, nothing less.
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