Insulting Fandom
Does it insult you when someone (in your office, circle of associates, or even close friends) know about your intense love for all things Umich, claim they are fans as well, but just don't know who our incoming stud RB's are? Or "hey, i heard we JUST landed a really good DB for next year".
When you approach so called "fan" to rap a bit around the water cooler about the fresh coat of paint on the Big House, they look at you like a deer in the headlights?
Forgive grammar errors, its early and I'm tired.
Life is too short to manufacture disappointment or contempt based on such things.
Plus, I try to remember: no matter how much I think I know about some topic, there's someone out there who knows more than me. Better to be gracious to those with less understanding because karma can be a bitch when I run into those with more.
Agreed. And many of the 'lesser fans' (as proposed in this topic) probably choose to spend their time in other ways rather than researching the latest news (or lack thereof) in Michigan Football. That's not a bad thing.
i tend to agree, and think that there will also always be those with more 'fandom' than even the most ardent supporters here. yet it's some degree of fandom, starting from 0 and making its way to twitter creeper of the year of the week status, that gives college football its unique place in american culture. we can all enjoy :)
I generally disagree with any judging of the quality of other people's fandom. You may be a more intense fan, but it doesn't make you a better fan. In fact, maybe you feeling personally insulted by their relative lack of intensity makes them think you're a really obnoxious fan.
I thnk you put it better than the OP, though. There may be disappointment when you realize they're not 'as huge a fan' as you'd hoped. But what you've really acknowledged is that it's based on your own expectations, not really anything to do with them. Being a "huge fan" means different things to different people -- I don't think anyone's definition is wrong when put into their own context.
I feel like a nerd for following recruiting personally. I don't blame anyone that doesn't, especially if they don't follow it religiously.
Also, a coat of paint on the Big House? Who really cares? Some people have jobs and families.
As an exploration of thought, what consitutes a "good" or "bad" fan? What makes one fan "better" than another? Is someone who is "more" of a fan a "better" fan? I think a good fan is simply one who is loyal to their team and shares in the emotions of victory and defeat. You could say that someone else is "more of a fan" if they delve into the depth charts, recruiting, coaching strategy, etc. But I don't think that really makes them "better" in any actual sense - they're not digging into the excesses of sports nerddom for anybody's benefit but their own, right? They are just one person in the stands on game day, and they can't cheer any louder than the next person. Sure, they can discuss the intricacies of two tight end formations on an internet message board, but again ... once it's football saturday, who cares? Now you know I wouldn't argue that there is no value in being a sports nerd, or a super fan or whatever (I mean ... here I am), but one part of enjoying being a fan is sharing the experience with others. You aren't going to be a good fan by being elitist and dividing yourself from others, you'll only be missing out.
TL;DR - don't be a turd.
when someone claims to be a Michigan fan and then turns out to be only a fan of Michigan Football. Other than that, I'll talk to them as long as they know the secret handshake and can tell me the last 4 players to wear 77.
Then I have to explain that I have easily been to over 125 football games ( traveling 4 hours each way) since I was 3 months old. I had the opportunity to attend school there, but chose a different path.
I always get a dumb response like I'm less of a fan because I didn't attend.
Another thing that bothers me is when a fan of one school (e.g. Illinois) starts to defend OSU or MSU because they know I'm a Michigan fan. They know they can't have a casual discussion because they're program is atrocious.
There are no other paths.
In short, there are Muchigan fans and then there are those who just like Michigan. They're fine I guess. They are still better than any fan of another school.
"It's that time of year when the Blue and Gold are playing the scarlet and grey." UGGGGHHHH
It insults me about as much as when UM fans don't know the correct answer to the question of which coach won more Big Ten titles: Lloyd Carr, Bennie Oosterbaan, or Fritz Crisler.
Not at all.
well don't leave us hanging Don
you know the answer already.
When I interview students from UofM, I usually break the ice by saying something like "it looks like our football team is having a great year."
I've heard all types of replies, e.g.:
"Yes, that Denard is a good runner. Too bad he doesn't win a lot of games."
"Yes, I heard they used to have Tom Brady on the team."
"Yes, we keep losing to Ohio State though."
"Yes, I'm a huge fan, but I haven't had a chance to follow a game this year."
"Yes, it's great that there is so much school spirit."
He used to run Domino's.
Regarding the following passage of yours:
When you approach so called "fan" to rap a bit around the water cooler about the fresh coat of paint on the Big House, they look at you like a deer in the headlights?
I strongly suspect that you're misinterpreting the look they are giving you.
Being in an area with a much lower concentration of UM fans, I'm happy to embrace anyone who even says "This Tyree (<<True story) Burke guy is pretty good."
I have a potential new thread topic for discussion on a lazy friday. If someone with enough points deems it worthy of its own thread, please feel free to start it up. Unfortunately, I mostly read and don't post a lot so my point total is low.
Topic: Fairest playoff/championship system
Which major sport group makes it so that the best team actually wins the championship? Here is my analysis:
1. NBA - 7 game series all playoffs, higher seed gets home court, history seems to prove it
2. NCAA Football 2014 - Four best teams square off, little parity
3. NHL - Same system as NBA but more subject to streakiness
4. NCAA Football 2013 - Unsure if best team gets to play, but you know the winner will be at least a top 4 team
5. NASCAR - I don't follow, but I've heard the Sprint Cup has been a good system
6. MLB - 7 game series, smaller group makes the playoffs which lowers parity, but subject to streakiness and the cold weather has a major impact
7. Golf - FedEx Cup system is still developing but seems to be solid
8. NFL - Need to win at least 3 straight games to do it, lots of teams make it
9. NCAA Basketball - Single elimination tourney with 68 teams, lots of parity, little rest at times, lots of quirky teams
It's interesting that to me the less "fair" the playoff system the more fun and exciting. I hope others find this interesting. Sorry to thread-jack.
My standards are low and I can easily avoid being patronizing if they know the names of a few notable players and/or how the team is doing during the season.
As long as that line is met, I generally assume that I'm the one with the problem. There's only so much intensity you can dish out as a fan before you're That Guy.
Agreed. I've long felt that my fandom is a little disproportionate to the other important things in my life. I don't blame them for having a little more balance.
I also admire the lesser fan's functional F5 button.
My mom (2 x Michigan grad), for example, can probably name about five football and basketball players altogether, but she is a very real fan of the teams...People who don't know much who also second-guess the hell out of the coaching staff, on the other hand, do annoy me.
*hypothetically speaking of course
If your friends actually hate your team simply because you are a fan of it then that may be a sign that 1) you are an obnoxious fan, or 2) your friends are dicks.
Contrarian behavior for its own sake ranks a 9.5 on my Obnoxi-o-meter. It's like being an internet troll in real life...you feed off the frustration and annoyance of other people because you find it amusing to smugly piss people off.
If you have this attitude if you're 20 or younger, it's much more acceptable because teenagers and preteens are natural trolls.
The thing that insults me most is when someone who knows nothing about college football - and perhaps nothing about colleges? - gets Michigan and Michigan State mixed up and says, "Oh, I know you're a big Michigan State fan."
