It's so true... | The Lowdown

It seems a lot of people out there want to be the one to define what it means to be a "true" fan. They'll tell you how many teams you're allowed to support, how many games you have to attend, and what you have to wear when you go.

With all these conflicting sets of rules, it's possible to forget the golden rule. But being a good sports fan should never get in the way of being a good person.

You all know who I'm talking about: the "true" fan who thinks his ticket gives him the right to swear at players, referees...never mind the eight-year-old two rows ahead of him.

Don't forget the "true" fan who disowns a good friend, just because she forgot not to schedule her wedding on a game day.

There's the "true" fan who's otherwise a nice old lady, She sends nasty, derogatory e-mails to the newspaper which dares to print the facts about her favorite coach. (You know, Mom always told me never to be afraid of the facts. After all, Love isn't actually blind. Love sees the flaws and is willing to overlook them.)

Some so-called "true" fans will even shoot out the windows of cars that carry the bumper sticker of their rival.

It's amazing and sad what behavior some people will justify in the name of their love of sports. Being a fan doesn't mean you have to be less of a human being. And that's the truth.

A final and unrelated note: Does anyone buy the theory that the MLB players' union won't allow blood tests because of privacy issues?!? Baseball players are poked and prodded by trainers and conditioning coaches. They can't be traded until a GM is certain he has every detail on an athlete's most recent groin injury. They are sometimes contractually obligated to keep to a certain diet. Do these players have any privacy left to protect?

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January 15, 2008 12:12 AM ET

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Amen, Brother............

MICHIFAN64

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January 15, 2008 12:23 AM ET

I love that a Wolverines fan can agree with an Ohio State fan! We're living prove Michifan, that rivalries can be intense *and* civil. Thanks for reading and replying.

Lori

Pickerington , OH

Total Comments (11)

January 15, 2008 12:33 AM ET

My husband has season tickets for his alma mater's football team. We honestly try to go to every home game, but it doesn't always work out that way. When we do go however, this guy next to us won't move an inch (and these are small bench seats). He just sits firm and recites how he's had tickets since blah blah blah and he goes to EVERY game and yadda yadda yadda. Once, I had to hold my daughter on my lap because we had no room on the bench. She's 11 and pretty heavy! It bothered me so much that we weren't "true" fans because we miss a game or two. I mean, if he could only see the OSU Beavers logo on our pool table... now that's a true fan.