Watered Down Fanhood

I have watched almost every major sport in the U.S. and luckily, I have been able to also attend at least one live event from each sport. To me, college football stands out because the fans are so passionate and involved in their team's game. A bunch of rowdy, usually drunk, college students and alumni cheering for their team on a Saturday afternoon creates an impressive atmosphere. But yesterday, I officially decided that all American sports fans, no matter what sport or team you follow, are watered down compared to the passion and sheer emotion of a European soccer fan.

I went to a small pub called the Crown and Anchor near my home yesterday to watch the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester United. Both these clubs are from England, but the Champions League is a a competition where all the best clubs from around Europe compete in several months of games and it just so happened to end with two clubs (teams) from the same country. Anyway, I went to the pub wearing my blue Chelsea jersey and was quickly subdued by the large volume of Man. U fans wearing their red jerseys. The game was entertaining, but a few specific moments stood out that made me realize just how passionate the English are about their football (soccer). Towards the very end of the overtime period, the top scorer for Chelsea (Didier Drogba) received a red card and was sent off or kicked out of the game. At this point, the pure hatred of the opposing team showed through as several Man. U fans took their full pints of beer and flung them up against the ceiling of the pub showering everyone around in frosty Stella. Of course my reaction was a little different since it was my team who had just lost one of their best players, but I couldn't help but crack a smile at witnessing the level of enthusiasm and sometimes pain that these fans exerted while watching their favorite club. And when Man. U finally won the match in penalty kicks, I don't know if I have ever seen grown men be so joyful. The entire match I was sitting beside 5 English men who appeared to be die-hard Red Devil supporters (they were the ones that flung the beer up when Drogba received a red card). But when that final shot was stopped and the game finally was over, these men got together, hugged and cried harder than I have ever seen someone cry over a sporting event. They then picked up their beers and poured them out on each others heads as they started screaming and dancing around the pub.

I'll admit it, I was jealous because at that minute I realized that even though I think I am a die-hard fan of certain teams, I really have never begun to comprehend what it means to be a passionate, loyal and supportive fan. I understand that many people (its really just Americans) cannot stand soccer, but step back and look at the bigger picture and you may realize soccer isn't a sport as basketball or baseball is to us...its a lifestyle that consumes you almost everyday and when your team finally reaches that pinnacle or the Championship that has eluded them for so long, you can cheer because you were apart of it.