We are in the midst of an awesome Finals rematch of two of the best teams in the NBA right now. Through these next few days, expect bickering and constant trash talking among fans. However, as a follower of sports, I have come to realize that there are different degrees of being a fan.
Hence, I took it upon myself to define these fans, to broaden one's trash talking vocabulary. Not every fan that's not you is a "bandwagon" fan. This is from the perspective of the NBA Finals, but may somehow be related to other sports. I expect the upcoming World Cup to produce the same types of people arising.
*Author's Note: I may have missed out on a lot of things these people do. I'm apologizing right now for not being perfect. Also, all pictures are not mine.
*Author's Note: I may have missed out on a lot of things these people do. I'm apologizing right now for not being perfect. Also, all pictures are not mine.
Non-Fans
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| We love Morgan Freeman, but he speaks for the Non-Fans during these NBA Finals |
These are basically people who do not care whatsoever on what is happening to the sport you so religiously follow. If they are aware, they probably don't have a clue as to what is actually happening but know that this could be a conversation starter. They have zero to minimum knowledge about the game, or have outdated knowledge about it.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Who?
Where You See Them: Anywhere else not in front of a TV in the fourth quarter of a close game, minding their own business.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "My feed is flooded again by these sports fans"
2. *Random work rant*
3. *Random quote*
4. *Selfie*/ *OOTD*
Where You See Them: Anywhere else not in front of a TV in the fourth quarter of a close game, minding their own business.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "My feed is flooded again by these sports fans"
2. *Random work rant*
3. *Random quote*
4. *Selfie*/ *OOTD*
"What's Hot" Fans
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| Being where the action is is totally different from caring about the action. |
This is a level just above the Non-Fans. On an 82-game schedule, they hardly ever follow the NBA, but when everyone's talking about it (probably at the start of the Playoffs), they begin to load up on knowledge. They are the easiest people to invite to viewing parties because they're there for the party, not much for the viewing. They will surely root for someone, with the choice being the popular one. They have zero loyalty whatsoever. They aren't totally clueless about the game, but they probably won't offer much opinion about it.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Oo, pare lakas, lupeet! Sya yung shooter di ba?
Where You See Them: Viewing parties. They are also probably the first ones out an arena because they need to beat the traffic.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "Woohoo! Great game!" *insert picture of choice beverage*
2. "Favorite/Like" anything positive about the team he/she is rooting for
3. Reposting memes because, it's what's in now.
Where You See Them: Viewing parties. They are also probably the first ones out an arena because they need to beat the traffic.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "Woohoo! Great game!" *insert picture of choice beverage*
2. "Favorite/Like" anything positive about the team he/she is rooting for
3. Reposting memes because, it's what's in now.
Bandwagon Fans
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| Focus on the seats, not the people. This is actually from Game 6 of last year's finals. IN MIAMI. |
These are fans with knowledge of the game, but usually go with the flow of what's popular. They have a false sense of loyalty, which makes them one notch higher than the previous group. I say "false sense of loyalty" because they will rant and rave like they've been rooting for a team since its inception, but actually started following it when it was the "cool thing" to do. They know the game, and probably follow some popular personalities on social media to keep them up to date.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Oo! Idol ko talaga yun!
Where You See Them: Carpooling with "What's Hot" Fans before games end. They could also be rooting for another team if it becomes more popular. (see fans of Lakers 03-04, Heat 10-11, Lakers 12-13)
What They Do on Social Media: 1. Joining (insert team name) Forever Fan groups
2. Re-posting pictures, memes, or status updates praising the team's win
3. Nothing if their team loses.
Where You See Them: Carpooling with "What's Hot" Fans before games end. They could also be rooting for another team if it becomes more popular. (see fans of Lakers 03-04, Heat 10-11, Lakers 12-13)
What They Do on Social Media: 1. Joining (insert team name) Forever Fan groups
2. Re-posting pictures, memes, or status updates praising the team's win
3. Nothing if their team loses.
The Haters
| No team has generated as much hate as the Heat have since coming together. |
It shouldn't even be a word, but it's undeniable that they exist. They find fulfillment in pissing people off. They are fans who do enjoy the game, but their enjoyment in bashing people's teams have outweighed their love for the game. They especially hate the first two types of fans, and normally get into heated, almost irrational arguments with the next type of fans.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Weh, pinaulit-ulit mo lang siguro yun no?! La ka naman supot Heat mo!
Where You See Them: Scouring the web every positive comment or status about a popular team and making all-caps comments about how that team sucks. They are the hipsters of basketball fans.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "OH ANO TAHIMIK NANAMAN KAYO?!?! HAHAHA" - when the "hated" team loses
2. Re-posting every possible meme about team being targeted.
3. Not reading links to articles but actively participating in comments section
Where You See Them: Scouring the web every positive comment or status about a popular team and making all-caps comments about how that team sucks. They are the hipsters of basketball fans.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "OH ANO TAHIMIK NANAMAN KAYO?!?! HAHAHA" - when the "hated" team loses
2. Re-posting every possible meme about team being targeted.
3. Not reading links to articles but actively participating in comments section
The Fantards
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| Dude looks to fit the description of people who'd go into an irrational debate about LeBron being the GOAT |
These are the irrationally passionate fans who root for a team, mostly because of a certain player. You probably could have an enjoyable discussion for the first five minutes if you're on the same page, but will probably get irritated once the 'tardness becomes apparent. They don't care what you think about other teams, just that their team is "the bestest" there ever was. If you have a short fuse, you will not like what they could do to you in the comments section of an article.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Wala yun sa dunk ni LeBron!
Where You See Them: Wearing the jersey of their favorite player while watching the game (or even on a casual day), possibly with facepaint. They also scour the internet for anything about their favorite player or team, and will attack whoever says anything bad about the said player or team.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "____ IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE NBA HANDS DOWN!"
2. Bashing "haters"
3. "Defending" the team or player in "hater" articles/forums
4. "LUTO!!!!!!"
5. Reading the first two lines of an article then makes a comment like "LEBRON DABEST" o kaya "BOBO NG WRITER NYO SWEEP PA RIN YAN!"
Where You See Them: Wearing the jersey of their favorite player while watching the game (or even on a casual day), possibly with facepaint. They also scour the internet for anything about their favorite player or team, and will attack whoever says anything bad about the said player or team.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "____ IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE NBA HANDS DOWN!"
2. Bashing "haters"
3. "Defending" the team or player in "hater" articles/forums
4. "LUTO!!!!!!"
5. Reading the first two lines of an article then makes a comment like "LEBRON DABEST" o kaya "BOBO NG WRITER NYO SWEEP PA RIN YAN!"
Justifying Fans
| Guy in checkered shirt; doesn't blatantly show affinity, but passionately interested |
I like to think fall in this category. These are fans who always justify why they are cheering for a certain team. These are (who I'd like to believe to be) rational fans who have conditional loyalty to a team. Unlike fantards, they won't scour the internet to defend their team irrationally. They will recognize a loss if their team is outplayed, and maybe claim an injustice has been done to their team from time totime. They claim to be passionate about the game more than a particular team.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Oo, totally unexpected! Pero ganda nung laban. Ganda.
Where You See Them: Stood up ready to leave Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, but tried to hang around because a miracle might happen. They may also be seen laughing their asses off reading fantards and "haters" go at it on social media. During discussions, expect that they will explain why they are cheering for a certain team, if only to disassociate themselves from the previous two types of fans, but not claim to be a "die-hard" fan.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "Better luck next game!" - for every loss
2. Posts a lengthy analysis of what just happened
3. Reading links to legitimate websites offering analysis
4. Reading the comments section of said links
5. Making bold predictions
Where You See Them: Stood up ready to leave Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, but tried to hang around because a miracle might happen. They may also be seen laughing their asses off reading fantards and "haters" go at it on social media. During discussions, expect that they will explain why they are cheering for a certain team, if only to disassociate themselves from the previous two types of fans, but not claim to be a "die-hard" fan.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. "Better luck next game!" - for every loss
2. Posts a lengthy analysis of what just happened
3. Reading links to legitimate websites offering analysis
4. Reading the comments section of said links
5. Making bold predictions
Die-Hard Fans
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| MSG = Spike Lee/Knicks, win or lose |
This is as loyal as it gets. They love the sport, but they will only cheer for one team. Though they may display traits similar to those of the Fantards, Haters, and the Justifying Fans, they are on a class totally different. They may irrationally cheer for their team, but they are not afraid to criticize it when they lose. They will say hateful things about a rival team. They will explain that they've been cheering for a particular team since Day One. They also will almost not care about any other team. Hence, if their team gets booted out of the Playoffs, they're done watching.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Ng alin? Ah Finals na ba?
Where You See Them: If their team isn't in the current Finals, probably locked up in their room filled with their team memorabilia, hoping they get better in the offseason. If their team is actually in the Finals, they're probably camping out to buy tickets, or have scheduled leaves on each game day while wearing an old-school jersey bearing an old-school star some kids of today probably would not have heard of.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. *Spurs/Heat Die-Hard* - Posting instagram pictures of their George Gervin or Tim Hardaway jerseys
2. First one in, last one out, win or lose.
3. Rabidly hurling expletives against "haters" and anyone against his/her team
4. *Non-Finals team's Die-Hard fan* - minding their own business
Where You See Them: If their team isn't in the current Finals, probably locked up in their room filled with their team memorabilia, hoping they get better in the offseason. If their team is actually in the Finals, they're probably camping out to buy tickets, or have scheduled leaves on each game day while wearing an old-school jersey bearing an old-school star some kids of today probably would not have heard of.
What They Do on Social Media: 1. *Spurs/Heat Die-Hard* - Posting instagram pictures of their George Gervin or Tim Hardaway jerseys
2. First one in, last one out, win or lose.
3. Rabidly hurling expletives against "haters" and anyone against his/her team
4. *Non-Finals team's Die-Hard fan* - minding their own business
Groupies
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| Probably waiting for Tony Parker. Or Chandler Parsons. |
This is a hybrid of some of the earlier types of fans, mostly women. Some have no basketball knowledge, some have a lot, but all probably started following the game/team because of a particular good-looking player. It's not bad, really. They cheer wildly for the team, some even shamelessly asking what happened because they didn't understand what the call was. They will defend their team against "haters" but will stab your neck if you say anything bad against their pogi player.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Nag-dunk sya? Ewan ko, pero nakita mo ba kung gano kapogi si Tony sa floater nya?! Ayiiii....
Where You See Them: Cheering wildly for their favorite player's team. Win or lose, they will passionately proclaim their loyalty to said team. However, if player gets traded, they will most probably stick with him. Best illustrates "manalo, matalo, cute pa rin si ____"
What They Do on Social Media:
1. Putting hearts on pictures of their favorite player
2. Reacting violently to every hard foul on favorite player
3. Throwing their own opinions on heated Fantards vs Haters discussions
Where You See Them: Cheering wildly for their favorite player's team. Win or lose, they will passionately proclaim their loyalty to said team. However, if player gets traded, they will most probably stick with him. Best illustrates "manalo, matalo, cute pa rin si ____"
What They Do on Social Media:
1. Putting hearts on pictures of their favorite player
2. Reacting violently to every hard foul on favorite player
3. Throwing their own opinions on heated Fantards vs Haters discussions
The Betting Zone
| Not a basketball fan, but this is the reaction of someone who bet on a team with a -4.5 after a buzzer beater that cut a seven point lead to four. |
These people put money where their mouths are. They are usually the gambling versions of the last three types of fans. They can't take the bashing, and instead challenges Haters, Fantards, and other Die-Hard Fans to any bet that their team will win. Either you shut up, or take the bet, because they won't sit there taking all your insults quietly.
Typical Reaction to "Did You See Ray Allen's Dunk in Game 1?": Di nga eh, 4th quarter na lang pinanood ko, baka hindi ma-cover ng Spurs yung linya eh.
Where You See Them: Having a heart attack at some corner despite his team leading by 15. After a 20 point win, s/he is smiling and will tell you that the line was +/-15.5.
What They Do on Social Media:
1. Making bold predictions and asking who's willing to bet that s/he's not right
2. Deactivating his/her account after a game, only for you to find out later that they lost some big money.
3. Explaining their happiness or sadness through the parameters of their bet like everybody cares.
Where You See Them: Having a heart attack at some corner despite his team leading by 15. After a 20 point win, s/he is smiling and will tell you that the line was +/-15.5.
What They Do on Social Media:
1. Making bold predictions and asking who's willing to bet that s/he's not right
2. Deactivating his/her account after a game, only for you to find out later that they lost some big money.
3. Explaining their happiness or sadness through the parameters of their bet like everybody cares.
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