We have all seen them at some time in our life. Maybe it was in person, or on television, but we have all seen them: the super fans. Loud with their face painted, hair colored, with the adrenaline flowing and screaming non-stop for the whole game. You may wonder where these people come from. George Dohrmann's new book, "Superfans," addresses the subject of what appears to be crazy people rooting for their team. Dohrmann is a Pulitzer Prize author who has written for various magazines and wrote the book, "Play Their Hearts Out."
Dohrmann writes a book that does not encompass all there is in sports fanatics, but rather focuses on a few interesting stories. NASCAR isn't mentioned at all in the book and baseball is missing the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox and my beloved Cardinals, but he does tell a good story about a dancing banana in Milwaukee. He has a chapter on female fans but didn't speak to the hardcore female fanatics.
Dohrmann believes hardcore sports fans benefit from their behavior in the long run. Using studies done by psychologists, he shows how people from every ethnic group, gender and socioeconomic status come together to celebrate their team. Some do it for creativity, some do it for attention, and some are obsessed, but they can all relate and become something as a group.
A few topics covered in the book are about how a determined man brought professional soccer to Oregon, seeing how clergy change the time of church services so the congregation will be home in time for the big game, and learning how the giant head you see at collegiate games became so popular. There is even a special club for Minnesota Viking fans. The list goes on and the stories are very entertaining.
If you enjoy sports, this is a must read. If you like human behavior this is a must read, as well. If you want to be entertained, read this book.
Brian Bray is an IT trainer at Missouri River Regional Library.