Sports Fandom

I guess I am involved in quite a few fandoms, but the most recent and largest fandoms in which I participate are the football/soccer and tennis fandoms.  And coming from videogame fandom, these fandoms are quite large and much more accepted.  After all, this stuff gets in the general media and not in select publications.

It is unfortunate to see the self-centered/selfish/self-glorifying views so openly expressed in these fandoms.  Of course, in Suikoden fandom people who ask "stupid" questions are sometimes insulted but the whole "you're from this country so you aren't as worthy" or "you like this person so obviously you have no worth".  And then there is the question about "team loyalty" versus "player loyalty".  I am much more "player loyal" because I started off with tennis, in which you don't really root for countries but rather for people.  It is a liberated enough sport that I can root for any player, no matter which place he or she is from or which nationality he or she claims.  Of course there is "nationalistic" coverage (or biased coverage of Americans), but sometimes it makes sense.  Americans do like seeing themselves in sport, and many American tennis fans support American players.  It does not mean gushing of American players without equal/deserved gushing over their opponents.

However, in football/soccer, stuff is very interesting.  Especially with national teams, because these teams represent the country, of course.  Because people's own self-worth depend on these teams...  Seriously it is scary.  Germany - Poland, for example, is very very symbolic.  And of course with regionalisms, like Eastern vs. Western Europe, England/France/Germany-like countries vs. Spain/Portugal/Italy-like countries.  England vs. USA, etc.  It's so bad that someone who thinks "Oh that goal for Italy should have been disallowed" is obviously a biased fan of the other nation, because obviously a fan of Italy cannot desire fair play/correct judgements.  I want to rant more, but it's a problem that has many branches and tangents.  I'll just say sometimes that despite my obsession with stuff, I sometimes want to avoid these forums because I hate reading comments or more "reactions" to comments like these.

And for what is actually happening right now, Rafa just won a grass tournament by beating Novak, Richie is playing again, Andy Murray released a book (OMG!), Turkey beat the Czech Republic in a crazy match, and EURO 2008 has been a lot of fun.  I am happy for all of the group winners so far - they have all been playing awesome stuff.  I hope they keep playing awesome attacking soccer.  (Also, USA over Barbados 8-0 - should have been like 20-0 or something and seriously where was Mo Edu?)