Partly

It came to me again yesterday that football could really be considered my first fandom. To be specific, I suppose I’d have to say that Packer Football is my first fandom, but I love football as a whole and will watch games and cheer for teams when my beloved Packers aren’t involved at all, so I think I can go with the generic “Football Fandom”.

Fans are fans. I’m always perplexed when one set of fans belittles another. I’ve heard people standing around in Packer jerseys and wearing cheeseheads talk disparagingly about fans who dress up for Star Wars or LOTR. But then again I’ve been at SciFi cons where the whole point of a panel was to diss the “red-neck sports fans” and talk about how much cooler us “geeks” are.

It’s something I notice, I suppose, because I live in two worlds and love both of them. I fit equally well into each group. It’s not an act, either. I love passion and fans are passionate. I find so much more joy in cheering and celebrating than I do in pointing and ridiculing.

Besides I love a good party and the Super Bowl is always good for a good party. Granted it’s not a three-day stay in a hotel surrounded by hundreds of like-minded fans, but it doesn’t require travelling or paying an admission fee either. So it works out.

In reality, football fandom has really taught me a great deal. I’ve learned to deal with prima donnas whose celebrity status threatens my enjoyment of the game (see icon). I’ve learned to deal with unexpected plot developments that I didn’t like (ie any game we lost, especially the two losses to Minnesota this year!). I’ve learned how to stay friends with those who have different views about the sport (what do you mean, you’re a Dallas fan?). It was the first place that I learned about creating fanfic (just wait until next year – we’ll go all the way!) I’ve learned how not to let other people’s rants ruin my squee. I've learned that just because you rant about something doesn't mean you don't love it. I’ve learned how to balance my desires for victory against the fact that I have no control over anything that goes on in the field. I’ve learned to enjoy other fans joy and understand other fans heartbreak.

Would I have liked it better if the Pack was bringing the Lombardi Trophy back home? Damn straight. But I think the most important thing being a sports fan has taught me is how to enjoy something I love even when it doesn’t turn out the way I want it to.

Besides, there’s always next year.