George Dohrmann's Superfans: Into the Heart of Obsessive Sports Fandom PDF

There are enthusiasts, after which there are lovers. during this wondrously immersive examine American activities fandom, George Dohrmann travels the rustic to determine what distinguishes a normal, daily fanatic from that exact breed of supporter often called the superfan. In Minnesota, Dohrmann meets newly minted generals of the Viking international Order, a Minnesota Vikings affinity workforce prepared alongside army traces. In Oregon, he stocks a number of beers with a made up our minds football fan who amassed—almost singlehandedly—a four-thousand-strong cheering part for the fledgling Portland Timbers. In Illinois, he talks with the oldsters of a five-year-old boy whose extreme hatred of Tom Brady went viral on YouTube. via those and different intimate profiles, Dohrmann indicates us the human faces in the back of the coloured face paint, the genuine humans contained in the bushy mascot costumes who prowl the stands and parking plenty at stadiums from coast to coast.
                   
as well as the lovers themselves, Dohrmann additionally talks with the specialists who research them. He makes use of the most recent pondering in activities psychology—some of it realized in the course of a lively around of miniature golfing with a bunch of professors on the annual activities Psychology Forum—to get to the bottom of the solutions to such burning questions as: How does fandom start? What are its results on lifestyle? And while does it move too far?

For somebody who’s ever body-painted their torso with the group shades in their alma mater sooner than keeping off to a activities bar—or even simply screamed at their tv throughout the ultimate minute of an NBA Finals online game, Superfans deals an pleasing and insightful exploration of the various methods humans locate which means in anything greater than themselves.

PRAISE FOR GEORGE DOHRMANN’S PLAY THEIR HEARTS OUT
Winner of the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sportswriting
Winner of the Award for Excellence within the insurance of sweet sixteen Sports

“A journey de strength of reporting, jam-packed with deft storytelling and shiny personality studies.”—The Washington Post

“Often heartbreaking, continuously riveting.”—The long island instances e-book Review

“One of the best activities books of all time.”—Harper’s Magazine

“Amazing stuff . . . the Friday evening Lights of stripling basketball.”—Leigh Montville, writer of Sting Like a Bee

“A landmark fulfillment in basketball journalism.”—Kirkus experiences (starred review)

“Tremendous.”—The simple Dealer

“Indispensable.”—The Wall highway Journal