Download e-book for kindle: Superfans: Into the Heart of Obsessive Sports Fandom by George Dohrmann

There are enthusiasts, after which there are enthusiasts. during this wondrously immersive examine American activities fandom, George Dohrmann travels the rustic to determine what distinguishes a normal, daily fanatic from that distinctive breed of supporter often called the superfan. In Minnesota, Dohrmann meets newly minted generals of the Viking international Order, a Minnesota Vikings affinity team equipped alongside army strains. In Oregon, he stocks a couple 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 fogeys 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 fanatics themselves, Dohrmann additionally talks with the specialists who examine them. He makes use of the newest pondering in activities psychology—some of it discovered 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 way of life? And whilst does it cross too far?

For a person who’s ever body-painted their torso with the staff shades in their alma mater sooner than fending off to a activities bar—or even simply screamed at their tv throughout the ultimate minute of an NBA Finals video game, Superfans bargains an enjoyable and insightful exploration of the various methods humans locate that 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 assurance of juvenile Sports

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

“Often heartbreaking, consistently riveting.”—The big apple occasions ebook Review

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

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

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

“Tremendous.”—The undeniable Dealer

“Indispensable.”—The Wall highway Journal