Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan

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In 2011, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Oakland Raiders in a preseason matchup that would become a seminal moment for fan violence. During the game, seventy fans were ejected from the stadium, one person was beaten unconscious in the mens room, and two men were shot in the parking lot after the game. This is hardly an isolated incident. At any given game, fans get kicked out and arrested for acting out. In the spring of 2014 alone, soccer headlines screamed of a fan killed in Brazil, a supporter who punched a police horse in England, and three fans shot in Italy. But why do fans resort to such violence What drives them to abandon societal norms and act out in unimaginable ways Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan explores the roots of extreme fanaticism, from organized thuggery to digital hate speech. Justine Gubar divulges outrageous and often shocking incidents, including first-hand accounts from both the transgressors and victims. Gubar reaches back into ancient times, providing a history of fan violence throughout the ages before delving into events of misbehavior, violence, and hatred in the United States and around the world. She revisits several notorious riots and tragedies throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America in order to understand mayhem on a global scale. In addition, Gubar investigates the sports leagues and the security and beverage industries so as to explain the roots of fan misbehavior and to dispel common myths that are often invoked to understand the madness. Featuring original interviews with European football hooligans, rioting college students, stadium security experts, and many others, Fanaticus provides a rare window into what drives human behavior. Together, these voices create the fullest picture of modern fan violence ever written.

Reviews

ESPN investigative reporter and producer Gubar delivers a well-researched and shocking look at 'extreme fanaticism' throughout sports history, exploring what leads 'seemingly unremarkable people to abandon societal norms and act out in unimaginable ways.' Gubar believes that 'its impossible to know if fan violence is getting better or worse;' and argues that the 'current model for celebratory riots, during which Americans riot when their team wins,' is far more dominant than the older international model where soccer fans rioted after their teams lost. She lists several examples of such celebratory mayhem, such as the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan by Los Angeles Dodgers fans in 2011. She looks at the influence of easily available alcohol at sporting events, the increase of negativity displayed through social media, and even the role that fantasy leagues bring in adding 'a dangerous narcissistic tendency' to fan identification and behavior . . . The strength of the book lies in her refusal to sugarcoat her . . . conclusion that 'bad behavior is part of human nature' and that we will just have to live with 'the enduring nature of violent fans.' * Publishers Weekly *
In Fanaticus, Gubar (a producer for ESPN) provides a systematic examination of one of the most chaotic elements of sportany level of sportthe fans! She looks at the history and culture of fandom and provides current examples that show how fan behavior can both reflect and influence contemporary culture. This book will sadden, shock, or even cause fear in some readersan experience they will share with athletes, analysts, reports, and referees who have encountered obsessive fans. Is this book a sad testament on contemporary culture Perhaps. Is it a call for understanding fanatical fan behavior so that something positive can be done about it Absolutely. The most important chapter may be The Voice of the Fan, which explores how social media impact fans' expression of their obsessions. In the introduction, Gubar sets the scene, explaining why she wrote the book and how she went about it: Printed on the flip side of my business card is our corporate mission: To serve sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere. But heres the paradox: While we exalt the passion of sports fans, we must also face the dangerous and dark side of their behavior. Indeed. A fascinating and important read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *
What drives 'normal' people to loot, fight and even kill in the name of their favorite team ESPN producer Justine Gubar spent years trying to find out, interviewing experts and researching some of the sports world's deadliest protests and celebrations. Her conclusion: it's a potent mix of alcohol (which flows freely at stadiums), adrenaline (after watching violent combat), perceived anonymity (it's easy to blend into a crowd wearing the same team jerseys) and psychology (studies suggest fans who commit riotous acts are more likely to have rooted their identities in their sports teams). The simplest trigger, however, might be loyalty. After all, the term fan derives from the Latin fanaticus, denoting deep religious devotion. * Time *
In her new book, Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan, Justine Gubar, an ESPN Outside the Lines producer, examines unruly fan behavior worldwide. She questions whether the Internet and rising ticket prices have created fan 'entitlement' where violence toward opposing teams, players, media, referees and fellow fans flourishes. * Seattle Times *
The trolls came out in full force to attack Justine Gubar. She was less than a prostitute, they told her. They published her home phone number on the internet. They skewered her physical appearance. All this from the Ohio State fan base because she was reporting on the scandal that eventually led to the resignation of the schools head football coach Jim Tressel. Gubar, an Emmy-award winning investigative journalist at ESPN, used this experience as the starting point in her recently released book Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness In the Modern Sports Fan. The book is a deeply reported, fast-paced read delving into the psychology, sociology, history and future of sports fans behavior. It has the outrageous fan anecdotes you know and plenty of others that you probably cant believe actually exist. There is also the cringe-worthy, awkward interaction when Gubar knocked on the door of one of the Ohio State fans who had sent abuse her way. If youve ever attended a sporting event be it a youth game or something in the pro ranks Fanaticus will tell you more about your experience. * Forbes *
Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan: by Justine Gubar. Fans are nuts. Plain and simple. And Gubar takes us on an incredible ride of what fans will do for the teams and athletes they love. Okay, they also will do things because they have been drinking way too much at a game or because they hate the other team or whatever. Bottom line read this book. Youll sit there gasping as many times as I did because you just cant believe the stupidity of some people. * GetMoreSports.com *
In Fanaticus, Justine Gubar takes the reader on an unforgettable exploration of the least understood, least appreciated andoccasionallyleast defensible facet of our sports-soaked culture: the fans. Gubar skillfully peels back layer after layer of our fandomthe good, the bad and the ugly, from Pope John Paul II to beer brawls to burning couches and much worseto explain why we care so much, and what happens when we do. Along the way, Gubar expels myths, digs up surprising truths, and explains a lot about human nature itself. The ride is equal parts fun and frightening, but always fascinating. After Fanaticus, you will never be able to look at your games, and the people who love them, the same way. -- John U. Bacon, bestselling author of Fourth and Long: The Fight for the Soul of College Football
Fanaticus is a riveting, well-researched look at one of the most interesting topics in sports today: the behaviorand misbehaviorof the modern sports fan. In her new book, Justine Gubarexpertly leads usto an important national conversation about fans in the 21st century. Her timing is perfect. As sportsbecome an even bigger part of our culture,the story of obsessed sports fans grows in importance by the day. -- Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist, ABC News and CNN commentator, author of Best Seat in the House
Fanaticus explores a place too-often ignored in sports reportingthe seamy world of miscreant fans. Justine Gubars powers of observation, combined with her reporting skills, make her the perfect tour guide. -- Tim Keown, ESPN The Magazine, co-author of three New York Times bestselling books
Justine Gubar's fearless brand of investigative journalism at ESPN has placed her in the crosshairs of many angry mobs who didn't want to know the truth about their favorite teams and players. That experience in the belly of the fan beast makes her the ideal author for this kind of bookshe's been there and withstood that, and emerged with a great understanding of what makes the American sports fan tick. From her startling and disturbing first-hand experiences to an overview of fan behavior, she captures the essence of a fascinating societal niche in Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan. For anyone who has ever gone to a game and wondered why the person next to them is behaving like a lunatic, this book helps provide the answer. -- Pat Forde, national columnist for Yahoo Sports
Combining the curiosity of a hard-charging investigator with the heart of a superb storyteller, Justine Gubar has written a fantastic book about fandom that will surprise and delight you. By tracing the roots of fans extreme behavior, from the mobs at the Roman Coliseum to the mobs now bellowing on social media platforms, Fanaticus will change how you view the way we cheer, boo, root and fight over our belovedteams. I love this book. -- Don Van Natta Jr., ESPN investigative reporter, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of New York Times bestseller First Off the Tee and USGA Book Award winner Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Sports is the great tent where society gathersits where we cheer, its where we hope, its where we find common ground, and unfortunately, its also where some choose to get angry or even violent. Justine Gubar does a remarkable job unmasking the breadth and depth of sports fanaticism, and explaining how devotion can turn into obsession, and even into danger. Fascinating readplus, how do you not love a book which has a first chapter called And Then We Burn a Couch -- Rachel Nichols, ESPN anchor and reporter
Compelling. Powerful. Definitive. A must-read for anyone seeking a broader understanding of the nucleus of sports culturethe fanagainst the larger backdrop of society. Thoroughly researched through a wide lens, this enlightening treatise starts strong and finishes strong...with so much thought-provoking material in between. -- Jarrett Bell, NFL columnist, USA TODAY Sports
WithFanaticus, Justine Gubaroffers a fascinating glimpse into the psyche and history of sports lunatic fringefrom the fans who placed curses on rival chariot racers at Circus Maximus to the Ohio State faithful who practically stalked Gubar for investigating their beloved Buckeyes. Part personal exploration and part case study, Fanaticus transports readersdeep intothe world of sports fandom. -- Mark Fainaru-Wada, ESPN investigative reporter and co-author of the New York Times bestselling book League of Denial
This is an important and engaging work. In Fanaticus,Justine Gubar takes us inside the phenomenon of emotionally overheated fan misbehavior. Its a trip you will not forget. -- Bob Ley, ESPN anchor
The life of a sports fan is an evolving one. One that has roots in overzealous passion.

Author Bio

Justine Gubar is a four-time Emmy award-winning investigative journalist. For almost two decades she has worked as a television producer for ESPN, including for the programs Outside the Lines and SportsCenter. Gubar has covered major sporting events throughout her career, such as NBA, MLB, and NFL playoffs, the Final Four, and the Olympics.