Given your experiences with fan behavior that you write about at the
beginning of the book, what was your takeaway from your findings while
researching for the book? Were you surprised, was it what you expected or
was it something else?
I was surprised
to learn how rampant bad fan behavior is, be it fights in a parking lot,
Internet shaming or nasty and offensive taunting. Once I started looking, I
felt like there were examples everywhere.
The digital world certainly amplified incidents caught on video and that
helps. I was used to the inspiration and
entertainment derived from watching sports, not so used to people getting hurt
physically and psychologically.
Tell us about what you felt and experienced while you were in the
midst of some of these examples of fan behavior, such as the University of
Missouri student section at the men's basketball games. You wrote about what
the other fans and people were doing and feeling - now it's your turn to
express those same thoughts about yourself.
I loved my time visiting the student sections.
The energy was infectious and it took me back to my days as a college
student. As I recall, in college, we
played the elitist card and relied on “safety school” as a top taunt. But the students
I got to hang out with for Fanaticus were
so much more creative and multidimensional than I ever was with the use of
props, pranks and costumes. Did you see
Michael Phelps the other night dressed in nothing but a speedo and gold medals
to cheer on the ASU basketball team and distract the opponent? Hilarious. The
way student sections embrace popular culture in smart, unexpected and
attention-grabbing ways is something I marvel at. I was certain I could never
be as irreverent as the Antlers but I did figure I could be as loud as the
Oregon Pit Crew.
Was the subject of the book something that you wanted to write about
for a long time? Have you wanted to write in addition to your work in
broadcasting?
I never thought I would write a book actually. I
am used to telling stories through other people’s voices on TV. After being
harassed by an online mob of angry fans and reflecting on the experience, I
realized the range of fan emotion was ripe for exploration. One headline after
another felt related to the topic and I just knew I was onto something that
needed to be written about sooner rather than later.
While you discuss your exposure to sports briefly in the book (such as
going to games with your father), tell us more about why you became an athlete
and sports fan. What is it about sports in general that makes you
passionate for them?
Sports are connective tissue, the fascia of so
much of our world. It’s so easy to bond
with strangers over favorite teams and star players. Events are unscripted
drama-- a spectacle surrounded by incredible pageantry. You go to a rock
concert which is its own kind of spectacle but you pretty much know how it will
end. Maybe there’s tension as to whether the band plays 2 or 3
encores but that is nothing like the
tension of whether the Warriors can keep the home win streak alive or the
emotion of winning or losing the Super
Bowl.
Do you plan on writing any other books in the future? If so,
what would be the topic(s)? Also, feel free to add anything else here
that you wish to add.
Writing a book is all about having a great idea
that can sustain your curiosity for—literally years. I’m in search of the next great idea and
welcome any suggestions… Justine@fanaticusthebook.com
