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Fandemonium in Sports

 

               Fandemonium has been deemed by many as a simple area of discussion when you’re talking about sports.  Most would say that sports is nothing more than a mere distraction that allows them to escape reality and means near to nothing when talking about the real world.  While it is a distraction and escape, it is simply so much more.  Fandemonium creates a great amount of emotion for many people and the sports, as well as the teams and players that make it all up, mean something different from person to person.  Every sports fan that is firmly submerged in fandemonium, can identify with some aspect of a team, player, or the city they are from.

               There are different aspects of a particular team that can capture the imagination of a sports fan.  The hard working player that doesn’t take any plays or games off.  The wiley old veteran that just wants one more shot at championship immortality.  Even the young player that wants to make his family proud and show the world he’s ready for the big time.  Every player brings something unique to the table that anybody could connect with.  It’s almost as if those players are a representation of yourself.  The same thing goes for a team, creating the feeling that you’re truly apart of that particular team.  Every play that is positive, negative, a win, or a loss is a reflection of yourself.

               In 2005, New Orleans suffered from one of the worst natural disasters in history, Hurricane Katrina.  As the New Orleans Saints stadium, the Louisiana Superdome, suffered excessive damage from the ever famous hurricane, the Saints were ultimately not able to play there for the entire 2005 season.  New Orleans and its community would begin to heal and the Saints with it and together, it would culminate in possibly the most special night in NFL history.  On a magical night in New Orleans, September 25, 2006, its fans saw the reopening of the Louisiana Superdome and its team trounce the visiting Atlanta Falcons, 23-3.  New Orleans watched as its people rally around a football team to help bring back the light to a once shimmering city.  The team needed the city and the city its team, to help each bring back the hope that was dashed by Hurricane Katrina.

               Fandemonium, again, can be more than just a team or city.  The players that make up these special teams mean just as much to the city as the fans and the teams do.  Dubbed “The Decision” in 2010, LeBron James, an Ohio native, decided to leave his stomping grounds and the Cleveland Cavilers by so famously uttering the simple words, “I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.”  This would not only change the NBA world forever, but the city of Cleveland and its fans.  That night, countless videos and reports of Cleveland fans burning and detroying their LeBron James jerseys and memorabilia were scene, as the anger and resentment felt towards one player was never seen to have burned so deep in the hearts of the Cleveland fans everywhere.  The prodigal son of Akron, Ohio, was seen to have spurned his own home state and leave for the glitz and glamor of Miami, Florida.  To this day, most Cleveland fans still have not let it go and will probably never forget about “The Decision”.

               The feel as though you’re a part of the team is truly an extraordinary feeling as well, whether you’re watching the game at home, in the stadium, or where ever it may be, there’s no doubt it’s one of the most amazing feelings in the world.  Here in Columbus at Ohio Stadium where the Ohio State Buckeye football team plays, it holds an astounding 102,000 people and counting.  Whether it be during a cool, fall night or a crisp, sunny afternoon day, it feels as though a million people are cheering on their Buckeyes.  That many people condensed into one place, over 102,000 voices become one.  It is truly an experience that everyone should be apart of at least once in their life time. 

               Fandemonium also plays on personal emotion. Craig Morton, an aging quarterback with the Denver Broncos in 1977, was hospitalized with a 104 degree temperature and the flu. The game he was to be missing because of this was the 1977 AFC Championship game against their dreaded arch rivals, the Oakland Raiders.

On a snowy winter day, with below freezing temperatures, 77,000 screaming Bronco fans were petrified at the thought of facing their enemies without the quarterback that got them to this game. Fans were anticipating a loss, and being once again turned away from their collective Super Bowl dreams. When the Oakland Raiders ran onto the field the booing erupted like a volcano, yet when the Broncos came out right after them, all hell broke loose. Pandemonium and religious like emotion poured from the stands in an ungodly unison.  It was if Jesus had come to Mile High stadium, for in the group Bronco players running out onto the field, was Craig Morton!

Morton had left the hospital to play in the game he described the most meaningful game of his career. With pain, anguish and the flu, Morton led the Broncos to a 27-24 defeat of the Raiders. Lightning like emotion hit the stadium and the crowd went wild, and Bronco coach Red Miller said, "This is Broncomania".  The Denver Bronco franchise and Denver as a fanatical sports town was truly born on this day.

Fandemonium is a lot more than simply a distraction, it is a part of life.  To many people around the world it is a life style and their life would be nearly meaningless without sports in it.  Their favorite team or player is a representation of who they are.  The passion exuded from sports fans is unmatched in the world and it truly shows for each and every sport. Fandemonium is strong in this country and around the world and the passion and excitement shown by fans will only grow as time goes on.