The norms of sports fandom

Abstract

I discuss the internal norms that govern sports fan behavior. I claim that these norms are grounded by a broad community of fans, at minimum fans of the league or sport generally, and that the norms are best understood as requiring appropriate emotional investment in a particular team and its performance. I discuss several of the explanatory benefits of this proposal. I contrast my proposal with a competing account of sports fandom that analogizes sports fandom to romantic love. I then respond to challenges that might be raised to this proposal from fictionalists. Finally, I present and respond to an objection to the account that alleges it entails the problematic result that a fan’s enjoyment in their own team’s success is dependent upon the suffering of other fans.