Keep Pounding: The Founding of New Football Fans
Perrin’s speculations on political involvement and individuality assume a Goffman-style analysis of identity. He writes, “people observe a complicated world of schemas…, groups, and behaviors, and try to match their own behaviors to the kind of person they believe they are or want to be (77). He seems to be arguing that we perform different political actions for the sake of self-presentation because in reality, we should all know that our opinions and actions rarely matter in the grand scheme of American politics.
The average person tends to participate “not just as an individual act but [as] a statement about what kind of person –and what kind of citizen — she is” (77). This occurs in what we consider the most important matters (democracy) all the way down to what many would consider trivial (sports). Last year marked an important milestone in North Carolina history: the Carolina Panthers went to their second super bowl after an undefeated regular season.
All of the sudden, Panthers fans were everywhere. As someone who frequents Charlotte, the excited involvement through apparel, tailgating, and viewing events was astounding. This became a fun group for new fans with an accompanying sense of belonging. Individuals were able to show that they are smart, loyal, and local winners by joining this fandom. However, the undefeated season did not just convert Panthers fans, it also converted other football fans into full-blown curmudgeons. Those who often consider themselves “real” football fans of a non-Carolina team were in outspoken disbelief of the bandwagon Panthers fans. Nonetheless, this is still a performance for these flustered fans. They saw themselves as the true fans who were cheated out of a Superbowl spot by newly taunting Panthers fans. They wanted to make sure everyone knew that all of the new Carolina fans were fakes. Either way, choosing a sports team is often another way of presenting the kind of individual we want to be viewed as–whether that is a new winner or a loyal loser.
