Why We Need A-Hole Fans at Games

No one likes them and certainly don't want to sit near them, but no team can survive without them

In hockey, there is usually an enforcer on every team who is responsible for taking up for his team mates by hitting hard with the body and when needed, the fists.

Not everyone likes it, but knowing a team has an enforcer who will gladly take on the role of the a-hole does add a bit of respect to the game at hand. A "don't mess with us and we won't mess with me" sort of feel. 

But just as hockey has enforcers, football has its pass rusher and basketball has its 7ft defender the fans in the stands also need to take up a "this is our family/team" in regards to fellow fans.

A while back, I wrote about my first trip to a Redsox/Yankee game, in Yankee stadium where a friend and I were literally tormented  for wearing Redsox shirts. I probably made the situation worse for myself by running my mouth when the Sox have a 10-3 lead but the Yankee fans were absolutely ruthless yelling obscenities over and over again to the point I was told to sit on my hands by my friend in order to avoid hitting this person.

I can now say without a doubt, that any future Redsox/Yankee games I attend, they will be in Fenway park. It was at this moment that it became clear, the Yankee fans set out and ultimately accomplished a goal, getting the opposing team's fans to regret showing up in their stadium.

This is exactly why every team needs a-hole fans to attend their games.

Hit the title/read more to see why we need more a-hole fans in sports...

A few months ago, Rays pitcher David Price learned the hard way the power of Twitter when he made a comment about the lack of Tampa area fan support at a home game. A game that could have decided the AL East division winner.

Fans and the media jumped all over Price for stating the obvious, but its no secret that athletes thrive on home town support and its impossible for the players to feel confident at home when 25% of the fans showing up are cheering for the opposite team. I firmly believe the Rays would have played better had they had the same support of their fanbase as the Redsox/Yankee fans do.

But how do you get these away-team fans from entering and taking over "your house"?

Well, for one you get the hometown team to buy tickets but you also embrace the idea of "this is our house and we are going to protect it".

You need those guys in the stands who have might have had a little too much to drink yelling a cute little away team couple. He should be shouting to girlfriend, making her feel uncomfortable enough that they are forced to leave.

You should be able to get the home crowd to cheer louder than the group of college guys who drove 9 hours to see a Steelers game. And perhaps get one of your loud mouth friends to rattle the opposing fans to the point where you can have security escort them out because you ticked him off. 

Like it or not, this kind of hazing does induce a sort of team pride mentality in that you are protecting something as important to you as family. You need that a-hole to be your team's enforcer.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule that cross the line such as yelling at children or throwing items of any kind at any fan. There are lines that should not be crossed, but the mental game is where anything goes.

All in all, if you look at the more passionate fan bases, Phillies, Yankees, Redsox, Steelers etc..they all have something called a championship in common.

Is it because of the a-hole fans?

Probably not, but they have a role to play and its needed in every single sports venue in order for that franchise to survive.