Before today, the question of whether a female sports fandom can be “too much” has never crossed my mind.
That was until a good buddy of mine (and former Fantasy Football writer for GG) Dustyn Richardson brought to my attention an article written by Emily over at Total MLS wrote in regards to women being accepted as die-hards because of the comments made by ExtraTime Radio podcast on MLSsoccer.com host, Simon Borg.
During the podcast, Borg stated
“It’s fine if you’re a female and you want to be a super-fan. Clearly go for it, that’s your choice. But there is something to be said for how appealing that might be to the other sex. Having a woman that’s such a fan, like painting your face, tuning in to every podcast. I don’t know how many males would be into that…. It’s great that in Kansas City there are a lot of women in the stands, it’s great, but for the guy who wants maybe a serious relationship… If you are following just casually, but if you’re such a die-hard, I don’t know, it comes a point that it is a bit of a turn-off.”
I have never heard anything remotely similar to this opinion in my sports-writing career. To imply that a female should tone-down her fandom in order to score a serious relationship frankly puzzled me. Since when is being a fan a bad thing? For any gender?
More after the jump….
It puzzled me so much that I took my question to Twitter and polled whoever was listening “Guys: Is it considered a turn-off if a female is “too much” of a sports fan?”
In the quick poll on Twitter, there was not one male that was against a die-hard fan…
Nope I knew Steph (gf) was the 1 when she smacked me in the back of the head and cussed me out when Bama put a beat-down on the gators – @BoPhilpot
It’s a turn off if she’s not! –@mjhart
I’m fine with a woman knowing more than me. Just as long as she actually DOES know more. Not just acting like it. I’d like it to be something we’d have in common. Say, if I suggested going to a Gopher game, she wouldn’t roll her eyes or anythin –@ShaneofMN
My wife is not a sports fan and I get “the look” when I want to spend 12 hours on Sunday watching Fball. I wish she was a fan. –@chris21910
That answer is, its never a turn off. –@TheProgramBTR
It’s a turnoff if she doesn’t wake up and watch baseball. –@SRJESSEE48
I think it can be but that’s more a compatibility thing than a turn off ya know? –@InTheBleachers
That’s like asking if too much sex is too much, or too many explosions in a movie is too much, or too much pizza! NO SUCH THING –@thescary1
It’s cool to say “I’m watching the game” and not get eye-rolled at…but my gf likes NASCAR. Uh… –@JoeCNC
A girl that legit knows what she’s talking about, likes sports on her own, & can actually hang with me in a debate: major turn on. –@MikeAsti11
Even some ladies chimed in….
If so…their loss! Lol –@ericabennett
If they do~tell ’em to f@ck off -@flasandollar
These were the only guys who responded with some sort of hesitation to female sports fans. Some with very valid reasons.
Not any face painting, just no over the top crazy body painting like going to a Chiefs game entirely red or something. I’m ok with those things just not in excess. I’d draw the line if my wife named our cat Josh Freeman –@HBJaguar
I’d draw the line if she doesn’t help with the facepainting, if she tells me to do it myself then we have problems! –@thescary1
Absolutely draw the line at face painting. –@bsanders37
Just a crazy masshole accent and being a hard-o talkin’ Timmy Thomas gets to be too much (referring to Boston female fans) –@KyleMacNaught
These two had a couple interesting points between them:
@AskAnNFLAgent said to @GuysGirl not a turn off if she’s a big sports fan. Once she starts punching me in arm or thinks she knows more than me…. diff story 🙂
But @4LeafCloverGirl had good response to @AskAnNFLAgent … but what if we DO know more? 😉 … don’t underestimate me just because I am a “girl” …
Closing Thoughts
Based off the comments received above, it should come as no surprise Simon Borg faced a little bit of a backlash and was subsequently suspended following his comments. While I don’t agree at all with Borg’s opinion, I am some-what curious to know as to why he feels this way to begin with.
Some of the greatest (Scobee’s 59-yarder to beat the Colts) and saddest moments of my life (Bottom of the 11th ALCS in 2004 or the last day of the Sox 2011 season) have come at the hands of sports. This might make me a diehard, but it’s the same passions millions of other males feel as well. I just happen to have a vagina and boobs.
In all seriousness and a practical way of thinking, there are all kinds of fans. The know-it-all’s, the pretend to know-it-all, the drunken idiot who always wants to fight away fans, some that are a little too passionate to fans that just like the tailgating atmosphere that sports brings.
These types of fans exist in both males and females. And should be common-sense.
I’ve met die-hard females who love rocking a pink jersey to games (even though I never would), I’ve met guys who show up to games in what could pass as club attire. Everyone’s different.
But no one, male or female should ever have to tone down a passion in order to score a serious relationship. That’s what we call desperate, Mr. Borg.
Unless it’s March and you’re one of those who are decked out head to toe in NFL gear while chasing around your dog who’s named Lombardi. That…….might be pushing it.
Do you think a woman can ever be classified as “too passionate” about her favorite sports teams to where it turns a guy off? Or is that just a ridiculous statement?
Let us know in the comments….
