Super FC Barcelona Soccer Fan Kobe Bryant on the Cover of
ESPN The Magazine’s Annual Fan Issue
Plus: Results from The Magazine’s FanNation Poll & The Best Seat in Pro Sports
It only makes sense that athletes are included among the world’s biggest sports fans. In the February 9, 2009 issue of ESPN The Magazine, meet five jocks with passion beyond their own sports. Did you know Kobe Bryant has mad love for FC Barcelona? On his FC Barcelona memorabilia: “I have a great jersey collection; Lionel Messi threw his to me in the stands at the Olympics. I also have signed soccer balls from Pele for my kids and a picture with Diego Maradona.” Minnesota Vikings’ Jared Allen is a huge Brock Lesnar/MMA fan, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth is a Green Bay “Cheesehead” and Olympic Swimmer Natalie Coughlin is a proud part of Raider Nation. Also a football fanatic is White Sox Catcher A.J. Pierzynski who, along with Johnny Damon, dreams of playing Gator football after retiring. Pierzynski: We’d probably be the guys who get killed on special teams. But it would be worth it to run out there one time.”
The Fan Issue also features the results of The Mag’s Annual Sports FanNation Poll. This time around, the fans chime in on race, religion, officiating, MMA, bad behavior at the stadium and a whole lot more. Plus: In a short essay, Senior Writer Peter Keating reflects on the results of our questions related to the economy. Some of the responses from fans who weighed in:
- 94% do not regret how much money they’ve sunk into sports over the past year
- 55% agree that it wouldn’t make a difference if they found out their favorite pro athlete was gay
- At a college or pro sporting event, 74% say they have snuck into a better seat, 31% have caught a ball or puck, 24% have threatened injury to someone, and 7% have been thrown out of a game.
And in these hard times, every dollar counts. So The Magazine has come up with ultimate guide to being a fan on the cheap. This includes: the best seat in sports, the best tailgate scene, the best way to test—and receive—the newest video games, and the best new arrival in ballpark food: the $1 menu. Of the 4.7 million or so seats in big league sports arenas, The Mag narrowed down the ultimate seat to New Orleans Arena, Section 104, Row 20, Seat 1. With its reasonable price, perfect view of the court and short distance to food and restrooms this seat is considered prime real estate!
Check out accompanying video for ESPN The Magazine’s Fan Issue features online at www.espnthemag.com
ADDITIONAL FEATURES IN THE FAN ISSUE:
SUPER. FREAKY. WACKY. CREEPY? Diehards. Loyalists. Crazies. Call’em what you want, but some fans – starting with Steelers and Cardinals lovers – are just plain nuts. Tim Struby & Bruce Feldman report.
BIRD SONG. Fans of 30 NFL teams have no one to root for on Super Sunday. Or do they? Eddie Matz and Lane Strauss report.
“IT WOULD BE LIKE STOMPING ON OUR HEARTS.” Cavs fans haven’t suffered many losses this season. But that hasn’t stopped them from thinking about losing the big one in 2010. Chris Broussard reports.
“FORGET DUKE-UNC, THE REAL RIVALRY IS AUSTIN PEAY-MURRAY STATE.” While big-name rivalries dominate the airwaves, there’s major heat emanating from lesser-known feuds. As told to Morty Ain and Molly Knight.
ASK A FOURTH GRADER. Kentucky vs. Louisville rages with bitterness. The 10-year-olds at Heritage Elementary School in Waddy, Ky., know why. Neil Janowitz reports.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF HECKLING. How to be a loud, obnoxious, annoying and disruptive fan in 10 easy steps. Eddie Matz reports.
WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT. In the world of sports-video collecting, the socks are high, the shorts are short and Big Brother is watching. Even if he isn’t. Lane Strauss reports.
FAN ARMY GOES TO WORK. The Magazine hooked up a platoon of everyday people with every day jobs in sports. Their verdicts? It ain’t as easy as it looks. As told to Elena Bergeron.
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