In 2011, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Oakland Raiders in a preseason matchup that would become a seminal moment for fan violence. During the game, seventy fans were ejected from the stadium, one person was beaten unconscious in the men's room, and two men were shot in the parking lot after the game. This is hardly an isolated incident. At any given game, fans get kicked out and arrested for acting out. In the spring of 2014 alone, soccer headlines screamed of a fan killed in Brazil, a supporter who punched a police horse in England, and three fans shot in Italy. But why do fans resort to such violence? What drives them to abandon societal norms and act out in unimaginable ways?
Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan explores the roots of extreme fanaticism, from organized thuggery to digital hate speech. Justine Gubar divulges outrageous and often shocking incidents, including first-hand accounts from both the transgressors and victims. Gubar reaches back into ancient times, providing a history of fan violence throughout the ages before delving into events of misbehavior, violence, and hatred in the United States and around the world. She revisits several notorious riots and tragedies throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America in order to understand mayhem on a global scale. In addition, Gubar investigates the sports leagues and the security and beverage industries so as to explain the roots of fan misbehavior and to dispel common myths that are often invoked to understand the madness.
Featuring original interviews with European football hooligans, rioting college students, stadium security experts, and many others, Fanaticus provides a rare window into what drives human behavior. Together, these voices create the fullest picture of modern fan violence ever written.
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ESPN investigative reporter and producer Gubar delivers a well-researched and shocking look at 'extreme fanaticism' throughout sports history, exploring what leads 'seemingly unremarkable people to abandon societal norms and act out in unimaginable ways.' Gubar believes that 'it's impossible to know if fan violence is getting better or worse;' and argues that the 'current model for celebratory riots, during which Americans riot when their team wins,' is far more dominant than the older international model where soccer fans rioted after their teams lost. She lists several examples of such celebratory mayhem, such as the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan by Los Angeles Dodgers fans in 2011. She looks at the influence of easily available alcohol at sporting events, the increase of negativity displayed through social media, and even the role that fantasy leagues bring in adding 'a dangerous narcissistic tendency' to fan identification and behavior . . . The strength of the book lies in her refusal to sugarcoat her . . . conclusion that 'bad behavior is part of human nature' and that we will just have to live with 'the enduring nature of violent fans.' * Publishers Weekly * In Fanaticus, Gubar (a producer for ESPN) provides a systematic examination of one of the most chaotic elements of sport-any level of sport-the fans! She looks at the history and culture of fandom and provides current examples that show how fan behavior can both reflect and influence contemporary culture. This book will sadden, shock, or even cause fear in some readers-an experience they will share with athletes, analysts, reports, and referees who have encountered obsessive fans. Is this book a sad testament on contemporary culture? Perhaps. Is it a call for understanding fanatical fan behavior so that something positive can be done about it? Absolutely. The most important chapter may be 'The Voice of the Fan,' which explores how social media impact fans' expression of their obsessions. In the introduction, Gubar sets the scene, explaining why she wrote the book and how she went about it: 'Printed on the flip side of my business card is our corporate mission: To serve sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere. But here's the paradox: While we exalt the passion of sports fans, we must also face the dangerous and dark side of their behavior.' Indeed. A fascinating and important read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. * CHOICE * This history of the fanaticism of sports fans is easy to read and disturbing. Gubar, a producer for ESPN and an award-winning investigative journalist, wrote the book after Ohio State University fans, angry with her role in exposing rule violations by members of the football team, harassed her. A sports fan herself, Gubar understood the intensity of emotion that sports evokes but was intrigued by the shift from cheering to violence. In the book she traces violent fan behavior from supporters of ancient Roman charioteers through European soccer hooligans to today's couch-burning US fans. The list of bibliographic references is long and cites leading scholars in sports history, sports sociology, and sports management. Most of the references within the text, however, are to interviews with those scholars, which in itself is interesting. Gubar demonstrates that sports fans throughout time and across geography have been incredibly badly behaved. This is a troubling history of fan violence, which has resulted in numerous deaths and unimaginable financial costs. Although Gubar offers some explanatory theories (fans care too much; alcohol fuels irrational behavior), she contends that sports itself seems to support the violence. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; students in two-year programs; professionals; general readers. * CHOICE * What drives 'normal' people to loot, fight and even kill in the name of their favorite team? ESPN producer Justine Gubar spent years trying to find out, interviewing experts and researching some of the sports world's deadliest protests and celebrations. Her conclusion: it's a potent mix of alcohol (which flows freely at stadiums), adrenaline (after watching violent combat), perceived anonymity (it's easy to blend into a crowd wearing the same team jerseys) and psychology (studies suggest fans who commit riotous acts are more likely to have rooted their identities in their sports teams). The simplest trigger, however, might be loyalty. After all, the term fan derives from the Latin fanaticus, denoting deep religious devotion. * Time * In her new book, Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan, Justine Gubar, an ESPN Outside the Lines producer, examines unruly fan behavior worldwide. She questions whether the Internet and rising ticket prices have created fan 'entitlement' where violence - toward opposing teams, players, media, referees and fellow fans - flourishes. * Seattle Times * The trolls came out in full force to attack Justine Gubar. She was less than a prostitute, they told her. They published her home phone number on the internet. They skewered her physical appearance. All this from the Ohio State fan base because she was reporting on the scandal that eventually led to the resignation of the school's head football coach Jim Tressel. Gubar, an Emmy-award winning investigative journalist at ESPN, used this experience as the starting point in her recently released book Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness In the Modern Sports Fan. The book is a deeply reported, fast-paced read delving into the psychology, sociology, history and future of sports fans' behavior. It has the outrageous fan anecdotes you know and plenty of others that you probably can't believe actually exist. There is also the cringe-worthy, awkward interaction when Gubar knocked on the door of one of the Ohio State fans who had sent abuse her way. If you've ever attended a sporting event - be it a youth game or something in the pro ranks - Fanaticus will tell you more about your experience. * Forbes * Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan: by Justine Gubar. Fans are nuts. Plain and simple. And Gubar takes us on an incredible ride of what fans will do for the teams and athletes they love. Okay, they also will do things because they have been drinking way too much at a game or because they hate the other team or whatever. Bottom line - read this book. You'll sit there gasping as many times as I did because you just can't believe the stupidity of some people. * GetMoreSports.com * In Fanaticus, Justine Gubar takes the reader on an unforgettable exploration of the least understood, least appreciated and-occasionally-least defensible facet of our sports-soaked culture: the fans. Gubar skillfully peels back layer after layer of our fandom-the good, the bad and the ugly, from Pope John Paul II to beer brawls to burning couches and much worse-to explain why we care so much, and what happens when we do. Along the way, Gubar expels myths, digs up surprising truths, and explains a lot about human nature itself. The ride is equal parts fun and frightening, but always fascinating. After Fanaticus, you will never be able to look at your games, and the people who love them, the same way. -- John U. Bacon, bestselling author of Fourth and Long: The Fight for the Soul of College Football Fanaticus is a riveting, well-researched look at one of the most interesting topics in sports today: the behavior-and misbehavior-of the modern sports fan. In her new book, Justine Gubar expertly leads us to an important national conversation about fans in the 21st century. Her timing is perfect. As sports become an even bigger part of our culture, the story of obsessed sports fans grows in importance by the day. -- Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist, ABC News and CNN commentator, author of Best Seat in the House Fanaticus explores a place too-often ignored in sports reporting-the seamy world of miscreant fans. Justine Gubar's powers of observation, combined with her reporting skills, make her the perfect tour guide. -- Tim Keown, ESPN The Magazine, co-author of three New York Times bestselling books Justine Gubar's fearless brand of investigative journalism at ESPN has placed her in the crosshairs of many angry mobs who didn't want to know the truth about their favorite teams and players. That experience in the belly of the fan beast makes her the ideal author for this kind of book-she's been there and withstood that, and emerged with a great understanding of what makes the American sports fan tick. From her startling and disturbing first-hand experiences to an overview of fan behavior, she captures the essence of a fascinating societal niche in Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan. For anyone who has ever gone to a game and wondered why the person next to them is behaving like a lunatic, this book helps provide the answer. -- Pat Forde, national columnist for Yahoo Sports Combining the curiosity of a hard-charging investigator with the heart of a superb storyteller, Justine Gubar has written a fantastic book about fandom that will surprise and delight you. By tracing the roots of fans' extreme behavior, from the mobs at the Roman Coliseum to the mobs now bellowing on social media platforms, Fanaticus will change how you view the way we cheer, boo, root and fight over our beloved teams. I love this book. -- Don Van Natta Jr., ESPN investigative reporter, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of New York Times bestseller First Off the Tee and USGA Book Award winner Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias Sports is the great tent where society gathers-it's where we cheer, it's where we hope, it's where we find common ground, and unfortunately, it's also where some choose to get angry or even violent. Justine Gubar does a remarkable job unmasking the breadth and depth of sports fanaticism, and explaining how devotion can turn into obsession, and even into danger. Fascinating read-plus, how do you not love a book which has a first chapter called "And Then We Burn a Couch"? -- Rachel Nichols, ESPN anchor and reporter Compelling. Powerful. Definitive. A must-read for anyone seeking a broader understanding of the nucleus of sports culture-the fan-against the larger backdrop of society. Thoroughly researched through a wide lens, this enlightening treatise starts strong and finishes strong...with so much thought-provoking material in between. -- Jarrett Bell, NFL columnist, USA TODAY Sports With Fanaticus, Justine Gubar offers a fascinating glimpse into the psyche and history of sport's lunatic fringe-from the fans who placed curses on rival chariot racers at Circus Maximus to the Ohio State faithful who practically stalked Gubar for investigating their beloved Buckeyes. Part personal exploration and part case study, Fanaticus transports readers deep into the world of sports fandom. -- Mark Fainaru-Wada, ESPN investigative reporter and co-author of the New York Times bestselling book League of Denial This is an important and engaging work. In Fanaticus, Justine Gubar takes us inside the phenomenon of emotionally overheated fan misbehavior. It's a trip you will not forget. -- Bob Ley, ESPN anchor The life of a sports fan is an evolving one. One that has roots in overzealous passion. And one that has seen its passion take a dark turn into violence and crime. Justine Gubar does a phenomenal job of traveling the globe and shedding light on these fanatics, so that we can read about them, safely from our couches. -- Michelle Beadle, ESPN host This book starts as a journey into the strange world of sports fandom and quickly becomes a journey into the myth of civilization, unwinding and uncovering the purest essence of ourselves and leading, ultimately, to a few simple truths: Love and hate are the same thing, and we all merely animals living on a rock. -- Wright Thompson, ESPN The Magazine senior writer Justine Gubar was a splendid ESPN producer who went to Ohio, did some investigating and got some vile voicemails and emails. Now she's a splendid ESPN producer who has been from Antwerp to Albuquerque and back to antiquity for this vital tour of our human lunacy. -- Chuck Culpepper, Washington Post sportswriter and author of William Hill award finalist Bloody Confused: A Clueless American Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccer Justine Gubar has written a most unusual sports book. Her research is thorough, her writing is precise, and the end result is a book that will keep you thoroughly engaged. Get Fanaticus now and thank me later. -- Pat Williams, Orlando Magic senior vice president, author of Extreme Winning
Justine Gubar is a four-time Emmy award-winning investigative journalist. For almost two decades she has worked as a television producer for ESPN, including for the programs "Outside the Lines" and "SportsCenter." Gubar has covered major sporting events throughout her career, such as NBA, MLB, and NFL playoffs, the Final Four, and the Olympics.
