Dos and Don'ts of Being a Fan at the Game

I've been going to professional and college sporting events my whole life. I've seen a lot of interesting things happen on the field and in the stands.

I was at the final home game for the "True" Cleveland Browns, before that thief Art McBride moved them to Baltimore, and witnessed bleachers being ripped out, slanderous apparel being sold, small explosives being thrown on the field. It was mostly justified, but probably wrong.

So over the years, I've come up with a few general dos and don'ts of being a fan at the game. They really pertain to being there in person, watching from your Laz-E-Boy is a little different.

Do

Cheer for your favorite team. It's pretty basic, but if you don't have an alliance to a team playing, cheer for who you would like to win. (See below for cheering for fellow division teams.)

Don't

Wear a jersey or hat of a team, in the same sport, that is not playing.

Living in Chicago, I see this every time I go to a game. At Wrigley, there is always some White Sox fan who has their Paul Konerko jersey on and gets boo'd all game. If your a Sox fan at a Cubs game, wear a Bears hat or jersey. You can always go with a team in a different sport or just go neutral with a general shirt or hat.

Don't

Talk on cell phone while sitting in the seating bowl. No one around you wants to hear about the latest news with people they don't know. This especially goes for women—if you are at a game, be there for the game, not for gossip talk on the phone. If it's that important...text!

Don't

Get so drunk that you become belligerent. No one likes a loud, obnoxious drunk. And when you get too drunk, you become friendly with people that more than likely don't want your friendship.

Do

Become friends with other fans of your team in the stands. I find this all the time. I always try and go to one game in every series when the Cleveland Indians are in town to play the Sox. I will wear my Indians gear and find the closest Tribe fan and high five when things go wrong and look at each other with disgust when the usual happens and they blow the game late.

Don't

Come to socialize. I'm there to watch the game, I don't want to talk politics or relationships with you. Sure, you can talk between innings or on timeouts but not when the ball is in play. You will be sure to miss something important

Don't

Talk to someone else in the stadium or that is watching on TV from home and try and get them to find you. There are 50,000 people in the stands, you standing up and waving your arms around like a crazy person will not get them to see you.

Don't

Root for a team within YOUR team's division. This can get tough, let's say for example, I'm at a Sox game and they're playing the Minnesota Twins, and I'm an Indians fan. This is where you choose the more hated of the teams and root against them. In my case, I would root against the Sox. This way you're not rooting FOR the Twins, you are rooting AGAINST the Sox, therefore keeping your allegiance to the Indians.

Do

Know the game you are attending. If you attend a Chicago Bears/Green Bay Packers game and you begin to ask, 'hey, why isn't Brett Favre playing?' You shouldn't be there. Do a little research and watch your SportsCenter.

I'm sure there are plenty more to add to this list, let's hear what you have to say. What are your biggest pet peeves?