If there’s one thing I take my hat off to it’s people who are prepared to embrace their passion.
The sort of person who puts their heart and soul behind a cause, a sport, a sporting team, a music band or even a particular type of music. Take your pick, passion comes in all shapes, sizes and form. Truly passionate people like don’t do it because there’s political gain or a chance to improve their lot in life, or even to make themselves more attractive in the eyes of society, they do so because they believe in it. Their passion and the expression of it gives them purpose.
Now that’s not to say that being in their company is always fun. If you’ve been buttonholed by a hardcore Rolling Stones fan or even a golfer you’ll know what I mean. Often the only option is to nod and smile, while slowly backing out of the room, hopefully unnoticed.
But it’s during Australia’s winter months, when the major football codes are played, when passions are really inflamed. At the start of the season fans speculate and debate what will happen with their team. Will this finally be the year they come out on top? Has the club spent wisely on off season purchases? Has the draw been fair (Invariable the answer to this question is no.)?
As the season progresses the truly passionate fan’s living an emotional roller coaster. The dizzying heights of success, followed by the spiralling dip of defeat. For the winter months discussion rarely moves beyond the skills on show by their team, the skulduggery displayed by other teams and the failures of various umpires/referees, who, as far as the true fan is concerned have: “Always had it in for us.”
And as the season closes those fans whose teams haven’t made it to the finals, pack the beanies, scarfs and signs away, and set their sights on next year, while at the same time supporters of the top teams, continue to cheer, hope, soar and dive, as the finals play out.
No one ever said being a fan with passion’s easy.
This week the Leader has a story about Hammondville couple Seb and Kath Dell’Orefice, and their fanatical devotion to the GWS Giants. Seb and Kath have hardly missed a game played by the Giants since their first in 2012, both at home and away. They lead the cheersquad, create their own banners, and have become friends to many of the young players who’ve travelled to Sydney to be part of one of the newest AFL teams. At their home their living area is festooned with Giants memorabilia.
The AFL is known for the fanatical zeal of it’s fans, and the loyalty they show to their teams. It’s often said you’re born into a team as a supporter, and I’ve got more than one friend who’s shown me baby pictures of themselves, at around two days of age, wearing Collingwood or Richmond themed onesies, proudly knitted by either mum, granny or great granny. Now many of their kids are wearing something similar.
This sort of passion isn’t isolated to Australian Rules. Laurie Nicholls became famous for his sideline shadow boxing in support of his beloved Balmain Tigers. And I remember reading horror stories about what South Sydney’s fans used to say and do to any team unlucky to be playing them at Redfern Oval in years past. Having met a few current day Rabbitohs’ supporters I’m betting if the team still played their home games there the reception would be just as unwelcoming.
I’m sure Rugby Union has just as fanatical a support base, but given the roots it has in Australian private schools, the crazy behaviour of fans is probably conducted behind close doors. Happy to be corrected though?
But the best example I can give of real passion is found in the towns where sporting success isn’t something that just provides you with feeling of well being, but gives the whole community a sense of achievement.
Many years ago I lived in the western Queensland town of Winton. It’s the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda and Qantas and a place where Rugby League ruled, and support of the town’s team, The Diamantina Devils was expected of everyone.
That expectation did cause problems. In the late 80s the Devils lost the grand final, going down against their arch rivals the Longreach-based Thompson Tigers. The response from the Winton supporters was to start a mini riot, with an attack against the Tigers’ fans. One of the leaders, who spent a night in prison for beating up a couple of Longreach fans, was seven-and-a-half months pregnant, and I’m sure her child, who’d now be in their mid 20s is just as passionate as mum in defending the honour of the towns team.
But for most fans passion’s expressed in a more productive way. They operate the gate, they run chook and meat tray raffles and when your team, like the Giants, has beaten the odds to make it to the edge of a grand final, they make sure the players know someone has their back.
Fans and passion can be flammable mix, but it adds to the spectacle. Talking to them about anything but their team might be a struggle, but if that’s the case, then talk to them about their team.
What have you got to lose?