A Sports Fan's Manifesto

I’m a Notre Dame fan. I’m a Cubs fan. I’m a Bears fan. I’m a Colts fan. I know the pain of loss and frustration of futility. This manifesto is based on Hugh’s manifesto guidelines.

• Love sports for sports’ sake.
• Recognize greatness in even sports you don’t like.
• Recognize talent and dedication and skill and success for what it is—a positive thing.
• Respect players for their abilities and success, even if they are the “enemy.”
• It is wrong to hate a team or player for their success.
• Don’t let your own fandom blind you to reality.
• Failure helps you see where to improve.
• Being a fan is a fickle, arbitrary experience. You cheer for a team because of location, because it’s your school, or because you were born into a fan’s family.
• It’s OK to temporarily care about a game even when you don’t care about the teams, the game, or the outcome.
• Sports are entertainment, but can be addicting. Don’t let sports ruin your relationships, your job, or your health.