> And to this day, asking all my sports-obsessed friends why they like it so much, I've never gotten an answer I can actually understand or identify with I'll

> And to this day, asking all my sports-obsessed friends why they like it so much, I've never gotten an answer I can actually understand or identify with I'll try and answer it from a european perspective (soccer fan)... In a nutshell: a sense of identity, sense of belonging, tribalism, 'banter' among opposing fans. One of the highlights of a fan going to an away English premier league game (esp. against your fierce rivals) is to piss off the home support by singing something insulting about their team/players/team history etc. Then the home support respond by singing their own insults, and you get the atmosphere really fking rocking. Other people you have a go at: opposing manager, the ref, even "gently" mocking your own players as a sign of affection. I saw this documentary about Dutch football, where there was a guy explaining that Dutch people don't go to church any more, so they pack into football stadiums (modern cathedrals) on a Sunday, which provides a sense of community/identity. Check out this incredible video of Greek basketball fans (!) - a sport not exactly renowned for passionate fans like the European/South American soccer terraces... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAOpnnMK0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAOpnnMK0 (brace yourself if you are not familiar with the concept of "banter" among fans, and check out the english translation in the video description ;-) Here's another cool video of really passionate Borussia Dortmund fans (they have really amazing, well-behaved, yet passionate support) marching in a tunnel in Manchester, co-ordinated chanting, the whole lot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnUlEJFPjs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnUlEJFPjs Hope that helps!