Diehard sports fans are arguably the beating heart of the sports industry. In good times and in bad, they file into stadiums and arenas ready to expend financial and emotional currency on a hobby that goes horribly wrong half of the time.
Does the payoff from the good times – the thrilling victories, championship glory, and miraculous performances – outweigh the trauma inflicted by the bad? Why do diehards invest so fully in sports teams and players when that commitment, love, and adoration is seldom reciprocated – if ever?
Diehards unravels the mystery of sports fandom and provides context for what fuels the evolution from casual fan to diehard. In Diehards, Chip Scarinzi canvasses experts about the impact of sports fandom on fan psyche, health, and family life while also sharing personal accounts of deep-seated sports passion from the most dedicated of fans.
Praise for Diehards:
"A very smart and authentic take on baseball’s place in the cultural fabric of America. Diehards confirms for every true baseball lover that they are not crazy, or at least not alone in their fanaticism for the game."
- Heidi Watney, MLB Network
"Through this fine book – that is as lively and humorous as it is well researched and insightful – Diehards has brought me to a deeper understanding of my own obsession. The author does a remarkable job deconstructing the excitement, joy, frustration, heartbreak, and range of other emotions sports bring into our lives.”
– Josh Pahigian, author of The Ultimate Baseball Road Trip and 101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out
