Exit of one fan

Dennie Quill, Columnist

Today, I formally renounce my 'fanship' of all people and organisations. As a lifelong fan of track and field, perhaps I have picked the wrong time to do this, with the Olympics mere weeks away, but this decision comes after a great deal of introspection.

Fans make an emotional investment in their favourite performers, be they sports personalities, actors or entertainers. And, generally speaking, we are all in awe of greatness. There are, of course, different types of fans like the waggonists who suddenly started liking football when it seemed certain that the Reggae Boyz would achieve a historic milestone by qualifying for the World Cup.

Rather than beat up on waggonists, I prefer to believe that it is their sense of national pride that drives them to celebrate all things Jamaican. There are also fair-weather fans who will love their idols as long as they are winning, but will quickly abandon them and move on during tough times.

Then there are the diehards. "R. Kelly can do no wrong for me," declared a 20-something woman who had just witnessed his performance in Montego Bay on the weekend and taken photos with him backstage. While others were ranting about his 90-minute delay and lack of apology, she wore a smug look on her face, for he was all that she hoped for. Since 2002, Kelly has been arrested three times on charges ranging from child pornography to having sex with a minor. He has been freed of all charges, and his fans have readily forgiven him.

Nowadays, it seems that our heroes are constantly letting us down. Day after day we hear allegations of cheating, drug abuse, assault and worse, involving our idols, which suggest that the well-liked, well-respected performer on the field of play is a different animal in social situations. Research indicates that close to 100 athletes are arrested annually in United States, mainly for rape and other violent behaviour towards women.

Sacking tiger and the windies team

Take golf. It was the genius of Tiger Woods that got many people of African descent interested in the game. Fans were following him all over the world to cheer him on. Then one day, the laughter stopped and the cheering waned because Tiger was at the centre of a sex scandal.

Many fans stayed loyal to him. He commented on it in a blog: "I honestly didn't know what to expect from the fans, but they were absolutely incredible. It was unreal. They definitely helped me mentally be more comfortable out there ... . To get that type of warmth is something I did not expect and will never forget."

Take cricket. After being spoilt by phenomenal performances on cricket grounds around the world during the 1980s, fans of West Indies cricket have had to endure one disastrous series after another. There have been poor, lacklustre performances matched by boardroom drama and island jealousies, leaving West Indies at the bottom of the table. The last 10 years or so of supporting West Indies cricket has offered more misery than joy. How much more can the fans take?

Take Kobe Bryant. The talented basketball player leaves his gorgeous wife at home, and goes to get treatment for his sick knee. The first night away he ends up in a stranger's bed. Arising from the incident, he was charged for rape but was later acquitted on the grounds that they had consensual sex. His wife and fans forgave him.

The point should be clear by now. Idols continue to slap their fans and loved ones in the face with poor behaviour, underperformance, and many other transgressions.

There are many explanations as to why people with fame and wealth tend to indulge in risky behaviour. They claim that the same aggression which is displayed on the field is taken outside and often triggers conflict.

There is also the matter of confidence. These persons are often filled with huge volts of confidence and they believe they can achieve even greater heights. And then there are the fans that are willing to stand by their heroes through thick and thin.

I refuse to be a diehard. I wish my fellow Jamaicans well in their 2012 campaign in England and I am counting on them to provide memorable moments this summer.

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and denniequill@hotmail.com.