There are people who say most followers of sports are Neanderthals. I, being a fan of many sports, would like to say that is not so. Unfortunately, there are times when I have to agree with that thesis.
Nowadays, with reality TV and specialty channels, it is possible for everyone to be famous for 15 minutes (or maybe 15 seconds). The people on the playing surface are no longer the only ones featured in camera during sporting events. Many games on TV now feature people cheering in the stands. However, many of them are not exactly cheering. Often the spotlight is aimed at people waving signs with the lines whose first letter are the letters of the network showing the game. Some of the signs are quite clever, but many seem to be slight variations of the same palette. People (usually men) baring their chests (usually painted in their favourite teams' colours) are another staple of sporting broadcasts. Well, at least they are proud of their bodies.
Many pro teams now allow people (usually men) to make proposals (for marriage) during (stoppages of) games. To many people, a proposal witnessed by thousands makes the occassion more special, provided that the one being proposed to accpets. However, if the proposed turn down the proposal, the one making the proposal may never recover from the embarassment.
Thankfully, the TV networks are no longer showing people talking on a cell phone while waving at the camera. You can imagine what the conversation is like.
"Hello."
"Turn on the TV and change to this channel."
"I can see you in TV!"
For various reasons, some people think it is more exciting to enter the playing field themselves. We sometimes see people running into the field of play (seems to be more common in Europe than in North America). These runners' field of choice is usually a football pitch or a tennis court. However, fans have been seen diving into swimming pools, equestrian grounds, basketball courts, and other fields of play. Some of them are clothed, some aren't.
Nowadays, many of these runners are also walking (or running) advertisements. With the advent of walking ads (and people offering their arms/faces for advertisers), many of these people now have ads printed on their shirts (or tattooed to their bodies). To this one fan, the people who run onto the field are not really fans. These people are doing this for only one reason — they hope to be seen by thousands (or even millions). Thankfully (for me, anyway), some networks have realized this and are now denying those clowns the spotlight.
For most Canadian adults, the only place they hear any national anthem today is in sporting events. Often the anthems are delivered masterfully. However, the anthem singers forget the lyrics from time to time. Maybe they are nervous under the spotlight, but it sure makes me wonder how can this happen, since the lyrics (or the musical score) are provided (they should be). Of course, many turn down the cue cards because they are confident that they have memorized the lines, but what is worse, swallowing your pride or being embarassed for getting the lyrics wrong (in front of thousands, no less)?
While we are on the topic of anthems, most people remain silent during the anthems. However, there are people who make jeers when the anthems are being played (usually when the American anthem is being played). They probably are trying to show their disapproval of the policies (or the leader) of the country whose anthem is being played, but that is not the place or time to express it. The anthem represents the people of that country and the ideal from which the country is built, NOT the present leader of that nation or particular viewpoints its government stands for (at least that's why I think). Besides, there are players who disagree with the action of their government and still love their country. Jeering during the anthem of their country can lead them and others to develop negative sentiments towards your country. After all, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
However, all these being said, the people mentioned above are few and far between. Most sports fans are well-behaved and able to show their passion for their favourite teams tastefully.