Sports Fans
Of all human activity, nothing seems to inspire so much fanatical devotion as sports. Sports fans can be both dedicated enough to follow a losing team for generations, and klutzy enough to blow that team's chances by trying to catch a foul ball. Here are some shout-outs to sports fans, both noble and notorious.
Steve Bartman
Cubs fan Steve Bartman nearly had to enter a witness protection program when he caught the ball that was widely blamed for costing the Cubs the National League title in 2003, preventing them from going to their first World Series since 1945. It was the eighth inning, with the Cubs up 3-0 against the Florida Marlins. When Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo hit a foul ball, Bartman attempted to catch it, disrupting a possible catch by Cubs outfielder Moises Alou.
The chagrined fan had to be escorted out of the stadium by police, and police guarded his home for some time after the incident. Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich advised him to enter witness protection, and Florida governor Jeb Bush told him he could move to Florida anytime he wanted.
San Francisco Ball Hawks
Loyal fans of the San Francisco Giants descend on McCovey Cove near AT&T Park every summer and autumn, trying to catch a piece of history in the form of a ball hit during batting practice or as a home run during a game. They are fast kayakers who race each other to try and scoop a ball from the water. The heyday of this activity was when slugger Barry Bonds played for the Giants, but there was plenty of action in McCovey Cove during the 2010 World Series.
World Cup fans
Soccer, or football as it is called in most of the world, has a more rabid fan base than any other global sport. These Dutch fans, wearing rubber masks to cheer on their team at the World Cup, certainly look excited.
Erica Roe
This female streaker got the world's attention with her 40" chest when she ran naked across the field during an England-Australia cricket match in 1982. She was one of the first streakers to take the stadium by surprise. These days, security at sporting events keeps a closer eye out for them.
Her male counterpart might be Mark Roberts, a "serial streaker" who has streaked at least 150 sporting events in Britain. He has even crossed the pond to streak at the Super Bowl. If streaking were a sport, this guy would be the sport's Michael Jordan.