Justine Gubar - Fanaticus

In 2011, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Oakland Raiders in a preseason matchup that would become a seminal moment for fan violence. During the game, seventy fans were ejected from the stadium, one person was beaten unconscious in the men's room, and two men were shot in the parking lot after the game. In the spring of 2014 alone, soccer headlines screamed of a fan killed in Brazil, a supporter who punched a police horse in England, and three fans shot in Italy. But why do fans resort to such violence? What drives them to abandon societal norms and act out in unimaginable ways?

Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan explores the roots of extreme fanaticism, from organized thuggery to digital hate speech. Justine Gubar reaches back into ancient times, providing a history of fan violence throughout the ages before delving into events of misbehavior, violence, and hatred in the United States and around the world. In addition, Gubar investigates the sports leagues and the security and beverage industries so as to explain the roots of fan misbehavior and to dispel common myths that are often invoked to understand the madness. Featuring original interviews with European football hooligans, rioting college students, stadium security experts, and many others, Gubar provides a rare window into what drives human behavior. 

Justine Gubar is a four-time Emmy award-winning investigative journalist. For almost two decades she has worked as a television producer for ESPN programs including “Outside the Lines” and “SportsCenter.” Gubar has covered major sporting events throughout her career, such as NBA, MLB, and NFL playoffs, the Final Four, and the Olympics.

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Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan By Justine Gubar Cover Image
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ISBN: 9781442228924
Published: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers - June 4th, 2015