Lexington Books Evolution of the Modern Sports Fan: Communicative Approaches

The concept of "fandom" has been revolutionized over the past 20 years because of various technological, cultural, and communicative advancements. Evolution of the Modern Sports Fan: Communicative Approaches explores the elements of the sports fan that have markedly changed since the turn of the century. Inherent within these investigations is the role of communication in a multitude of forms (mediated, relational, etc.) as the prototypical sports fan has most heavily shifted within this domain. From the advent of social media to the rise of fantasy sport to the increased media platforms in which to consume sport, the sports fan has never had more options for consumption-and for the rendering of his/her opinions. This edited volume offers an opportunity to advance what we now know about American sports fandom as well as the ability to debunk what scholars thought they knew about sports fandom that has now shifted. Review Editors Billings and Brown (both, Univ. of Alabama) have assembled a collection of essays from young scholars exploring various facets of sport fans and fandom. From communication and psychological perspectives, the work includes both reviews and original empirical research. Beginning with topics related to aspects of sport fans, such as the association between team identification (i.e., a psychological connection to a sport team) and personality dimensions, experiences of team identification, and the concept of "Basking in Reflected Glory," the authors then examine applications of fanship to areas including the relationship between identification and nationalist attitudes. Later chapters explore outcomes of sport fanship such as deviant behaviors, reactions to team and athlete scandals, and possible future areas of sport fan research including uses and gratifications, technology usage, and virtual reality. Altogether the work is a much-needed update and review of empirical fan research for social scientists. Although the book is geared toward sport fans, it is strongly recommended reading for researchers exploring fans of all interests. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers, and professionals.--CHOICE By providing an understanding of the key foundations of sports fandom and identification, the perceptions and behaviors fans display toward teams and athletes, and how technology and innovations are impacting the contemporary sports fan, Billings and Brown have created an excellent resource for anyone who has an interest in the fascinating, ever-expanding array of behaviors that sports fans exhibit. The readings in this book provide thought provoking concepts and findings that will help drive forward our knowledge of sports fans.--John S. W. Spinda, Clemson University Often maligned for being seemingly obsessed, what drives the sports fan and what it means to be one is surprisingly little understood. This new collection of original research edited by Andy Billings and Kenon Brown is an important work that explores the enigma of fandom in new and insightful ways, examining key questions behind the psychology of fanship identification, the challenges of measuring different flavors of fanship, and the complexities that sometimes makes fanship dysfunctional or problematic.--Lawrence A. Wenner, Loyola Marymount University About the Author Andrew C. Billings is Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting and director of the University of Alabama Program in Sports Communication. Kenon A. Brown is assistant professor of public relations at The University of Alabama.