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Every time there is a big UFC/MMA pay-per-view I am reminded that no group of fans gets more defensive of their sport than UFC/MMA fans. That group believes no one outside their fraternity truly understands and appreciates the sport and frankly they don't want your fandom. So that made me think that every sport has "that guy" in their fan base.
"That guy" is the annoying one who wants you to know he knows more about the sport than you. He follows it closer and basically is as knowledgeable as those who play. And if he wanted to, he could be a pro but he chooses not.
So we thought we'd tell you more about the group of "that guy"...
UFC/MMA Guy- He's been going to pay-per-views at his local wings restaurant for years, longer than you starting flopping down on your couch and pressing a button because you think it's cool to watch. He knew about Conor McGregor before Dana White knew about him. Chuck Lidell might even know his name, or at least he thinks that. And if you can't name the 10th ranked lightweight contender, you know nothing.
Baseball Guy- He wants you to believe he can watch a game on his TV and knows the difference between a two-seam or four-seam fastball and acts like he knows what spin rate actually is. He mocks you for not knowing the formula of WAR and wants to argue why no one cares about a pitcher's ERA anymore.
Basketball Guy- This guy brags about following Zach Lowe and listening to his podcast and that you wouldn't get the stuff on the pod. He also believes Bill Simmons would love sitting down with him and when it comes to still playing pickup, he gets frustrated because guys in their 40s don't really run true pick-and-roll.
Soccer Guy- He might be as arrogant and defensive as UCF/MMA guy. They don't want you in their club and are quick to start rattling off names of European stars to prove you know nothing. They don't want to hear your suggestions about the clock, size of the goal and faking injuries. They remind you if you can't explain the MLS money allocation system, you are worthless.
Golf Guy- This guy relates to Brooks Keopka and you don't. He understands the science of hitting a fade and you don't. He brags about the courses he has played on and truly believes if he left his job today he'd be a top-10 player on the Korn Ferry Tour and might be a good choice for the Ryder Cup team this fall.
College Football Recruiting Guy- He might take the cake for believing the internet more than anyone. Recruiting guy claims to know all about top players and where they are going. He loves to tell you the rumors he hears and and commit flips about to go down. He scrolls Twitter all day and actually follows dozens of 17-year old high school players and watches every recruiting decision live and then lets his friends know he knew that's where the kid was going.
NASCAR Guy- This guy is happy your dot-com era is over and things have gotten back to being the niche sport NASCAR has been. He knows you know nothing about the sport and prefers you not even ask him about it. He believes the truck he drives and food and products he uses are part of his race fandom. He either loves or hates Jeff Gordon and knows he could be a NASCAR driver because every time he plays Playstation, he wins the race.
Cycling Guy- This guy just wants you to know he's into cycling. He buys and wears the outfit and racing cleats and sees nothing wrong by keeping the helmet on when ordering a $7 drink at Starbucks. He doesn't lower himself to talk cycling with you because it's a waste of his time. He mocks Peloton because he firmly believes real riders ride outside.
Flag Football QB Guy- He takes those games seriously. He reminds everyone he played some ball in high school and maybe even in college. He might even wear some type of brace on his knee and I'm not sure it's because he had an injury but because he believes it makes him look better. He tells his receivers to run better routes and gets upset about protection up front. And no matter you think, trust me- he knows how many TDs he threw that game.
Chess Guy- The mere fact you want to sit down and play him disgust him. Stick to checkers is what he's thinking. You may have an app on your phone and during a flight play a game or two and beat the computer playing level one. He wants you to know he has learned from grandmasters. He knows your next move before you do. He can beat you right after your first move. He could enter real tournaments but what's the point?
We could go on and on but you get the idea. So, which are you?
Final thought: Why do gas prices still use .9 in promoting the cost of a gallon? Why is gas listed at $2.89.9 instead of $2.90? Marketing. The visual has worked for years and the industry still uses it today.