How to be a True Involved Sports Fan

 

For lack of a better word, I’m an idiot. I've decided to inflict self-induced pain on myself in order to pretend I’m still an "athlete". On July 8^th, I will be throwing reason out the door and running the NYC Triathlon. Thanks to coaxing from my roommate, I registered without knowing what this entailed but yesterday I decided it would be best to check out the fitness mountain I am trying to summit. It's an Olympic style triathlon which entails a 1500 meter swim (about a mile), a 40k bike, and a 10k run. This is insanity. I now know what to expect and it's going to be terrible. I didn’t really enjoy the after affects from my half-marathon, but what better motivation is there for someone to get in shape besides pain, injury, and even potential death? I know the third is a bit dramatic, but NYC during the summer is no fucking joke.

 

The one great aspect is that I'm running as a humanitarian as I am also fundraising for a great charity. There will be more on this cause in a later article, but the basis behind it is to raise money for playing fields, equipment, and health centers to children who are less fortunate. It’s a great opportunity to do something for someone else besides wasting away in front of a TV where the only the thing I’m giving back to society are my reactions to the newest season of Game of Thrones (Which is awesome, by the way). Now, after signing up and developing a training regimen, I realized I knew as much about fundraising as Peter Angelos knows about running a sports team. After some extensive due diligence, I came across a fucking amazing website, www.involvedFan.com . 

 

In bold letters, this organization explains what it does in 9 words. “The Revolutionary Crowdfunding Site Where FANS Support Professional Athletes”. It  gives people who live and breathe sports a more intimate experience into the industry by allowing us sports addicts to give back to those who shed their blood, sweat, and tears for our enjoyment. Most sports, with the exception of soccer and basketball to a certain degree, are expensive. Besides the obvious expenses for equipment such as helmets, sticks, shoes, clubs, rackets, etc. there are overhead charges that also come into play such as travel, fields, and training. And while a lot of top programs have created a development system where players are not burdened by the financial aspects and can simply focus on training (look at the European futbol leagues developmental programs), there are a lot of aspiring stars who don't have the financial ability to have a chance to compete. InvolvedFan.com provides these up and comers with financial support from the fans who watch the, namely us.

 

What makes this website even more respectable is the financial breakdown that they provide. After researching, you'll get a deep understanding of the economics of what it takes to succeed and it’s pretty fucking steep. As a man who likes to stay in shape, buying extra gym clothes, shoes, a gym membership, reserving a field, and even something as basic as transportation to go hiking can put a hole in my wallet. Imagine if you were striving to make it to the top and it wasn't skill but financial walls that kept you at bay? Even more, it’s not just a few hundred dollars they need but thousands - a practically insurmountable number for many of these aspiring athletes.

 

Besides giving back to those who keep us entertained, a donor would be provided with memorabilia, autographs, private Skype sessions, private lessons, and direct access to these athletes. The website provides a breakdown of the expenses these rising stars endure on their track to success and while currently they only have tennis and golf athletes, it appears involvedfan.com is expanding to other sports ranging from extreme sports and MMA to the Olympics. There's also a section where you can identify a specific athlete and support them even if their sport isn't listed on the site.

 

If you have a little money help an athlete achieve their dreams. Not everyone is like Tiger Woods or Nadal and when you're enjoying watching a Cinderella give every ounce of spirit in a five hour epic tennis match against a top-seeded player who has every training advantage possible, this is a way to thank them for the dedication. And just imagine the feeling of satisfaction you'll get when the underdog you've supported makes it to the top. You'll be more than just an average fan; literally you can say "I was involved in that victory."

Get Involved.

- Kyle