Lesson One: True Fandom

In 2005 I had the fortune to meet a fan that raised the bar of fandom for me forever, and perhaps changed the face of Univeristy of Kentucky basketball forever, without anyone knowing his name. The young man I speak of, is ofcourse, SuperFan himself.

The first time I met with super fan was November 13th, 2005. It was my first UK game in the eRUPPtion Zone, and I had the fortune of showing up BEFORE the man himself. Being a stupid frosh, I sat on the opposite side of where I was supposed to line up, and as he slowly made his way up the concrete concourse he motioned me to the other side, and began what I refer often to as, My Initiation.

Unlike most initiation, my sire in this case was a humble one. Telling me of the etiquette (this would later change, when my future cohort "El Tonto De Intaxicado" would join me the very next season) and the ways of the zone. SuperFan graduated at the end of my Second semester in the eRUPPtion Zone, and I've never heard from him since, occasionally "El Tonto" or myself will "spot him" in the crowd, but we can never confirm his true attendance.

Although I never learned his name, his lessons live on in me to this day, and every chant we chant and every time we jump up and down and "OHHHHHHHHHHH" there is a little piece of that young man from Northern Kentucky right there with us, cheering on the team he so loved and cherished, The University of Kentucky Wildcats.