Get to the source of your fanatic’s fanaticism. Whether it’s because his dad took him to games every Saturday as a kid, or his best college buddy played on the team, identifying the source of his devotion will boost your patience when he goes over the top.
Strategize. Overtime won’t ruin dinner plans as much if you have a backup in place ahead of time. Accounting for your loved one’s devotion to the team when making social plans will help curb jealousy and avoid those arguments over how important the final minutes of the game really are—which no one wins. Ever.
Embrace the down times. Don’t look at a tough loss as a chance to turn your fanatic into a casual fan or convince him that football shouldn’t be that big of a deal to him. Instead, recognize the emotional blow he is feeling and encourage him. Try taking his mind off the final score, or remind him that the Tigers are a powerhouse team and there’ll always be a next game or a next season.
