On the idea of having to physically be at a sporting event to be a fan, I'm an auto racing fan, but prices and locations for F1 events are oftentimes prohibitive. Similarly, I've gone to some NASCAR events and even in *good* seats have felt like I've missed parts of the race (mostly at road courses) and been crammed into a fishbowl of humanity.

To be honest, I don't consider myself any less of a fan simply because I enjoy watching them on TV, if only because the alternative would be crammed into a shitty bleacher with 1,000's of your "closest friends."