This Sports Fan is a Ringer

[Patch]

On a flight out west a couple of weeks ago, I came across an article in Spirit magazine:

Cameron Hughes makes his living in the aisles. As far as anyone in sports can tell, he is the world’s only professional “superfan,” an extreme cheerleader who travels the country year-round and earns up to $2,000 a night. In his 12-year career, Hughes, 37, has performed at more than 800 events in 22 different leagues, including professional hockey, basketball, and baseball. He estimates that he’s cheered in front of more than 7 million people. Executives for some of the world’s most popular teams keep Hughes on their speed dials: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/71/l_f598d6f1cba74077a9d5d41532f1dabd.jpg

So what do you think about this guy? Nice work if you can get it, sure, but...

The link to the complete article: http://www.spiritmag.com/features/article/crowd_pleaser/

[Basketball Jesus]

Honestly I'm shocked teams see the value in what this guy does. To me it says they don't have a lot of faith in their product or their fans.

[Gregory]

Makes more sense than the mascots.

[Brad N.]

How does one go about getting this "job"?

[WillieLee]

I think it's total nonsense. It should be left up to the real fans to cheer for your team. He's ruining everything that's pure about sports. And what's with those fucking scoreboards? "Go team go"? Listen motherfuckers, I'll determine when it's time for my team to "go". A display bank of LCD panels isn't going to tell me what to do.

[thatguyfromsyracuse]

He looks like a fucking moron. Why should he make money, when there are real fans that pay hard-earned cash from real jobs, to buy expensive tickets to the game?

[Gregory]

I think it's total nonsense. It should be left up to the real fans to cheer for your team. He's ruining everything that's pure about sports. And what's with those fucking scoreboards? "Go team go"? Listen motherfuckers, I'll determine when it's time for my team to "go". A display bank of LCD panels isn't going to tell me what to do.

ESPN's Bill Simmons has often lamented the barrage of arena stimulus to work up a crowd. he claims it's done the opposite: it's subdued spectators with a constant drone of ambiance and left the crowds unable to feel the game and react naturally.

[Patch]

Isn't this guy pretty bogus, though? It's insincere-- it kind of 'pulls one over' on the actual fans...

[Brad N.]

ESPN's Bill Simmons has often lamented the barrage of arena stimulus to work up a crowd. he claims it's done the opposite: it's subdued spectators with a constant drone of ambiance and left the crowds unable to feel the game and react naturally.

I agree 100%. It's phony, canned heat. Cheerleaders are one thing, but this is something else.

[Taxman]

How does one go about getting this "job"?You would have to show your ability to fire a crowd up over a period of time, then wait for offers.

I have a vague recollection of hearing about something like this before. I think it was back when new movies had very small releases. The studios would pay people with funny laughs to go to screenings of comedies and laugh which would cause the audience to laugh at them. I cannot remember any details. Maybe it was review screenings.

[Brad N.]

Isn't this guy pretty bogus, though? It's insincere-- it kind of 'pulls one over' on the actual fans...

It absolutely does. He's a plant, nothing more.

[JamesV]

Dancing Homer is REAL!?

[Pick The System!]

What a joke. So, in addition to cheerleaders you have this guy - on speed dial apparently. Hopefully comics never stoop this low.

[Mylazycat]

I don't get the appeal. A crowd of 20,000 isn't going to work up enough energy on it's own? It needs this guy? Really?

[Basketball Jesus]

If I'm a fan who paid 100 bucks for my ticket and my teams getting beat by 20 and this clown next to me is getting paid to beat his thundersticks together there's a very decent chance I'd throw my latte in his face.