Sports Fanaticism

European soccer has always interested me. Particularly, the German soccer team Bayern Munich. I learned most of what I know about European soccer through my roommates from last year and playing FIFA 08 with them. It was through the video game FIFA 08 that I developed my affinity for Bayern and its players. Through being exposed to European soccer, I've noticed how fanatical many Europeans are for their regional teams as well as their country's team. However, considering the way we have our own regional football, basketball, and other teams here in the US, i've always wondered who is more fanatical about their sports teams. Americans or Europeans? Also, I wonder how the culture of each sport affects the fanaticism of its fans. I feel like the culture of soccer tends to encourage fanaticism, but I've seen people get pretty intense when debating the supremacy of the Spurs or Mavericks. It's always been interesting to think about.