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Fanbedextrous

This article is about the coined sports term. For the manual trait it is built from, see Ambidexterity.

Fanbedextrous is a coined adjective describing a person who follows a sport and supports several teams situationally — usually with a favorite, but readily cheering for different teams depending on the context of a given game — rather than supporting one team, and only one team, with the zeal of a fanatic.⁴ The word is a blend of ambidextrous and fan, and was coined by Andy Bomholt.⁸

Etymology

A portmanteau formed from ambi­dextrous and fan. Ambidextrous — from Latin ambi- "both" and dexter "right-handed, favourable" — describes a person who can use both hands (or both feet) almost equally well.¹⁵ The retained fragment -bedextrous carries that sense of "equally comfortable either way" across to the noun fan: a fanbedextrous follower is comfortable supporting more than one side.²

Definition

Sports allegiance can be placed on a spectrum:

• The fan as fanatic — one team, unconditionally, regardless of opponent, season, or circumstance. The word fan is itself a shortening of fanatic.³
• The fanbedextrous follower — has preferences, perhaps a clear favourite, but will support whichever team the situation of the game makes compelling: the underdog, the more attractive style of play, a rivalry outcome that helps the favourite, a friend's team, or the side with more at stake.

The defining feature is that the choice is context-dependent and made in good faith about the game in front of them, not fixed in advance and not aimed at any personal benefit.

Contrast with fanaticism and bandwagoning

Fanbedextrousness is close to the opposite of fanaticism in temperament.⁴ It is also distinct from the bandwagon fan or glory hunter, who attaches to whichever team is winning.⁶⁷ A fanbedextrous viewer often does the reverse — pulling for the team that is behind — because the interest is in the contest, not the trophy.

Usage

• Adjective: “I’m pretty fanbedextrous about the NBA — I like the Raptors, but on any given night I’ll cheer for the better game.”
• Noun: “He’s a fanbedextrous; don’t expect him to hate your rivals.”
• Abstract noun (proposed): fanbedextrousness or fanbedexterity.

See also

• Ambidexterity
• Fan (person) · Fanaticism
• Portmanteau
• Canadian Numerals (Not Wikipedia)

References