They will be back, nearly all of them.
Yes, during lockouts and strikes that scuttle their games, they belt out the chorus of a rock and roll standard We're Not Gonna Take it Anymore and vow to forever swear off the impacted sport.
A few follow through, shifting to leisure activities - movies, concerts, yoga classes - unaffected by labour squabbles between members of the One Per Cent, as the Occupy Movement would categorise the super-rich athletes and super-duper-rich owners.
Others play hard to get, drifting away for awhile before circling back.
The rest, with one hand, might shake their fist in anger after a settlement.
With the other, they start channel surfing for windmill dunks and shake-and-bake moves on television, or swiping their debit cards to buy tickets.
That is why they are called fans - short for fanatics, defined as "a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal".
The NBA, which decided late last week to stop biting the bloodied hands that feed them, ambitiously aims for a Christmas Day tip-off, which would salvage 80 per cent of the schedule.
If the pattern found in an examination of attendance in the aftermath of labour-related freezes holds true, the bulk of fans will forgive and forget.
Of the previous seven work stoppages across the football, baseball, basketball and hockey spectrum, only one suffered from lingering resentment, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper - baseball required several seasons to fully heal from the late-summer cessation of games that wiped out the 1994 World Series.
The previous NBA interruption offers a clue. Opening day for the 1998/99 season was delayed until February 5, and teams were limited to 50 games apiece.
Average attendance dipped by less than three per cent.
The following year, it bounced by nearly one per cent and mostly has inched higher since.
Fans return because the magnetic appeal of sports transcends the repugnancy of outrageous athlete salaries, absurd ticket and concession prices, owners whining as if they are heading to the poorhouse, and a prevailing sense among customers that we serve as their automatic teller machines.
Many fans return because the games hold deeper meaning than a final score or a championship.
The attachment is not easily explained, and can sometimes seem irrational.
Cutting Kevlar comes more easily than cutting ties with a sport, or a team, or even a single game.
When Samuel Chandler was 10 years old, growing up a tiny coal-mining town in Kentucky, his father took him to see their beloved University of Kentucky play their adversary, the University of Tennessee, in football. The area was absent of professional sports, so this was a really big deal.
Fifty years later, Chandler vividly remembers cruising through the mountains to the game in the family's 1960 Ford Galaxy, listening to Ricky Nelson sing Travelin' Man on the radio.
And, at the hotel, rowdy fans brawled enough to be hauled away on stretchers.
Two years later, back for his third game, Chandler was a confused pre-teen looking around the store where they were shopping, seeking comfort and clarity when the radio burst with news that President Kennedy had been assassinated.
That weekend, it was business as usual for college and pro football.
In hindsight, the decision not to postpone games was insensitive.
But, in the moment, it was a sincere attempt to preserve a part of life that carried such importance to Americans, and still does.
The father-son outing to Kentucky versus Tennessee turned into an annual ritual.
In the mid-1970s, his father stopped attending, but Chandler carried on, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone.
He never considered not going, even in snow and bitter cold, or in driving rainstorms.
"A tribute to my father, I guess," he says.
For the first 25 years, he cheered six Kentucky wins.
For the next 25, Kentucky won not once in what became the nation's most lopsided rivalry.
Each Saturday, for half a century in late November, he had driven to Lexington, Kentucky, or Knoxville, Tennessee, flush with optimism.
Forty-four times, he had left disappointed.
Soon after the kick-off of his 51st game last weekend, Chandler's confidence flatlined when he noticed a career wide receiver for Kentucky line up at quarterback, a position ravaged by injuries.
"I had absolutely no hope," he says.
Somehow, some way, Kentucky Tebow-ed Tennessee 10-7, with the novice quarterback completing four passes and rushing for 124 yards.
As it ended, Chandler, a 60-year-old lawyer, and his companion found themselves inexorably swept on to the field by the maddening crowd - adding to the indelible memories he has accumulated from childhood, especially from the time his father died in 1995.
"I will keep going," he says, "as long as I can."
That is what fans do.
No matter the disincentive - and there is none greater than a strike or lockout - they keep going to games.
As long as they can.
sports@thenational.ae
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
- Ban fruit juice and sodas
- Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
- Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
- Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
- Don’t eat dessert every day
- Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
- Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
- Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
- Eat everything in moderation
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Maestro
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The biog
Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Favourite music: Classical
Hobbies: Reading and writing
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE%20SPECS
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JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
SRI LANKS ODI SQUAD
Perera (capt), Mendis, Gunathilaka, de Silva, Nissanka, Shanaka, Bandara, Hasaranga, Udana, Dananjaya, Dickwella, Chameera, Mendis, Fernando, Sandakan, Karunaratne, Fernando, Fernando.
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
