At the outset of an article this week by USA TODAY Sports columnist Mike Freeman ranking NFL fan bases in a very unscientific manner, readers were asked to prepare themselves for outrage. That is, in the title. While the bait was set early, the water was still cloudy as to whether satire or honest, crazy opinions were set to unfold.
It’s essentially all of the above. But at its core, it’s brilliantly humorous, both inward and out-facing. In the end, throwing light-hearted shade is what so much of being an NFL fan is all about.