Nav Bhatia, the Toronto Raptors “Superfan” who has attended every single home game in the history of the franchise, has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in its new, appropriately named, “Superfan” section:
Bhatia, who is also the first fan ever to be given an authentic championship ring, is, I can tell you from firsthand knowledge, every bit the fan he’s made out to be. What a great honor. He one hundred percent deserved it.
In addition to attending every single home game, Mr Bhatia has bought and distributed thousands of Raptors tickets over the years so kids can attend Raptors games.
It’s the term used in some Canadian sports halls for non-players who have contributed to the growth of the game, the league or a team. Can include coaches and other non-players, recognising that people who don’t play can nonetheless be a significant contributor to the sport.
So why not a “superfan” category, for a fan who has made tremendous contributions to the league or a team, or the reputation of the game itself?
I’m not a basketball fan and I don’t watch the Raptors, but as soon as I saw the headline today, I knew exactly who it was referring to. That’s a higher profile than any Raptors player, for me. Mention players by name and I’ll just say “who?”
I’d actually argue announcers are FAR more deserving that owners. People like Vin Scully, Foster Hewitt and Marv Albert are a key part of the fan experience, beloved by millions. The only time fans care about the owners is when the owners are hateful assholes.
It’s probably deserved - as you say he has helped thousands of underprivileged kids attend games. It still surprises me how fans in the front seats are able to dance and distract during NBA play.
