The character David Puddy from Seinfeld, you can call him a face painter. Painting his face and wearing his team’s jersey to root on his New Jersey Devils versus the rival New York Rangers in a playoff series. Puddy even painted a red D on his chest as he took his shirt off to reveal the beginning of the spelling of Devils, with others with letters painted on their chest to make up the word. The face painting, taking off your shirt, plus yelling and screaming at the opposing team so their children’s children can hear you. Puddy outside the stadium even scared the Jesus out of some priest in a car screaming, “Devil, devil!”
Dave Puddy turns into a possessed homicidal maniac when it comes to watching his favorite team, the Devils. A totally different character than the germaphobe auto mechanic he is by day. Plus David Puddy is just a character on TV. In real life, everyone has been to a ballgame and seen a super fanatic fan. Make sure you don’t have a hang over and sit next to one during the game. The screaming would make your head explode. While we are talking about Dave Puddy from the 1990’s a super fanatic fan, what about the Indiana Pacers super fan from the Last Dance documentary? Kathy Martin Harris was the David Puddy of the Indiana Pacers and she did not like Michael Jordan and the Bulls in her house. The documentary showed her in the stands yelling at the Bulls 22 years ago when they talked about the Pacers and the Bulls playoff series that went the distance all the way to the deciding game. Game seven.
Sometimes the past has a way of catching up with you. Last Sunday night was the awakening of the super fanatic Indiana Pacer fan who may have walked away from fanatic ways, like Michael Jordan retired from the game. Kathy Martin Harrelson did not walk away from the game, as her father, Ed Martin’s, car dealership still has Pacer season tickets. The Martin family has had season tickets for 44 years. Their season tickets go back to when the Indiana Pacers played in the ABA before they merged into the NBA.
NBA rules these days prohibit the style of banter Kathy Martin had 22 year ago behind the bench of the visitors team in her home stadium. Kathy Martin Harrelson can’t berate these NBA cry babies these days like Lebron James. She may tear a referee a new one once in awhile, but she has toned down at present times. On Sunday, after the airing of the Last Dance and ever since, her phone came to life with lots of people commenting about her wild antics from the pass. Stuff she put to bed for good in her mind. Lots of people have been twittering with likes for Kathy Martin Harrelson. Many news media outlets have conducted interviews with Kathy Martin Harrleson since the airing of her grievances against Jordan and the Bulls.
I listened to Kathy Martin Harrison interviewed on a local Chicago radio station this morning on ESPN 1000 with Dave Kaplan. Kathy Martin Harrleson explained she was tired of the Bulls coming to her house and beating her Pacers. How her stadium seemed to get invaded by red Bulls jerseys. Plus Kathy Martin Harrelson thought it was Reggie Miller’s turn to discard the Bulls for good. It was one of the best Pacer teams the Martin family had ever seen. Her husband was telling her that The Last Dance documentary was going to have footage of the Pacers and Bulls games back then. She was not interested. It was not until she heard Reggie Miller being interviewed that she wandered into the room to watch the Last Dance with her husband. Then she saw herself yelling and screaming like a blast from the past. The thoughts of the cameramen having her and the family sign those releases came to mind. The cameramen said they would be doing a documentary some day. It’s been so long. A thought about a documentary slipped their minds since those days when the Bulls and Pacers tangled in the playoffs.
The seats were so close that the players would hear all the rants that would come out of the Martin family, especially Kathy. Kathy Martin Harrelson said on the radio interview that Michael Jordan was aware of her. Jordan would smile and shrug at her once in awhile. Dennis Rodman threw comments back at Kathy Martin Harreslon. Rodman said her wedding ring was fake. The Bulls were not the only ones who got bombarded by Kathy’s banter. Patrick Ewing was called Patricia by her. This got under the skin of Ewing. Patrick and Kathy did have a moment and called a truce as they touched hands in the friendly gesture of a high five after a game. Joe Dumars even recognized her at the airport and they had a friendly conversation about basketball in between flights.
Sometimes you can not run from the past. Some super fans, even fanatics, are interesting people watching. People will take pictures of them for their shenanigans during a game. I could see if you lived with a super fanatic and sat next to them at the game I may have to walk away at extreme levels to get a beer. Relaxing at home especially with a super fan that is fanatic, they might need some downers in their food. Otherwise them jumping up suddenly screaming at any point in whatever you’re watching might make your heart skip a few beats. I don’t want to be a part of the practice run. I may not want to be part of the dry run at the game. You will be someone else’s story for a lifetime. It’s like getting a tattoo. Looks great in present times. As you get older the body makes the tattoo look similar to Droopy the dog.
I would be able to at least walk into the stadium with Kathy Martin Harrison, rather than a David Puddy with his face paint on. It’s like the person who came with the guy or girl in the costume when it’s not Halloween. They always feel sorry for the guy or girl that the Super Fan fanatic is with. Like you get the head nod like they feel your pain. I can see people giving the look as if to say, “Can you do something about that?” Like I can just press the button and turn off the super fan like a remote for the car alarm. Playoff games I can see. But to go to every game with the person jumping up and screaming like a banshee would lose its luster. I do love the passion by Kathy Martin Harrison. That is her house and she is protecting it. I’m more the type that may need some beers to get out on the dance floor at a Wedding. Beer helps my regular jogging in place look better on the dance floor with more suds. I may need more beer just screaming at the million dollar babies that are rivals to my own team. As they try to invade.
Everyone is so touchy these days with words. I’d be in jail for some hate crime because I said something about the food. Those darn Chinese American hot dogs I knew would not be to kind to my insides. The Super fanatic fan may yell out, “My arse is on fire!” My personal issues or if I’m in trouble your female companion as a super fanatic might not be so understanding if you get on the wrong side of their yell or try bringing them back in a sitting position. Maybe it would not be so bad if security hauled them off. Pick them up at the end of the game and enjoy a nice beer while you watch the remainder of the game in peace. Can I pick her up next season.?