Fandom begins in many ways

Sports fandom comes in all forms.
There are those of us who were raised on sports, who have it in our blood. We watch SportsCenter incessantly. We follow not just the games, but the drafts, the trades, the business.
Then there are those who are more casual fans. They like watching the games, sometimes only if their favorite team is involved, but the interest doesn’t go much deeper.
And there are those who become fans of a sport for some outside reason. Maybe they’re dating a sports fan. Maybe they know someone involved in the sport. Maybe they just want to take in a game to be able to say they’ve done it.
This month’s questions follow some of those themes. Let’s give these readers some answers.
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Recently there have been several NFL players that have taken leave from their teams for an Olympic run. Do professional sports teams have some sort of “insurance” policy on players that do this, in case they are injured in the games?
—Jason McGraw,
Portland

Every contract is different, but some quick research shows that most of the players who are chasing Olympic dreams are no longer on NFL rosters.
For instance, Marquis Goodwin walked away from the Buffalo Bills to pursue a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in the long jump. He owns the longest jump — 8.45 meters (27 feet, 8 2/3 inches) — in the world this year and is a two-time NCAA champion.
Likewise, running back Jarryd Hayne of the San Francisco 49ers announced his retirement in order to try to make Fiji’s Olympic rugby team. Jeff Demps (Indianapolis, Tampa Bay) and Jahvid Best (Detroit) are also no longer in the NFL as they seek spots in sprints and/or sprint relays.
The exception seems to be Nate Ebner, who plays safety for New England. The former Ohio State University player just signed a two-year deal with the Patriots and is now trying out for the U.S. Olympic rugby team.
It’s unclear whether or not there are any rugby stipulations in his contract, but he’s trying out with New England’s permission after having had conversations with coaches and other team officials.
It is common for teams to have contract clauses that prohibit players from taking part in potentially dangerous activities, such as playing pick-up basketball or riding a motorcycle.
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Who do you think will win the Cleveland Indians game against the Chicago White Sox on June 18, or that series of games? What should “non-baseball people” look forward to when we attend that game? Who are the players to watch on the Cleveland team?
—Jamie Smeltzer,
Portland

It’s next to impossible to pick who will win a mid-summer series — and even harder for one game — in Major League Baseball. But since I’m a Cleveland fan, I’ll take the Indians.
Here are some tips for rookie fans:
•Get there early. Show up an hour before game time and walk around, both inside and outside of the ballpark. Check out the view from center field, the first- and third-base lines and behind home plate. Every field is different. Take the time to take it all in.
•Get a program. If you don’t know the players, it will help immensely.
•Eat ballpark food. Sure it’s expensive, but if this is a one-time trip for you it has to be part of the experience. Have a hot dog. And since the game is in Cleveland, make sure to put some Stadium Mustard on it. There’s nothing better.
•Chat with the fans around you. If they know you’re a newcomer, especially from out of town, they’re generally more than happy to answer questions (often because it gives them a chance to brag on and/or complain about their team).
As for players to watch on the Tribe’s squad, I’d suggest slick-fielding shortstop Francisco Lindor and all-star outfielder Michael Brantley.
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What level is Casey Kenney currently fighting at and what would the next step be for him to advance?
—Adam Gray,
Fort Wayne

Kenney, a 2008 Jay County High School graduate, has been pursuing a mixed martial arts career, training with Rise Combat Sports in Tuscon, Arizona. He is 5-0 as a professional fighter after going undefeated in six amateur fights.
His last three fights have been as part of Tachi Palace Fights in Lemoore, California.
Unlike baseball, in which there is a clear progression from rookie ball to low-A, high-A, Double A and Triple A in the minor leagues leading to Major League Baseball, there is no single sanctioning body for MMA.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is widely considered to be the top tier of the sport. Bellator Fighting Championships has also been considered a top MMA promotion.
Below those leaders, there are a variety of regional promotions, some of which have been going strong since the 1990s. Tachi Palace Fights, which was founded in 2009, is one of those. Others include Pancrase, King of the Cage and Universal Reality Combat Championship.
Eight former Tachi Palace Fights champions have vacated their titles in order to move on to UFC. That list includes former TPF flyweight champion Ian McCall, who is 2-3-1 on the big stage and ranked fifth in the division.
Kenney hopes to fight for the TPF flyweight title, currently held by Adam Antolin (11-3), no later than the end of the year.