Fansided

Where does Drake rank among famous superfans?

By Jason Cole

TORONTO, ON- MAY 21 - Drake massages Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse's shoulder as the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks in game four 120-102 to even up the Eastern Conference NBA Final at two games each at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 21, 2019. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- MAY 21 - Drake massages Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse's shoulder as the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks in game four 120-102 to even up the Eastern Conference NBA Final at two games each at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 21, 2019. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – 1987: Jack Nicholson watches during a Los Angeles Lakers game circa 1987 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – 1987: Jack Nicholson watches during a Los Angeles Lakers game circa 1987 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 1 Jack Nicholson

Yeah, Drake is exuberant. Bill Murray is dedicated. Spike Lee is passionate.

Jack Nicholson as a Lakers fan is pure cool. Wearing his all-black Ray-Ban Wayfarers during one playoff series after another was the picture of confidence to the point of arrogance. Then again, if you were Jack Nicholson in the 1980s, you didn’t have to say a word to explain your greatness. Starting with The Shining in 1980 and running through his role as The Joker in the 1989 version of Batman, that decade was as much about Nicholson as it was the Lakers.

As the Lakers were winning five titles, Nicholson was racking up Oscars with one hit film after another. In between his bookend performances in The Shining and Batman, Nicholson was in The Border, Terms of Endearment (second Oscar, Best Supporting Actor), The Postman Always Rings Twice, Reds, Prizzi’s Honor, The Witches of Eastwick, Broadcast News and Ironweed. In other words, you couldn’t be any bigger than Nicholson.

In the Lakers, however, Nicholson found his equal and showed his admiration. He sat on the sideline, quietly confident as he awaited the run of points that the Magic Johnson and Showtime would unleash. When it happened, Nicholson flashed that devilish grin and raised his eyebrows to indicate all was well. It was like Red Auerbach lighting a victory cigar.

The only difference is Nicholson would do it before the game was over. Nicholson wasn’t much for pumping his fist or talking trash to opponents. The man was above that. He let his swagger do the talking.

And he even did it on the road in the most hostile environments. Nicholson could walk into the Boston Garden and act like he owned the place.

BOSTON – 1985: Actor Jack Nicholson attends the 1985 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 to win the NBA Championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1985 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1985: Actor Jack Nicholson attends the 1985 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 to win the NBA Championship. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1985 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Before Bernie Mac ever told the hostile crowd at the Def Comedy Jam, “I ain’t scared of you mothaf—rs,” Nicholson did the same thing in the Garden. He wasn’t there for any foolishness. He was there to see a victory.

Of course, if you were a fan of another team, you hated Nicholson and his cockiness as much as you hated the Lakers and their loud purple-and-gold uniforms. Then again, nobody hates the losers or the mediocre.

They only hate the great.

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