There's another reason men cry at these rituals, Doka said. At these events, there's nobody. So they are free to openly grieve. It's not just heroes' deaths that lead to shrines, but also violent events in which people are killed randomly. The shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City triggered massive public outpourings.
Shrines even dot local highways where accidents have claimed lives.
The grief is understandable, experts say. Many fans feel significant loss because they've invested time and money, fantasizing about what it would be like to be Dale Earnhardt or Michael Jordan. When Earnhardt was behind the wheel, they were behind the wheel. They wore Earnhardt hats, Earnhardt sunglasses, and drove Chevrolets, like Earnhardt. In some part, they take on that person's identity and even characteristics.