Real sports fans NEVER jump on a bandwagon.......

Tags: other, sports, college

Real sports fans NEVER jump on a bandwagon...

Expires: 29-Mar-2007 16:24

smithala

1 Vote
11%

So this all starts with a phone call I get from my Ex, who doesn't actually have teams she supports, or really is a "true" sports fan. She asks me who I'm cheering for in the UNC v G'town game. To which I respond, "Neither, I hope they both lose."

Now to explain, my favorite CBB team is Syracuse. Biggest rival, G'town. I'm also an ACC fan, specifically UVa. Therefore it's a must to hate UNC and Duke over everthing else.

So back to my point. Real sports fans NEVER jump on a bandwagon, no matter who that team is. Sure, you can cheer for other teams, but you can't say "my team is...." and have that be someone other than the team you cheer for normally. Last year, it was fun to support George Mason on their run to the final four, but that wasn't really anyone's team. Same with G'town, fun to support them (I argue otherwise) but not to claim them as your team, now or in the future.

Real sports fans will only support your team. Like Wolverine's unyielding love for UMich, or MSmith, Metz and Triggs man crush with Favre and the Pack. You don't all of a sudden and turn around and "hope" Ohio State wins anything or the Chicago Bears win anything. In the end, you either hope they lose or they lose badly. Those are the only options. Not jumping onto a bandwagon. Bandwagon's are for girls and casual fans.

bMoney

8 Votes
88%

You bricked this one, Smithala. What makes a "real" sports fan is a true love of sport and athletic excellence. Loyalty to a particular team or athlete is great--it makes for great smack, that's for sure--but real sports fans recognize great athletic achievements by ANYONE at any time. They root for sport itself.

Bandwagons form for a reason. They form when greatness is on the line. They form around a sense of moment. Can you blame the fan who wants to see George Mason represent just because it's cool to see an unknown in the Big Dance? Can you blame the fan who roots for Jerome Bettis because it's sweet that he finally made it to the Super Bowl? Can you blame the Lefty fan who wants to see Tiger get the grand slam, so he can tell his kids about it?

Now, I'll grant you this--no one likes a fair-weather fan. It's lame to switch your allegiances just because your local favorite is taking a beating, or out of the running, or whatever. It's even worse to pretend that you "knew all along" that the bandwagon-to-be was worth rooting for.

But "Bandwagon's [sic] are for girls and casual fans," Smithala? Who are the real casual fans: those who survey the entire sports scene and recognize greatness when it occurs, or the millions of meatheads who mindlessly fill sporting venues and know no loyalty other than their own local geography? That takes no brain, requires no attention, and makes for nothing worth celebrating. And as far as the girls... well, I guess I've never minded girls rooting for me.

But your smack is broader than that, and way too broad in my opinion.

ReadComments

First String Dabber (voted for bMoney)

26-Mar-07 17:08

Good argument b, rooting for the sport itself can be a worthy pursuit. Do you have to be an ironclad Colts fan to pick a side during the superbowl? Or is it somehow more honest to sit there, nursing your coors and hissing through your teeth, "whatever, that commercial was ok, and by the way the Packers were robbed." If we strive for absolute purity in team choice we lose the opportunity to relax and enjoy the world of sporting, which might even further our appreciation for the team we know and love. And smith, what's up with with not only your misplaced apostrophe but your bitterness-laden assignation of fairweather fans to "girls"? Cancel my subscription; I don't need your issues.

Wolverine (voted for bMoney)

26-Mar-07 17:57

The key here is the use of the word "we" versus "they." The second someone starts using "we" when they aren't a die hard fan, they've lost my respect. This point is true with fair weather fans as well. When things are going well it's "we" but when things are falling apart it's "they." That is crap.

With this rule intact, I think it is ok to support teams that are in your team's conference, division, league etc. For example, I'm an American Leage guy. I'm a Big Ten guy. I'm an Eastern conference guy. I will support my team's rival when they are pitted against the other side.

SmackDaddy (voted for bMoney)

27-Mar-07 00:28

smithala, I appreciate the spirit of your position, but I don't feel that it's a black/white issue as you've made it out to be. You were fighting an uphill battle from the outset. Unfortunately for you, bMoney picked you out early and never abated. He was clearly in the mood and his smack was just too good.