By Josh:
With the playoffs starting I felt that today’s stereotypical fan was a needed public service announcement.
Hibernation from the end of the World Series to the start of spring training is a pretty good way to describe me. I come out of my baseball slumber for the winter meetings and the occasional big signing or trade. However, today’s stereotypical fan goes into hibernation from the end of the World Series until the final week of the next season.
Today’s Stereotypical Fan is the bandwagon fan.
The bandwagon fan only comes out at the end of the season so that they can see who the best team is at the moment and run to the store to buy that teams gear and cheer for them as if they have been lifelong fans of that team.
Let me make it clear that I have no problem with someone picking a team in a World Series or playoff match up to cheer for. I pick a team to cheer for in every playoff series because it keeps me a little bit more connected to the series and keeps my interest level higher. However, I am first a Seattle Mariners fan, second a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, and third a fan of whoever is playing the New York Yankees.
It is the fan who picks a team and then pretends like their loyalties have always been with that team that bothers me.
We have all met these fans, and some of us have even called a bandwagon fan our friend. So I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. One year they are supporting the Yankees and the next they are die hard Red Sox fans. They claim one year to bleed Dodger blue and yet they walk into Buffalo Wild Wings with a Giants hat on.
Once again I’m okay with people being casual baseball fans and just supporting a team so they can enjoy a series, but please don’t lump yourself in with us loyal fans. We went through the bad years while you were making fun of us for supporting out team, so please don’t jump on board with us now that our team is doing good.
In case you aren’t sure if you are a bandwagon fan yourself here is a checklist to go through.
Can you name your favorite team without thinking about it?
Do you refuse to even touch apparel with your favorite team’s rival’s logo on it?
Have you ever stopped talking to someone because they decided to root against your favorite team?
Have you ever stood up for your team even though they had a losing record?
Have people ever asked you where you hat is of your favorite team when you choose to not wear it for a single day?
Have you ever received a gift with another team’s logo on it and returned it to the store the next day because you didn’t want it in your house?
If you answered yes to at least five of these questions then have no fear you are not a bandwagon fan. If you answered no to three or more of these questions then I can inform you that you are likely a bandwagon fan.
You can read part 1 of the Fan Series: ‘I never played but I’m good enough to play in the majors’ here.
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