Fair Weather Fans: Getting worse?

[whalersjets]

1. Boston Bruins

t2. New England Patriots

t2. Boston Red Sox

4. Boston Celtics

[drivethru1986]

For me, I go to school up in Fairfield, CT and let me tell you, the amount of fair-weather Sox and Pats fans is sickening. Now I will say that there are lots of legitimate fans of those two teams, and they are as passionate about their teams as any fans I've met. For me, I have been lucky in that the teams I love have had moments of greatness in my lifetime. The Devils have won 3 Cups (I started watching seriously when I convinced my Dad to get us Sportschannel in 1992...and don't get me started about '94..I actually cried as an 8 year old). The Giants won the Super Bowl this past year which was awesome...I don't really remember Super Bowl XXV since I was four and my memories from then are hazy at best. My Dad grew up a Giants fan, I'm a Giants fan, and my kids will be Giants fans. Yankees, I've been a fan again since I've been watching sports, around '92 and let me tell you, the bandwagon fans in the mid to late 90's was annoying since when Id ask someone a question that a fan would know and they looked at me like I had 2 heads wasn't cool. But here is the true test as a fan according to my friends...I am a die-hard Knicks fan. As much as they have been pathetic the past few years (to say the least, I could write ten pages about the Isiah/Dolan debacle)...I've watched almost every single game since I was younger. At the same time through, if my team is out of the playoffs or don't make it I will always watch the other playoff rounds because just because your team is out doesn't mean you shouldn't still watch..heck its an opportunity to root AGAINST your team's rivals

[Joshawaggie]

To give you an idea of my fandom:

The year was 2000. The Twins fielded possibly one of the worst/unexperienced team in years. Their record was 69-93, 28 games outta first place. I rushed back from class to watch in my dorm every day. It was fun to watch, even if it was panifull. They ended up not being the worst Twins team ever, but going into the season, you could have fooled a lot of people.

i'll give my rankings:

1a. Twins

1b. Vikings

3a. Wild

3b. Timberwolves

[Camden Crazy]

Some people become fans of teams based on their new locale. I moved to the upstate of South Carolina over 7 years ago, but it took me a few years to become a Clemson fan. I am a fan of all of their teams, as well as Michigan State, who I grew up rooting for. I will also root for the Carolina Panthers and Hurricanes, and the Atlanta Braves and Thrashers, unless they are playing teams from my hometown. I will never give up my Tigers, Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, and Spartans fandom. That's just something I was born with and will die with.

That's how I am...I'm going to Bowling Green for college and really didn't have an NFL team...I'm a big Torry Holt fan so I always rooted for the Rams, but I didn't consider myself a fan, plus in my area there's maybe 1-2 Rams games on all season. Since I'll only be 2.5 hours from Cleveland, I figured the Browns were a good fit.

As for my other teams, I really don't follow the "geographical laws". I live in northeastern PA and am an Orioles, Duke (basketball), Florida (football), Suns, Crew, Tottenham, and Flyers fan with them being the only regional team that I am a fan of.

And really, if anyone ever consider me fair weather, I bring up the fact that I'm an Orioles fan and that's usually the end of that.

[MarinerIslanderSean]

1. New York Islanders

2. Seattle Mariners

3. B.C. Lions

Sports is all about loyalty - you can never give up. I cheer for perhaps the worst team in baseball and one of the worst teams in hockey. At least the Lions are good.

[infrared41]

That's how I am...I'm going to Bowling Green for college and really didn't have an NFL team...I'm a big Torry Holt fan so I always rooted for the Rams, but I didn't consider myself a fan, plus in my area there's maybe 1-2 Rams games on all season. Since I'll only be 2.5 hours from Cleveland, I figured the Browns were a good fit.

Thanks for choosing us. Now let me fill you in on how this works... We work hard to make sure that we don't get any bandwagon fans. Since we're coming off a winning season the bar is a little higher than it would have been in say 2006.

After a 10 win season:

In order to be considered a full-fledged Browns fan you have to follow the team for 3 consecutive seasons. (It's usually 5 seasons but since you'll be living in Ohio you get a special dispensation.) At the end of those 3 seasons you will be tested on those 3 seasons as well as Browns history. (Helpful hint: really study up on the 1981 Browns, The 1990 Browns, and The 1984 Browns) A sample question might be Q. In 1981 who dropped a pass against Houston and stopped what was a potential game winning drive? He was shown on the sidelines crying after it happened. A. Calvin Hill. and so on...

You also cannot at any time during your three year probation period jump ship because we went 4-12. (which I promise will happen during one of the three seasons) Doing so will make you ineligible for life.

But seriously, welcome aboard. Misery loves company.

[Camden Crazy]

That's how I am...I'm going to Bowling Green for college and really didn't have an NFL team...I'm a big Torry Holt fan so I always rooted for the Rams, but I didn't consider myself a fan, plus in my area there's maybe 1-2 Rams games on all season. Since I'll only be 2.5 hours from Cleveland, I figured the Browns were a good fit.

Thanks for choosing us. Now let me fill you in on how this works... We work hard to make sure that we don't get any bandwagon fans. Since we're coming off a winning season the bar is a little higher than it would have been in say 2006.

After a 10 win season:

In order to be considered a full-fledged Browns fan you have to follow the team for 3 consecutive seasons. (It's usually 5 seasons but since you'll be living in Ohio you get a special dispensation.) At the end of those 3 seasons you will be tested on those 3 seasons as well as Browns history. (Helpful hint: really study up on the 1981 Browns, The 1990 Browns, and The 1984 Browns) A sample question might be Q. In 1981 who dropped a pass against Houston and stopped what was a potential game winning drive? He was shown on the sidelines crying after it happened. A. Calvin Hill. and so on...

You also cannot at any time during your three year probation period jump ship because we went 4-12. (which I promise will happen during one of the three seasons) Doing so will make you ineligible for life.

But seriously, welcome aboard. Misery loves company.

I can live with that

[Jigga]

Wait, you can't root for both a Cleveland and Baltimore team! I thought Browns fans were obligated to hate everything about Charm City?

[TurnTwo]

1. Boston Red Sox

2. regular season New England Patriots

3. postseason New York Giants

4. Detroit Red Wings

5. Boston Celtics

6. LSU football

7. Kansas basketball

8. Fresno State baseball

But to get my post back on topic... no, I don't think bandwagon fans are getting worse.

[chestnutz]

1. Philadelphia Eagles...started liking them as a kid because eagles were my favorite animal, have loved them ever since. Each sunday decides if I'm going to be happy or sad that week, or hate Donovan McNabb. They also show about 12 or so of their games here in Rochester.

2. Syracuse Orange basketball...picked them up several years ago because I really needed a college bball team. I've gone to a bunch of games because it's only about an hour away, get all their games, and now I've become a pretty big fan.

T3. New York Mets...hate the yankees, live in New York, older brother was a fan, gone to a bunch of games, love their players, everything. I don't follow them religiously like I do the Eagles and Orange, but they're still my favorite team by far.

T3. Arsenal...Needed a team several years back, after looking around at teams I liked to watch and players I liked, I picked the Gunners because I loved Thierry Henry. Now I'm a set in stone fan, watching as many games as I can, growing to like them more with each year.

5. Washington Wizards...I don't really have a big NBA team I love, but the Wizards are probably my favorite, because I love Gilbert Arenas.

Hockey...dont care

[infrared41]

Wait, you can't root for both a Cleveland and Baltimore team! I thought Browns fans were obligated to hate everything about Charm City?

That only applies to football, indoor lacrosse, pro bowling, certain events in track and field, and poker. We have committees to figure out this stuff.

[JQK]

1. New Jersey Devils (I cried in '94 as well, i was 12)

1a. New York Giants

2. New York Yankees

3. New York Jets (Why is Wayne Chrebet's number not retired yet?)

I do feel bandwagoneering is getting worse in the Boston area.

[illwauk]

Actively Follow:

1. Wisconsin Badgers (football)

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Milwaukee Brewers

Might watch if I happen to catch a game on TV:

4. Milwaukee Bucks

5. Wisconsin Badgers (hockey)

Only check box scores (usually because the games aren't on TV):

6. Milwaukee Panthers (basketball)

7. Western Michigan Broncos (football)

8. Marquette Golden Eagles (basketball)

[Don]

ok i think ive only had one sense of fair weather-ness in my sports life, and that is when the Expos moved to DC, i dumped the Orioles as my favorite team mostly because of Peter Angelos' diligence in trying to keep baseball out of the District, so i said up yours Angelos and now i root for the Nats. heres my ranking:

1. Washington Capitals (now theres plenty of fairweather fans, but ive been a fan since the early 90's)

1a. Redskins (3rd generation Redskins fan)

2. Nationals (traveled to Philly for the first ever Nats game)

3. Maryland Terrapins basketball

4. DC United (i recently got into them this year, havent been a fan for any of their 4 titles)

[leopard88]

And really, if anyone ever consider me fair weather, I bring up the fact that I'm an Orioles fan and that's usually the end of that.

Agreed. However, if it becomes necessary to up the ante, I can mention that I went to 10-12 games in 1988 (the 0-21, 54-107 season for the uninitiated).

[TFoA]

And really, if anyone ever consider me fair weather, I bring up the fact that I'm an Orioles fan and that's usually the end of that.

Agreed. However, if it becomes necessary to up the ante, I can mention that I went to 10-12 games in 1988 (the 0-21, 54-107 season for the uninitiated).

I feel you on that. I'm basically a n00b to the Hawks, I wasn't around when Mookie and Mutombo were flying all over the place...but I earned my hardcore fan status by sitting through every home game of the 13 win 03-04 season. Seeing them in the playoffs last year was still surreal.

[FiddySicks]

1. New Jersey Devils (I cried in '94 as well, i was 12)

1a. New York Giants

2. New York Yankees

3. New York Jets (Why is Wayne Chrebet's number not retired yet?)

I do feel bandwagoneering is getting worse in the Boston area.

Because he's only a flashlight, not a star

[Luigi74]

The only non-Pittsburgh team I ever rooted for was the Dolphins when Dan Marino played there, but a lot of folks from Pittsburgh did the same thing.

[Camden Crazy]

I forgot to list my teams in order, so why not re-enter the thread:

1. Duke basketball...I've been a fan of them since I was 5-6 years old.

2. Orioles...Painful, but with baseball being my favorite sport, I can't help but follow them (and watch them whenever I can)

3. Tottenham...I just started to get into soccer, but Spurs have grown on me rather quickly.

4. Florida football...I never watched them when I was younger but became a fan because I liked their mascot..lame I know.

5. Flyers...2 years ago they were probably #2 on this list, but I've lost some interest. I still watched about 50 of their regular season games plus the non-Versus playoff games last year though.

6. Browns...the new team on the block, so naturally they start lower on the list

7. Suns...my interest in the NBA is fading very fast.

8. All BGSU sports...this will climb up the list once I get to campus and start going to games. I'm definitely going to be a regular at football, basketball, and hockey games.

[charger77]

1. Boston Red Sox

2. regular season New England Patriots

3. postseason New York Giants

4. Detroit Red Wings

5. Boston Celtics

6. LSU football

7. Kansas basketball

8. Fresno State baseball

But to get my post back on topic... no, I don't think bandwagon fans are getting worse.

Luck for you that all of "your teams" have just about all won championships in the last 2 years