DISCLAIMER: To all bandwagon fans, I may piss you off in this blog by my general disgust of your existence!!!!!!
Bandwagon Fan. Depending on who you are, that can be a very abusive term. Webster's Dictionary had nothing for me but UrbanDictionary.com did. A couple definitions. 1. "Anyone who claims they are a "fan" of a particular sports team even though they had no prior support for/interest in that particular team until that team started winning. These type of fans show playoff interest, and have probably never watched a regular season game." 2.Whenever's a region's sports team gets really good, really quickly. Everyone and their fucking dog either buys a sports jersey or takes the old one out of the closet claiming they are a diehard fan." Hmmmm....
I'm just gonna let those definitions sink in....... In 1995, I was a freshman at college and my favorite MLB team, the Braves, FINALLY won the World Series. I was called a bandwagon fan cause those people had NO idea the suffering of 100 loss seasons coupled with several World Series losses did to me. They didn't know my history of fandom with the Braves, so I understand the accusations. I was not a bandwagon fan! I am the fan that takes offense to that term. I am the fan who is serious in his fanhood. Now, I understand the casual fan who latches on at the opportune moment of the Super Bowl, World Series, or the Final Four. You are too cute. The kind of cute that Lennie crushed in Of Mice and Men! LETS GET THIS STRAIGHT. You exist because I exist!!! I, the REAL sports fan, enable your casual fandom. Your Final Four parties, your Super Bowl parties, and definitely your World Cup excuses for being late for work. Me and hundreds of thousands like me are ruthless in our loyalty to attendance, merchandise, and viewing habits. You the casual bandwagon fan...you are the casualty of the great American existence, Sports.
Now, UrbanDictionary.com's definitions cover many a team. Most recently I am reminded of the VCU Basketball team as they made their run to the 2011 Final Four. It was a tremendous run for a mid-major team. But it both confuses me and makes me sympathetic towards people. I mean, it's cute. It's just sweet how people who have NEVER rooted for a team suddenly have a rooting interest and they are buying jerseys/merchandise of the team. I understand that not everyone is a real fan. I understand that. They have that excuse of ignorance. BUT YOU.....and you know who I'm talking about. The ACTUAL sports fan whose team didn't make it. So you became a die hard fan of a region team that did. I laugh at you. You are NO SPORTS FAN! You pretend to be loyal to your team but your loyalty is as false as Obama's desire to help America! I don't care about your "little engine that could" regional team. It's a real shame people will compromise themselves as "true fans" (cause next yr they will call themselves that when they root for the team/school they always rooted for) so that they will openly root for a regional team that is still in it.
You disgust me. Phonies. Nothing but fake shit. But next year I will wait for you. You will be there. That team you "always" were behind and just now suddenly started rooting for. Do what you do. I will wait for you. Like a fart in the wind, you will come and go. So VIRGINIANS, I speak to YOU!!! When UVA lacrosse and soccer is in contention for a national title, WILL YOU STAND UP! If VT runs through the ACC Football schedule like we did last year, WILL YOU STAND UP!!! You JMU, Hampton, UR, VCU, GMU, WMU fans, WILL YOU STAND UP!!! You stood up for VCU, don't sit down now!!!! Its okay if you dont. I will laugh and remember you claiming you weren't a bandwagon fan. BUT if you don't, admit to yourself you are a BANDWAGON VCU fan!!!! I KNOW that's what you are. I am not fooled. I love these sports and I am intolerant of your abuses!!! In your heart you will know you are a bandwagon. You are that fuckin fly buzzing around that nobody gives a shit about. That nuisance. You are a part of nothing. No Ram Nation. You will go away next year and I laugh at you. You are pathetic. But I am sympathetic to you like the cripple in the Post Office with leprosy, CAUSE YOU FREAKIN DISGUST ME!!!!
Okay, Ashby, as you know I do not agree with this post. I do understand you writing it as you have a love affair with sports. I will say as a wordsmith myself I thought that your writing was superb with the many references and quotes in 'stateing your case'. That said you were more of an asshole than usual and harsher on those you opposed. Ashby, feeling strongly about topics .. well thats who you are. Especially when it regards sports. Most of those who know you know that all things sports related runs through your veins. It just does and it has since you were 6 years old. My opinion of Virginians who supported VCU in the Final Four, of which I was one, is not because they got on the bandwagon. It was not because VCU made it to the Final Four. It was because VCU was the underdog - no one thought they would make it that far... they had worked hard to get to this final competition. Americans like to see this especially during the hard times we face right now. In our history American's moral has been lifted and distracted in those hard times by different things...yes sports, Shirley Temple movies during the Depression and WWII, George M. Cohen's patriotic music and plays during WWI. I could go on with examples but I think you get the point. That is always going to be respected and cheered by people - yes Virginians included. Who knows maybe they will find they enjoy the sport and become real fans. Just saying.
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