Why Bandwagon Makes True Fans Angry

Apr 10, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) high fives fans after scoring 47 points against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Ah, the bandwagon. So many are bandwagon fans, and that’s just something that isn’t going to “fly” with the real fans out there. Better conceal your identity, bandwagons, because it’s not going to be easy for you if you admit that you are one. Honestly, how many people were really there for the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2013 season began?

And where were all the Miami Heat fans when they were in the middle of one of the worst seasons they’ve ever had. They were non-existant. That’s what I’ll tell you. Before you skim down to the comment section right away and trash me, I want you to hear my logic. People have been doing this all their lives, bandwagoning, and it’s gotten to the point of no return.

What us loyal fans are angered with is the fact that we stand by out teams through thick and thin and stay no matter how bad it gets. What you guys do, however, is come for the good times and find another team when the times are tough. I value Raider fans. Honestly, right now, the Oakland Raiders’ only step in the right direction is starting Terrelle Pryor. Other than that, they’re hopeless.

Do their fans seems to care? No. They stand by their team and still have all the happiness that they could after one win. The Raiders may not be a great football team, but I can tell you this, their fans stick by them no matter what. When the Raiders do become good, I’m sure their fanbase will grow rapidly, probably double in size, just like the 49ers’ fan base.

The problem with distinguishing the bandwagon fans from the real fans, however, is that the bandwagon will claim they’ve been there from the start, when in reality, they’re just trying to cover up the fact that they are all phony. Every Heat fan, for example, that I’ve talked to, claims to have been a fan from the start and that they would continue to like the team even if they started to lose.

Why do you think that the Los Angeles Lakers have so many fans? Is it because they’re just a likable team? I don’t think so. Many think Kobe Bryant, although one of the all-time greats, is very arrogant. The rest are his bandwagon fans who live all over the country. They’ve all been fans for so long that they’ve stuck to the Lakers and have become die-hard. If the Lakers were never good to start with, the situation would be a lot different.

In the 2013 NBA playoffs, I couldn’t believe how many people were posting on Facebook about how good the Warriors were doing in the postseason. In the regular season, and in years before, I had never seen a single person do that except for the diehard fans. Does loyalty mean nothing?

Personally, I think that when your favorite team finally has a winning season and postseason success, it’s more satisfactory than simply just becoming a fan for the good times. The reason bandwagoners are so hated is because loyal fans are angered with the other fans who think that switching teams is so easy. It’s very bothersome.

As a message to all the bandwagon fans from us real fans. STOP! Stick with one team for the longrun and stop being so arbitrary.