Are you a bandwagon sports fan?

[Immortalfire]

I was inspired by 2 things to make this inquiry. 1, Chris Wallace's thread in Community about bandwagon jumpers in regard to movies, books, that sort of thing..and 2, our resident Teal Crusader's constant jumping from team to team.

I figure most of us are sincere, longtime fans. But in any case, tell us...what led you to be a fan of your teams?

 

[Go Web Go!]

This thread needs to be renamed in honor of a certain someone, much like the uniform thread was. But yes, you are correct in that most of us have been longtime fans, likely born and raised on their respective teams - as is the case with me. Don't care much for bandwagoners. I shouldn't, but those are the same people stealing my seats before I can buy one to a game or stealing my stool at the bar to watch...and it's my stool. I carved my initials into it and everything.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Yankees - Friend took me to a Yankees/Braves game in '97(first year of interleague). He was cheering for the Braves, so I decided to root for the Yankees.

Panthers - First NFL game I really paid attention to was the 1995 Hall of Fame game that featured the Carolina Panthers/Jacksonville Jaguars. Panthers won that game, so I made them my team.


Flyers - Wasn't a huge hockey fan back then. My friends cheered for the Flyers since we're from Pennsylvania. So I just started cheering for them. So as hockey started to grow on me, I just kept cheering for them.


Cavaliers - I watched the NBA because of Jordan, but never really had a team that I liked. Then in '03 when LeBron came aboard, I started cheering for the Cavaliers. I'll continue to be a Cavaliers fan. I'm not gonna bounce around from team to team just because the Cavs lost LeBron. The Cavs are still in the Eastern Conference. This means the likelyhood of a playoff spot is certain.

 

[Raiden]

Yankees - My family moved to Brooklyn from LA back in '87-88, and before then I wasn't really into baseball. However, the fanatic Yankees fans in my HS got me interested in this team (which wasn't very good back then, and they had Don Mattingly-still my fave Yankee ever-as their star back then). I remain a fan to this day.

Raiders/Jets - I was a fan of the LA Raiders before they went back to Oakland, and after their departure I got really pissed and decided to boycott them and root for another team. I later decided to root for the Jets because I had live in Brooklyn for awhile, and so I see NY teams as somewhat of my "hometown" teams. I have bounced between Raiders & Jets recently, and I can't decide if I should stay loyal to one team or both.

Lakers - Became a Lakers fan ever since my family moved to Los Angeles.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Die hard fan of:

San Francisco 49ers - Born and raised in Bay Area, plus my mom's side of the family are all 49ers fans. Grew up in a 49ers house. My dad was a Steelers fan, and his side of the family were Raider fans, but the stronger influence on me was my mom's side of the family, so I took to the 49ers.

Orlando Magic - No basketball ties in my family, since my dad didn't really have a team, and my mom wasn't a fan. Growing up in the Bay Area, the Warriors sucked at the time (well, Run TMC was exciting), so everyone was a Chicago Bulls / Michael Jordan fan. Kinda wanted to go against the grain, became a fan of Shaq, and started to cheer for the Magic. The Magic are probably the closest thing I am to a bandwagon fan, since they aren't a local team and I became a fan because of a player, but I remained with the Magic after Shaq left, after Penny was traded, the "Heart & Hustle" year with no superstars what so ever (Still love the crap out of Darrell Armstrong and Bo Outlaw), the T-Mac years and Grant Hill's busted ankle, T-Mac's defection, and the eventual resurgence on the shoulders of Dwight Howard. Recently made the drive from Nashville, TN to Orlando, FL to attend my very first game at the O-Rena: Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Boston Celtics.

San Francisco Giants - Grew up in a house divided; my dad and his side of the family was Oakland A's fans, and my mom and her side of the family all San Francisco Giants fans. So I grew up rooting for both for the longest time, but eventually, I just drifted towards the way of the Giants. Barry Bonds helped, I absolutely LOVED the teams of Bonds, Matt Williams, Will Clark, Robby Thompson, Darren Lewis, etc... I also remember going to picnics and gatherings with family and family friends, listening to Giants games and playoff games on the radio, and the heated playoff race against the Atlanta Braves that required a 1 game playoff (before the Wild Card was instituted). Those fun memories also helped turn me to a Giants fan. And to this very day, even being in different divisions, I still hate the crap out of the Braves. Hate our current ownership, and don't agree with the direction of the team, but I'm still a fan.

 

[Matt]

I wish I were a bandwagon fan. Then I wouldn't be stuck with the Pirates.

 

[Immortalfire]

Bulldogs - I don't know a time in my life when I wasn't a Dawg. My entire family has been and still is, and thus I've never known any different. It's just been ingrained into my being since birth.

Falcons - I didn't really follow the NFL in my kidhood, just wasn't my thing. I watched the Falcons off and on, even though they were quite bad most of the time. I recall watching them quite a bit in the late 90's, when they were getting good...and of course their Super Bowl appearance in 99. I've been through the bad times and the Vick times, but today is the good times with Matty Ice, Turner the Burner and Tony G, even the experts say that the team has never looked so good.

Braves - My parents first got us cable in 1990. Before then, I don't think I had ever seen any baseball. Then the wonder of TBS came along, and the 90's reign of the Atlanta Braves came with it. From the age of 8 to now, I remain true blue.

Thrashers - I had a passing interest in hockey as a kid, then became a sort of fan when ATL was granted a new team in 99. I watched the Thrashers off and on, and finally went to my first game in 2003. I've been hooked ever since. Sadly, they too are owned by the same boneheads that run the Hawks, so there are a lot of problems. But Don Waddell is no longer the GM, so there's some hope.

 

[Immortalfire]

San Francisco Giants - Grew up in a house divided; my dad and his side of the family was Oakland A's fans, and my mom and her side of the family all San Francisco Giants fans. So I grew up rooting for both for the longest time, but eventually, I just drifted towards the way of the Giants. Barry Bonds helped, I absolutely LOVED the teams of Bonds, Matt Williams, Will Clark, Robby Thompson, Darren Lewis, etc... I also remember going to picnics and gatherings with family and family friends, listening to Giants games and playoff games on the radio, and the heated playoff race against the Atlanta Braves that required a 1 game playoff (before the Wild Card was instituted). Those fun memories also helped turn me to a Giants fan. And to this very day, even being in different divisions, I still hate the crap out of the Braves. Hate our current ownership, and don't agree with the direction of the team, but I'm still a fan.

The Giants were the first team I ever saw live, in San Francisco. It was the summer of 1992, and had the pleasure of seeing Will Clark in action

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Two of my favorite teams are teams that I've been a fan of since I was a little kid and into my teenager years.

The New England Patriots and the Dallas Mavericks for me personally are teams that I've always respected. While everyone that I knew growing up were Los Angeles Raider fans(due to Bo Jackson), 49er fans(due to Jerry Rice and Joe Montana), or say the Chicago Bulls or The Lakers.

I've always been more of a fan when it came to the underdogs and the Patriots/Mavericks were always the underdog. I respect teams that no one expects anything out of because they have nothing to lose.

When the Patriots lost to Green Bay in 1996 I was literally heartbroken because I wanted Bill Parcells to get another ring, wanted to see Drew Bledsoe get a ring then too. Needless to say when they beat the Rams for their first Super Bowl I screamed so loud, jumped so high, and continued screaming to the point that I lost my voice the next day.

Dallas? My mother is from Dallas and I've always loved the state of Texas, the people(minus Dubya), and the team regardless of what people feel about the owners or some of the players is a class organization. As I said I will always respect the underdogs more than I do the hyped up teams.

 

[Byrd Man]

USC Gamecock s (Damn you, hype censors!)
I'm from South Carolina. I've been a USC fan through the thick, which has been very thin, and the thin, which has been very thick.

But, wait.....COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS, MUTHA****AS!


Atlanta Braves
I live about 120 miles from Atlanta and grew up during the golden era of Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz. Been following them since I can remember. I was three the year Sid Bream made it into home plate and the Braves won the NLCS (Yeah, he may have been out, but that's not what happened. Suck it, Pirates!! )


Okland Raiders
My dad was a Raiders fan because of their success in the 70's. He passed on his liking for the Raiders on to me. So, I guess I'm not a bandwagon fan in that regards....I'm more of a secondhand bandwagon fan.

NBA, NHL I don't care about. I watch the games, but I don't have a favorite team.

 

[StorminNorman]

I'm a bit of a bandwagon fan when it comes to sports I don't have interest in (like the USA Hockey team of 2010, or the Florida Marlins during the 90's).

Of "my teams" (in NFL, College and the NBA), I suppose I could count as a bandwagon fan of the Magic - though I would like to believe I am a lifelong fan now. The fact I live(d) in Orlando helps defend the charge to an extent, and my interest now is based purely upon the personality and management of the team more than success.

I became a St. Louis fan in 1999, but that honestly came about BEFORE they started having success. I remember watching a Pre-Season CNNSI feature on Kurt Warner filling Trent Green's shoes and I really, really liked the guy. So I started watching Rams games. And they started winning. And winning. And winning.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Two of my favorite teams are teams that I've been a fan of since I was a little kid and into my teenager years.

The New England Patriots and the Dallas Mavericks for me personally are teams that I've always respected. While everyone that I knew growing up were Los Angeles Raider fans(due to Bo Jackson), 49er fans(due to Jerry Rice and Joe Montana), or say the Chicago Bulls or The Lakers.

I've always been more of a fan when it came to the underdogs and the Patriots/Mavericks were always the underdog. I respect teams that no one expects anything out of because they have nothing to lose.

When the Patriots lost to Green Bay in 1996 I was literally heartbroken because I wanted Bill Parcells to get another ring, wanted to see Drew Bledsoe get a ring then too. Needless to say when they beat the Rams for their first Super Bowl I screamed so loud, jumped so high, and continued screaming to the point that I lost my voice the next day.

Dallas? My mother is from Dallas and I've always loved the state of Texas, the people(minus Dubya), and the team regardless of what people feel about the owners or some of the players is a class organization. As I said I will always respect the underdogs more than I do the hyped up teams.

Too bad the Patriots cheated.

 

[Raiden]

^ StorminNorman, I thought you are a Lions fan?

 

[Microchip]

I'll cheer for the underdog in the Super Bowl and Ivory Coast once every 4 years in the World Cup. Outside of that, I like to think I'm a pretty loyal guy!

 

[mwrfan]

Definitely not a bandwagon fan, which are my least favorite part of sports and unfortunately are a large part of them. My Teams are...

Michigan Wolverines- I'm originally from Michigan and lived there until I was 10 so it was pretty much imprinted in me to love the Wolverines but that as you all know has been pretty painful the last few years..

Dallas Mavericks- I moved to Dallas when I was 10 and was just getting into sports (especially basketball) my older brother started watching the Mavs and I've been a die hard fan ever since. I realized I was a MFFL when i cried myself to sleep after game 6 of the NBA Finals in 2006 hah..

Texas Rangers- About the same time I became a Mavs fan I became a Rangers fan and since the games were ALOT cheaper to go to than Mavs or Cowboy games I've pretty much went to 20 a season since 2001. Thank God its finally paying off though cuz its been hard to be a fan especially the meltdowns in July and August the past couple seasons.

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

I bandwagon'd the St Louis Rams cause of Kurt Warner...but have always been a Lions fan and havent cared for any team besides them in the NFL after Kurt left (I was a lil kid and Kurt Warner was someone to look up to)
I'm not a bandwagon though
Go Mavs, Rangers, MSU Spartans, and Lions!

 

[redhawk23]

I'm not a bandwagon fan, but eventually it just became nearly impossible to support the Rams. They play abysmally but then still insist St. Louis to poor more money into them and stadium updates, threatening to leave in a few years if we don't. At this point I wish they would.

 

[BigSams50]

Charlotte Bobcats: I was a huge Hornets fan as a kid. When they left i was devastated, but the NBA said we'd get another team. I've been a die hard Bobcats fan since day one. And i must say, that is no easy task.

New York Jets: Growing up no one in my family really watched football. So I kinda got into football late, and by then Charlotte had the Panthers. But i never really cared for the Panthers. I started to root for the Jets because i loved to watch Curtis Martin and Vinny Testaverde. So they then became my favorite team. And its not easy being a Jets fan, but they are the team i love.

UNC Tar Heels: All of my friends growing up were huge Tar Heel fans, and being from NC also made the choice pretty easy.

Carolina Hurricanes: I dont really follow hockey that much, but i try to follow them as much as I can

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Too bad the Patriots cheated.

Actually Spygate has been proven that it didn't matter. Those who say the Patriots cheated have no clue what they're talking about. With or without Spygate they still could've lost those games.

Especially the ones against the Rams and the Panthers. Seeing as both games came down to a field goal, so the whole cheating argument is ridiculous.

Most of your football analysts, coaches, and several other people have stated that Spygate didn't determine the outcomes of those Super Bowl games. Honestly I think most who say the Patriots cheated are just bitter jealous fans.

 

[Holiday]

Actually Spygate has been proven that it didn't matter. Those who say the Patriots cheated have no clue what they're talking about. With or without Spygate they still could've lost those games.

Especially the ones against the Rams and the Panthers. Seeing as both games came down to a field goal, so the whole cheating argument is ridiculous.

Most of your football analysts, coaches, and several other people have stated that Spygate didn't determine the outcomes of those Super Bowl games. Honestly I think most who say the Patriots cheated are just bitter jealous fans.

Whether it mattered in the outcome of the game is irrelevant, cheating is still cheating. They still broke the rules, you can't say they didn't cheat.

 

[StorminNorman]

^ StorminNorman, I thought you are a Lions fan?

I am. I lost interest in the St. Louis Rams, not because they started to lose, but because they destroyed what I liked about it. I was relatively apathetic to the NFL until 2009.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Whether it mattered in the outcome of the game is irrelevant, cheating is still cheating. They still broke the rules, you can't say they didn't cheat.

I put the to imply I was kidding around, but if we're gonna get serious about it...

Yes, I agree with Holiday. Cheating is cheating. Do I think that SpyGate was the sole reason why the Pats won? No. That was a badass team that would have won probably to begin with. But they did still cheat. That much was proven. And SOME pundits have said it didn't matter, but the general concencous (sp? sorry, don't know how to spell that word) on the matter is that the Patriots wouldn't have done it if it didn't give them some kind of advantage.

You honestly think that knowing what plays the other team was going to run based on signals wasn't good for 3 points? Ask the 2002 Oakland Raiders just how big of an advantage it is when the other team knows what you're gonna do.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Whether it mattered in the outcome of the game is irrelevant, cheating is still cheating. They still broke the rules, you can't say they didn't cheat.

It's been confirmed that Bellichek(spelling?) did in fact tape signals from the sidelines. But it didn't determine the outcomes of those games at all. If it did they would've won against the Giants if that were the case.

But yes it was cheating to a degree, however, seeing as two of those Super Bowl games came down to field goals it makes the argument invalid since if it mattered they whould've blown out the Rams, Panthers, and Eagles.

 

[Silver Knight]

I have loved LeBron since 02 and will follow him. Dont hate on me because of it.

 

[Immortalfire]

That doesn't explain your newfound love for the Dolphins...other than the fact they wear teal.