Have you ever wondered if you are a bandwagon sports fan? Or wondered about your friends, relatives or co-workers?
I’ve always believed that being a true sports fan means sticking to one team, through the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. And I definitely do that with my very favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers. But I’ve been thinking about bandwagon fans a little more lately, as I’ve taken an active interest in both the NHL and NBA playoffs.
Am I bandwagon fan? Are you?
Let’s see how many of these “12 Signs of Being a Bandwagon Sports Fan” apply, and we’ll find out.
1. You have more than one favorite team in a single sport.
I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and my favorite NFL team is the Packers, hands down.
But … I’ve always liked the Pittsburgh Steelers as my secondary team. The Packers were horrible when I was little, so it was nice to have a team to cheer for when the playoffs rolled around. I picked the Steelers because my grandparents lived in Pittsburgh, and my grandmother was a huge Steelers fans.
I always cheer for the Packers, and will cheer for the Steelers too (unless they are playing the Packers), so I’m going to say “no” to sign #1.
2. You know less than half of the players on the team.
A true fan knows that a team isn’t defined by one player. If you aren’t able to at least name the starting five for your NBA team of choice, then you can’t call yourself a true supporter. Stephen Curry isn’t the only guy out there on the court, right?
I can’t name all of the players on the Packers, but once the season starts and the roster is finalized, I’ll be able to talk about at least half of the players. So another “no” for this one.
3. When they’re winning you refer to your team as “we,” but when they’re losing, it’s “them.”
I am guilty of saying “we” all of the time, as if I was part of the reason the team wins or loses. And the only time I refer to them as the Packers is if I’m talking to someone who wouldn’t know what team I was talking about if I didn’t tell them.
So another “no”.
4. You leave the game early when your team is losing.
Never.
Enough said!
5. You’ve never experienced a losing season in your life.
This one is a sure sign, because bandwagon fans will always jump to a winning team, and never let themselves suffer a little when their team falls short.
I say suck it up, buttercup! I suffered through years of losing seasons with the Packers and the Badgers, but all those losses just made the good years even better. Another “no” for me!
6. There are photos of you wearing a different team’s jersey every year.
We’ve all seen the celebrities who show up on the sidelines during the playoffs for various sports, and are all of a sudden “big” fans of whichever team is doing well. Don’t be that person!
An easy “no” for me!
7. You switched teams when you moved to a new city.
I grew up in Wisconsin, but moved to the South in the late 80’s. I’ve lived in the Atlanta, Georgia area for much of that time, but would never think of cheering for the Atlanta Falcons or Georgia Bulldogs! I remain loyal to my Wisconsin teams!
No, not going to happen … ever.
8. You like to root for “the underdog.”
Okay … I’m guilty of this one, whenever I don’t have a dog in the fight. I tend to do this often during college sports tournaments like March Madness or the College World Series, because who doesn’t like to see the “little” guy win?
So, I have to give myself a “yes” to this one.
9. You switched allegiances when your favorite player joined a new team.
I wouldn’t change teams when I change locations, so why would anyone change teams to follow a player? I wouldn’t, so this is a “no” for me.
But here in the south, I know a number of people who cheer for whatever professional team that their favorite college player was drafted by, or traded to. I like seeing my favorite Badgers players moving on to great things in pro sports, but I’m not going to cheer for their teams!
10. You don’t have a good reason for liking a certain team.
I’ve heard some pretty questionable reasons to root for a team, like you think their jerseys are cool, or you cheer for them because your significant other does.
But I think I have pretty good reasons for liking the teams I follow!
11. You don’t really root for anyone until the playoffs.
I’m guilty of this one right now. I never watch an NBA game all season, and normally don’t pay much attention to the playoffs either. But this year I’ve caught Milwaukee Bucks fever, am a true bandwagon fan, and will have to take a “yes” to this one.
12. Your favorite player changes every year.
If your favorite player is always whoever the current MVP is, you might just be a bandwagon fan!
One of my favorite players, Donald Driver, doesn’t even play any more! So chalk up another “no” to this loyal fan!
Now count up the number of signs you answer “yes” to, and see where you rate as a bandwagon fan.
| “YES” Responses | Your Rating |
| 0 | Die Hard Fan |
| 1-3 | Loyal Fan |
| 4-6 | Bandwagon Fan |
| 7 or More | Can’t Call Yourself a Fan |
How did you do? I really wanted to be a Die Hard Fan, but with 2 “yes” responses, will have to settle for Loyal Fan!
Now, off to get ready for tonight’s Bucks – Raptors game, because I #fearthedeer!
Until next week,
Carrie
PIN for later!
Team Colors By Carrie 