When you see a grown man who is obviously a bandwagon fan, do you question his integrity as a human being?

Question

Not to sound sexist, but for most men, sports are ingrained in them from when they were babies. It's an integral part of their lives. And in most cases they developed an allegiance to a team when they were very young.

So, when a grown man changes the team he roots for just because a new team is the current world champion, do you question his integrity? I mean, if he can flip-flop on something so basic, what other issues must he be wishy washy on?

For example, when the Red Sox are playing on the west coast and I see men in their 30's and 40's with Red Sox gear on in the stands, unless they made the trip from the east coast, am I to believe that this man, who grew up in say, Oakland, was a Red Sox fan as a kid in the 70's when the Red Sox hadn't won a thing in decades?

And if not, what kind of character must he have if he only jumps on the bandwagon of a winning team?

Answer 1

Bandwagon fans have a purpose. So much of the nice team gear that is available was developed because there is a big market for it. The reason there is a market is because of the number of bandwagon fans who jump from team to team and need hats and shirts and all the other swag. Without this market there would be jerseys and hats and thats about it, and not too many of them either because true fans have the same hat and jersey for years.

Answer 2

I don't have the same problem with bandwagon fans as many on this site seem to have.  Not every man is a sports fan and there is really nothing wrong with that.  Some know a little about the game and get caught up in the action and excitement when their home town team, or the team they like, is having a good year.  At this point they can develop an interest, follow the game a lot closer, and pull for their team to win.  There is nothing wrong with this and MLB welcomes the extra interest in the game and there is no adverse issues involving the fans that follow the game with a passion.

Answer 3

I cannot stand bandwagoners myself, male or female, adult or kids.

My sons' friends like to brag about how big Yankees fans they are, then when I question them about even the easiest of Yankees history, they don't know. It's bad when a Sox fan knows more about the Yankees than a Yankees fan. Arrrrggghhhhh I hate that stuff.

However, the Sox and Yanks have, in my opinion, the most band wagon supporters than any other team in any other sport (even though Notre Dame and USC fans are close).

Answer 4

I think there are far better indicators of a person's integrity rather than who a person roots for.

We even see examples of this in Y/A.

You offer a contrary opinion and you get an email that 'attempts' to abuse you. That's much more telling of a person's personality and integrity over their choice of attire.

Some people feel the need to be 'on the winning side' all the time.

Some people refer to the team they root for like they are part of it.

"When we won the world series in 2003, it was so sweet".

That guy didn't play for the team and nothing they did, including buying tickets, going to games and rooting, really contributed to a championship season.

Answer 5

dude I've been a Bills fan and a Habs fan and a Jays fan since I was very young!

there's this dude that goes to my school! he always wears Patriots gear! it's pretty funny though cuz b4 that he was wearing Steelers gear!!!

also he became a Penguins fan when they made the playoffs!

and guess when he became a Red Sox fan!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if he wore Rays, and Red Wings stuff next year!!!

Answer 6

Its a sorry sight at any age. But a grown man is an especially pathetic sight. There are other things in life, and some people dont take sports as serious as others, but rooting for the winning team all the time just makes me question if they have any guts at all. How can somebody have so little desire for the risk and chance that makes sports so exciting. Teams win some years and lose some years, but if you stick with them, the winning years are all the more exciting, and those losers miss out on that true joy.

Answer 7

it is extremely pathetic. i can never imagine myself not being a new york yankees fan. ive grown up with it and been a fan my whole life. its just really sad when you see that, especially from an older person

Answer 8

For true fans the love of a team happens in childhood, it does not waver, it is ingrained as fact in our minds, nothing can change it.

I'm stunned when a "fan" decks out in the apparel of, say the Red Sox, claims to be a fan of the World Series winning team, is from Wisconsin and can't even tell me who the players on the team are. That is a bandwagon jumper. They have to pick the winning team every time.

I could never root for another team, die-hard Brewer fan from as far back as I can remember. I'm female, I'm impassioned about the Brewers and losing won't change that. There's always next year, it will happen, their time is coming...soon, that is what a true fan continues to believe.

The person that is a bandwagon jumper is usually the one who starts the fights, doesn't really watch the game or understand it, they just want to be on the winning side. The other type of bandwagon jumper is the guy who supports his team only when they're winning.

I do know that these type of men are irritating, they try to stump me, it never works...they are left looking silly next to a well informed woman.

I grew up in a household of men, I was the only girl and the youngest, sports are ingrained in my soul...the Brewers are part of my life.

Answer 9

Sometimes a great story will come by and will intrigue you enough to jump on their bandwagon. But normally for me that just happens when a mid major goes on a run in the NCAA team, and that is just because my team isn't making the NCAA tournament lately. Other than that I can't jump on a bandwagon because I love my favorite teams so much that it would be like cheating them, and thats what bandwagoneers are doing to their favs.

Answer 10

so you have to use you most hater team to make a point? why dont you use your own team fans?

and no i wouldn't as he has the right to cheer for any team he wants.

Answer 11

Interestiong question, but you are assuming that these Red Sox fans in Oakland have jumped onto the bandwagon recently, so I would have to wonder if perhaps you're prone to snap judgements.

I've been a Cub fans my entire life but there are other teams--the White Sox, Tigers, and Rockies--that I also root for; the Sox and Tigers since childhood and the Rockies since their inception ( I was living in Denver at the time). So if you saw me at a Cubs game wearing a Tigers or Rockies cap wouod you assume that I had jumped on their bandwagon because of their recent success?

Sports is entertainment, nothing more or less, and entertainers often influence fashion trends. Right now wearing a Bosox jersey is cool and I suspect that's the reason you see so many locals doing so.

I do think it's kind of pathetic that a 40-year-old man feels compelled to wear a faux baseball jersey in order to be cool, but that's just me.