Bandwagoners

[furryburres]

The other day, my firend and I were talking. Well, I have know this friend for about 25 years, and I know that he has been a diehard O's fan for most of his life. In fact, his dad would always get seats right next to Wild Bill Hagy, the taxi-cab driver O's fan. This man had grown up on Earl Weaver baseball, and was right there cheering in Cal Ripken's first home game, a game which at the time he said he would never forget.

Well, anyway, we were talking about normal stuff, i.e., politics, Iraqi War, mundane stuff like that. Well, one topic of conversation led to another, and all of a sudden, we were on to baseball. Well, first we sat there for 25 minutes, on the phone, just talking about how modern baseball is going down the drain, what with the steroid allegations, and the fact that baseball has become a business. I then asked him why he never went to O's games anymore, and he managed to piss me off by saying six magic words.

"I don't root for them anymore..."

Well, reasonably, I was confused, so I asked him why. He gave a whole bunch of ambling reasons, his wife wasn't from around here, he doesn't spend too much time here anymore, and with each excuse I grew angrier. I told to tell me the truth, and he told me that he didn't root for them anymore because they weren't good.

I managed to look through my anger to ask him one question. Who did he root for? The next word pissed me off like nothing had ever done before.

"The Yankees"

I am so sick of all these stupid bandwagon fans, the ones who don't really care about the game of baseball. For instance, almost every celebrity who ever went to a Yankees game, also ended up going to a Red Sox game. They just do it for publicity. They couldn't care less about the real fans.

And just when I thought it couldn't get worse, here I was, listening to a rabid O's fan (for a long time, anyway) turn back on his team because they weren't good. And I realized something that I hadn't realized yet.

The sickness was spreading.

Sooner or later, every fan gets sick of it's teams 10th straight losing season, and then the above fan gets put to a test. This test determines whether they would like the O's next season, or never. And many fans have failed this test.

That's why I'm so mad at these celebrities. They're the cause for all this trouble, so why do we, the fans, end up suffering?

[Lucky Jim]

The other day, my firend and I were talking. Well, I have know this friend for about 25 years, and I know that he has been a diehard O's fan for most of his life. In fact, his dad would always get seats right next to Wild Bill Hagy, the taxi-cab driver O's fan. This man had grown up on Earl Weaver baseball, and was right there cheering in Cal Ripken's first home game, a game which at the time he said he would never forget.

Well, anyway, we were talking about normal stuff, i.e., politics, Iraqi War, mundane stuff like that. Well, one topic of conversation led to another, and all of a sudden, we were on to baseball. Well, first we sat there for 25 minutes, on the phone, just talking about how modern baseball is going down the drain, what with the steroid allegations, and the fact that baseball has become a business. I then asked him why he never went to O's games anymore, and he managed to piss me off by saying six magic words.

"I don't root for them anymore..."

Well, reasonably, I was confused, so I asked him why. He gave a whole bunch of ambling reasons, his wife wasn't from around here, he doesn't spend too much time here anymore, and with each excuse I grew angrier. I told to tell me the truth, and he told me that he didn't root for them anymore because they weren't good.

I managed to look through my anger to ask him one question. Who did he root for? The next word pissed me off like nothing had ever done before.

"The Yankees"

I am so sick of all these stupid bandwagon fans, the ones who don't really care about the game of baseball. For instance, almost every celebrity who ever went to a Yankees game, also ended up going to a Red Sox game. They just do it for publicity. They couldn't care less about the real fans.

And just when I thought it couldn't get worse, here I was, listening to a rabid O's fan (for a long time, anyway) turn back on his team because they weren't good. And I realized something that I hadn't realized yet.

The sickness was spreading.

Sooner or later, every fan gets sick of it's teams 10th straight losing season, and then the above fan gets put to a test. This test determines whether they would like the O's next season, or never. And many fans have failed this test.

That's why I'm so mad at these celebrities. They're the cause for all this trouble, so why do we, the fans, end up suffering?

Well, if he doesn't live in Baltimore anymore, it's forgivable. I mean, I don't live in Maryland, and I'm still an O's fan, but when you move away, and you're inundated with broadcasts/news about other teams, and the team you rooted for really stinks...well...it happens.

Of course, the Yankees seem more egregious. But if he'd moved to Cincinnati and started following the Reds we probably wouldn't mind so much.

He does LIVE in/near NYC, right?

[NewMarketSean]

Not rooting for the O's because you move away is one thing. Especially if they stink. It happens over time. But rooting for the Yankees instead is inforgiveable. I mean, what fun is rooting for a winner? Like someone else said, rooting for teams like the Red Sox and Yankees is like rooting for Brad Pitt to get laid.

[longflyball]

Not rooting for the O's because you move away is one thing. Especially if they stink. It happens over time. But rooting for the Yankees instead is inforgiveable. I mean, what fun is rooting for a winner? Like someone else said, rooting for teams like the Red Sox and Yankees is like rooting for Brad Pitt to get laid.

Rooting for the Yankees is like walking up to a blackjack table and rooting for the house.

[rolliefingers]

For instance, almost every celebrity who ever went to a Yankees game, also ended up going to a Red Sox game. They just do it for publicity. They couldn't care less about the real fans.


I disagree with this part. Ben Affleck might go to Sox games to "be seen", but he actually is a Sox fan, and would never be seen in a Yankees hat.

[furryburres]

Well, if he doesn't live in Baltimore anymore, it's forgivable. I mean, I don't live in Maryland, and I'm still an O's fan, but when you move away, and you're inundated with broadcasts/news about other teams, and the team you rooted for really stinks...well...it happens.

Of course, the Yankees seem more egregious. But if he'd moved to Cincinnati and started following the Reds we probably wouldn't mind so much.

He does LIVE in/near NYC, right?

Nope. Lives in Kensington, Mayland.

[Icterus galbula]

Rooting for the Yankees is like walking up to a blackjack table and rooting for the house.

Thanks, Bill Simmons.

[Lucky Jim]

Thanks, Bill Simmons.

I to prefer to say that rooting for the Yanks is like rooting for Microsoft.

[Baroquen131]

Nope. Lives in Kensington, Mayland.

So you broke out the sabermetrics (http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57202) on him, right? :002_sbiggrin:

[blueberryale77]

Well, if he doesn't live in Baltimore anymore, it's forgivable. I mean, I don't live in Maryland, and I'm still an O's fan, but when you move away, and you're inundated with broadcasts/news about other teams, and the team you rooted for really stinks...well...it happens.

Of course, the Yankees seem more egregious. But if he'd moved to Cincinnati and started following the Reds we probably wouldn't mind so much.

He does LIVE in/near NYC, right?

Situations like that are why you're allowed (at least in my book) to have an AL team and an NL team. Your home team remains your #1 team, even if you live far away, never get to watch their games, and they stink. You may watch your "other league" team more often and even own more of their paraphernalia because they're on local tv where you live and more competitive, but if the two play each other in games that are meaningful to both teams you have to root for your real home team. If the "other league" team is actually in the same league as your primary team but a different division, that's ok as long as there's not a historic rivalry between the two, but your original home team should still come first. Divisional rivals are strictly off limits for obvious reasons and because if you live in their city you can still see your real team 19 times a year without even paying for a cable or internet package. That's my rule. Also, you're allowed to change your #2 team, but the one you grew up with you're stuck with just like your family. ;)

[furryburres]

So you broke out the sabermetrics (http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57202) on him, right? :002_sbiggrin:


That's right. By the end, he was crying for mercy.

[RShack]

I can understand why the OP is aggravated with his friend.
However, the part where he ends up blaming it on "these celebrities" is one of the more bizarre leaps that I have ever seen.
So my first question is, "Huh?"

[frankpembleton]

BS. You are a fan of one team and one team only for each professional sport. It's the O's and nothin else. You can admire other teams (I admire the A's for instance) but you can't call them "your team."

Dem's da rules!

[tennOsfan]

My biggest problem with these losers pulling for the Yankees is why would you root for the team with the biggest budget? So what if they win? They should with the zillions they spend. Where's the joy in pulling for the underdog?

That would be like congratulating the Nazis for overrunning Poland. "Great job, General!"

[BaltBird 24]

I disagree with this part. Ben Affleck might go to Sox games to "be seen", but he actually is a Sox fan, and would never be seen in a Yankees hat.

You know, I'd believe you except for the fact on this very board, oh maybe three or four years ago, someone said the same thing about Jimmy Fallon.

[furryburres]

I can understand why the OP is aggravated with his friend.
However, the part where he ends up blaming it on "these celebrities" is one of the more bizarre leaps that I have ever seen.
So my first question is, "Huh?"

Well, IMO, one fairweather fan can only create more, and when you see Jimmy Fallon rooting for two teams, something changes. I remember the 25 year back, the only celebrities that showed up, did so for love of the game. That's changed.

[RShack]

I can understand why the OP is aggravated with his friend.
However, the part where he ends up blaming it on "these celebrities" is one of the more bizarre leaps that I have ever seen.
So my first question is, "Huh?"
Well, IMO, one fairweather fan can only create more, and when you see Jimmy Fallon rooting for two teams, something changes. I remember the 25 year back, the only celebrities that showed up, did so for love of the game. That's changed.
Uh huh. I see.

No, wait. I don't really. So let me follow-up with a second question. Are you saying that your ole pal is a candy-ass because of Jimmy Fallon's ballpark behavior?

[Bosibus]

Yankee Scum (http://www.tmz.com/2007/05/03/were-better-looking-than-you/)

[furryburres]

I'm not really connecting the two of them so much as blaming the start of this ugliness on celebs.

[ScottieBaseball]

I disagree with this part. Ben Affleck might go to Sox games to "be seen", but he actually is a Sox fan, and would never be seen in a Yankees hat.

rollieluvsben? :D

[The Wedge]

BS. You are a fan of one team and one team only for each professional sport. It's the O's and nothin else. You can admire other teams (I admire the A's for instance) but you can't call them "your team."

Dem's da rules!

I have never seen that rulebook. :D

[cindyluvsbrady]

My biggest problem with these losers pulling for the Yankees is why would you root for the team with the biggest budget? So what if they win? They should with the zillions they spend. Where's the joy in pulling for the underdog?

That would be like congratulating the Nazis for overrunning Poland. "Great job, General!"

The yankees = Satans Team:mad:

[RShack]

I'm not really connecting the two of them so much as blaming the start of this ugliness on celebs.
Nah, there's been disappointing candy-ass fans long before anybody saw celebs at ballparks on TV. Really. Celebrities have nothing to do with that.

[DrungoHazewood]

Well, IMO, one fairweather fan can only create more, and when you see Jimmy Fallon rooting for two teams, something changes. I remember the 25 year back, the only celebrities that showed up, did so for love of the game. That's changed.

Of all the everything-was-better-in-the-good-ol'-days rambling I've ever heard, and in baseball it's so common you can't escape it, this has to top it all. You're actually saying that back in the day celebrity sports fans were more genuine?

Did you get this from Bill Plaschke?

[MTOsFan]

Well, if he doesn't live in Baltimore anymore, it's forgivable. I mean, I don't live in Maryland, and I'm still an O's fan, but when you move away, and you're inundated with broadcasts/news about other teams, and the team you rooted for really stinks...well...it happens.

Of course, the Yankees seem more egregious. But if he'd moved to Cincinnati and started following the Reds we probably wouldn't mind so much.

He does LIVE in/near NYC, right?

I don't buy it. You get dyed in your fandom when your young. It doesn't bleed or wear off (unless the team packs up in the middle of the night and moves to the midwest). As a matter of fact, I think you hold your fanhood dearer when you move away. It separates and defines you.

[furryburres]

Of all the everything-was-better-in-the-good-ol'-days rambling I've ever heard, and in baseball it's so common you can't escape it, this has to top it all. You're actually saying that back in the day celebrity sports fans were more genuine?

Did you get this from Bill Plaschke?

No, no no. What I am saying is that back in the day less people managed to root for both the Yanks and the Sox...

[Boy Howdy]

The Reggae community has a term for the "follow fashion monkeys" that rolls off the tongue better than bandwaggoners IMO.

Dem a waggonist!

[BaltimoreTerp]

The Reggae community has a term for the "follow fashion monkeys" that rolls off the tongue better than bandwaggoners IMO.

Dem a waggonist!

Yah mon...