To bandwagon or not to bandwagon?

[Indiana Sev]

That is the question.

I thought of this because of the recent great play and hard work of the Montreal Canadiens. Now I've gone on record as saying that I am not a fan of the team anymore. They've disappointed me for so long on the ice and off and I can't overlook that. But still, they're showing a lot of heart and grit lately and I respect that. But, I have not jumped on the bandwagon.

Not yet anyway...;)

Which brings me to my question: Have you ever jumped on the bandwagon of a team you wouldn't normally root for? And why?

I recall many a schmoe (including myself) jumping on the Ducks bandwagon last spring in this very forum.

Please discuss...

[bmain77]

I can't stand people who are constantly jumping on band wagons. I used to have a friend who would show up every week with a new jersey of whatever team happened to be hot at the time. This was in the mid 90's so he had a couple Cowboys jerseys, a FLorida Gators jersey, all kinds of Clevland Indians stuff, and all of sudden became an expert on Detroit Redwing hockey. I can't stand that.

But if there is a cool story developing it's cool with me for people to follow that team. I've followed the Patriots for years because of all the UM Wolverines to play for them over the years, but I totally understood and was cool with eveyone getting behind this new kid Tom Brady a couple years back. The same with Kurt Warner and the Rams before that and to some degree this same with the Panthers this year.

I still have more respect for people who stick with their local teams through thick and thin. Yeah I should give up on the Lions and Tigers, but just imagine how much more satisfying it will be if and when they ever win another championship and trust me I'll have a baseball bat ready to beat on anyone who has booed the teams all this year who decide they've been a fan of the two teams all their lives.

[erinachan]

I would never do that to my Avs!! The Colorado Avalanche through thick and thin will be my team of choice till the day I die!!! :)

Bandwagon people are so annoying....

[RicochetShaw]

I used to live in South Florida and attended quite a few Marlins games, and went to their spring training sessions numerous times. But I was never really a true fan. But last year, when they eliminated the Cubs in the NCLS, I was rooting for them. I just loved the heart of the team, and how they played. In an era of baseball where homeruns and power hitting dominate the game, here was a fresh young team with speed and great defense to compensate for their total lack of power. A very exciting team. I'd rather see a Triple than a homerun any day, and this is the kind of stuff they did. Plus, who can't love Dontrelle Willis? I love that guy, he represents the joy of baseball to me, and judging from interviews he seems to be a really nice and jolly fellow. Plus if it weren't for that World Series win, the Marlins probably would have left Florida. And the Jack McKeon thing was a great story, even if the media killed it by talking about it over, and over, and over again, he's my favorite manager in baseball, I wish he was managing the Sox.

[Morgana]

As I live in Oregon where we don't have any local pro team to root for (as far as football, baseball and hockey are concerned), I am more than happy to jump on the bandwagon of any team that happens to rub me the right way. And every season this changes.

Am I a bandwaggoner? Hell YEAH! :D

[daddiefatsacks]

if my team is not in contention, i don't really cheer for a team, but last year I will admit i rooted for the Marlins to beat the cubs and win the world series, they played AWESOME and deserved it

[PapaJupe2k]

I don't know, I guess I've probably done it before. Situations like the NCAA tourney I've done it. Since Iowa never makes it anymore I have to have some team to root for... right?:) I'm hopping on the Nevada Wolfpack bandwagon I guess this year because I like to root for the dogs in the tournament. This doesn't mean I'm going to go out and buy a jersey or go out in public and sing their praises to anyone I see on the street, however.

I guess the people that irritate me are the ones who buy the merchandise and act they know alot about the team and try to talk trash as if they know what they are saying. But it's easy to dismiss these people.

[horrorfreak13]

If my team is gone I cheer for the teams I can't stand to be out first so after the Leafs it would have been anybody but Ottawa but since they are gone after the Leafs it will be anybody but Phily because I can't stand them Ottawa, Montreal or New Jersey.

[jeo4]

I always root for the underdog, or the team that has never won a title before. And that's only if the Chiefs and the Royals have been eliminated from the playoffs. So, it happens pretty much every year.

:D

I'm kidding...sort of. Here's hoping, though.

:(

[TheDeadWalk]

I hate bandwagons. Actually, I hate the people that try to make you feel like a sell-out for wearing clothes of a good team.

Want to know why I'm just NOW being caught wearing Bengals shit?

Because no store around here would fucking carry their merchandise beforehand!

"Huh huh huh... huh huh... jumpin on a bengal bandwagon I see!"

Fuck you!

I was personally told by the sales manager at Hat World prior to the 04 season that "The bengals just don't win enough games man." But he still carried 2 different Arizona fucking cardinals hats. Bastard.

[SubMethod]

I'll usually only support a team that I wouldn't otherwise if they are in the playoffs and my teams are out. For instance, I rooted for the Marlins last year because I wanted to see them beat the Yankees, and because Pudge really deserved to win after being let down here in Texas for so many years. And this year I'll be rooting for the Spurs in the NBA playoffs since the Mavs are out.

But, I would never jump on a bandwagon during the regular season. That makes me angry. The Rangers right now are a good example. I've been a fan of them since I could remember, and now that they are doing good there are a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon, and it pisses me off because they wouldn't have bothered to pay attention to them otherwise in the last few years of losing.