Bandwagon fans

[miami_fan]

How do you spot them? I know I was aggravated seeing Seahawks jerseys all around the base over the last week or so. I have met exactly ONE Seahawk fan in my entire military career and he could tell me history about the Seahawks and things like that. I don't know how I would act if the Dolphins make the Super Bowl and all of a sudden fake fans start coming out of the woodwork. I know I have called out a lot of bandwagon jumpers of my teams, based on those same history questions and such. If a person can remember David Woodley and Jimmy Cefalo and be pissed about the drafting of Sammie Smith, then I know I am dealing with a true fan :D

How do you know that the guy wearing your favorite team's jersey and claiming to be the team's biggest fan is a band wagon jumper.

[Desnudo]

Anyone in Seattle. I've never seen so many brand spanking new baseball caps at one time.

[dawgfan]

Anyone in Seattle. I've never seen so many brand spanking new baseball caps at one time.
That's rather harsh.

The longest Seattle has had a professional sports franchise is the Sonics, who started play in 1968. The Seahawks and Mariners started in 1976 and 1977 respectively. So basically, you've had around 1 generation's worth of time for these teams to imprint themselves in the local consciousness.

The Sonics have had mostly very loyal followers, being the first and most successful of the city's teams. There have been brief down periods, such as the early '80's when the title team had faded away and before the emergence of the Xavier McDaniel/Tom Chambers/Dale Ellis teams, and again following the disbanding of the Gary Payton/Shawn Kemp teams and the lockout, but mostly the team has been very well supported.

The Seahawks were a big hit from the start, even weathering the end of the Jack Patera era. But when Chuck Knox left and Ken Behring bought the team and ran it into the toilet, even going so far as trying to move the team to Anaheim without the NFL's consent. Given that the team was only 15-20 years old at that point, was it a huge surprise that the season ticket base declined (the Kingdome had been sold out for most of the team's history with a huge waiting list)? It's taken a while, but since Paul Allen bought the team and brought in Mike Holmgren, trust has slowly started to build up again in the team.

The Mariners flat out stunk for the 14 years of their existence and played in one of the worst baseball venues ever. Is it a big surprise then that the team wasn't a huge draw? Once the team finally got good with Lou Piniella in charge, the city flocked to the team and has remained steadfast in it's support. Despite back to back last place finishes the team has still drawn 2.9M and 2.7M fans the last two years.

Now, I'm not going to argue the point that Seattleites have many options at their disposal for spending their free time and money - they do. Given that, I think it's inevitable that there may be greater "bandwagonism" in Seattle than many other locales simply for the fact that the average Seattleite has a lot of options on how to spend their recreational time and money.

But do not argue the fact that there are a lot of very passionate fans of every team in this city or that there aren't bandwagon fans of every team in every city in the country. Talk to me again in another 30 years when there have been 2-3 generations of fans of our professional sports teams (something most East coast cities have had for a while), or compare Seattle to other communities that have had their teams for a similar or shorter amount of time and tell me we're significantly different in our fanaticism.

[Schmidty]

Anyone in Seattle. I've never seen so many brand spanking new baseball caps at one time.

EXACTLY.

The sports stores are in overdrive today as all the hawk "fans" return their jerseys.

[miami_fan]

Seattle is just the latest example. You see it all over. I am sure White Sox fans are wondering where the hell all the new fans have come from. The Steelers will get a few new ones and so on. I would have no problem if they was some way to get them to acknowledge that they are Johnnny Come Latelys. I could just imagine what it would have been like for a 20 year season ticket holder of the Seahawks during the last minute of the NFC Championship. I work with a Steeler fan whose entire office is a shrine to the Steelers. Those fans should never get confused with fans who were with the team ever since Lofa Tatupu/ Troy Polamalu joined the team

[DaddyTorgo]

why not though?? dont the "bandwagon" fans have just as much of a right to be fans of the team as anyone else? and i'm sure the teams don't mind as the "bandwagon" fans spend plenty of new disposable income on the team.

we can all look down our noses at them or whatever, but the fact of the matter remains that they have the right to be fans just as much as the guy who has been a fan since day 1.

elitists bother me

[Rizon]

49'ers.

Everyone here in the 80s/90s wore a 49'ers jersey every single day of the year.

I haven't seen a 49'ers cap, beenie, jacket or jersey in about 3 years. Not one.

[Schmidty]

There there are a few city/teams that you rarely see bandwagoners, such as Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philly, St. Louis, Boston, etc. The highest concentration of bandwagon riders is on the west coast.

[Schmidty]

elitists bother me

How is it "elitist" to spend years and years following, loving, bleeding, and hurting for a team, only to see people that had NO interest during the tough times start to act as if they are "huge fans" of the team when it's obvious that the team is close to winning a championship????????

Now THAT pisses me off.

[Greyroofoo]

Well its kind of dull to watch the superbowl and not cheer for anyone. My take anyways.

[DaddyTorgo]

How is it "elitist" to spend years and years following, loving, bleeding, and hurting for a team, only to see people that had NO interest during the tough times start to act as if they are "huge fans" of the team when it's obvious that the team is close to winning a championship????????

Now THAT pisses me off.why does it piss you off? does it somehow make your loving+bleeding+hurting less meaningful? the only person that loving+bleeding+hurting is meaningful to is YOU, and the only way it can become less meaningful then is if YOU let it.


this really reminds me of how people feel about gay marriage. How they don't want gays to be able to use the word "marriage" because they feel like it trivializes their marriage. which is stupid. it can only affect you if you let it. it's a personal thing.

just like "fandom" is a personal thing. nobody normal judges anybody else on how much of a fan they are of a certain team. frankly nobody really cares how long you've followed any particular team. the only person that matters to is YOU.

and frankly if it "pisses you off" you might need a few more hobbies, or another job or something.

really, this falls under the category of one of those things that i can't even imagine getting worked up over, it's a waste of energy.

[Schmidty]

why does it piss you off? does it somehow make your loving+bleeding+hurting less meaningful? the only person that loving+bleeding+hurting is meaningful to is YOU, and the only way it can become less meaningful then is if YOU let it.


this really reminds me of how people feel about gay marriage. How they don't want gays to be able to use the word "marriage" because they feel like it trivializes their marriage. which is stupid. it can only affect you if you let it. it's a personal thing.

just like "fandom" is a personal thing. nobody normal judges anybody else on how much of a fan they are of a certain team. frankly nobody really cares how long you've followed any particular team. the only person that matters to is YOU.

and frankly if it "pisses you off" you might need a few more hobbies, or another job or something.

really, this falls under the category of one of those things that i can't even imagine getting worked up over, it's a waste of energy.

First, I'm suprised and annoyed that you A) brought gay marriage (which I have no problem with politically) into a sports discussion and B) took a personal shot at me because I have a differing opinion from you. Those two things alone tells me that a discussion with you is a pointless waste of time.

You're acting as if I'm saying that bandwagoners are awful, awful people, and I'm not. I'm just saying that they annoy me.

I've always liked you man, but I'm really disappointed in the way you acted in that last post.

[dawgfan]

There there are a few city/teams that you rarely see bandwagoners, such as Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philly, St. Louis, Boston, etc. The highest concentration of bandwagon riders is on the west coast.
Not coincidentally, the cities/teams you suggest are ones that have been around for several decades, whereas most west coast teams are relatively new.

Add to that the fact that many west coast cities have had a lot of migration in recent years, and you have a fan base that doesn't have nearly the history with the local teams that many east coast and midwest cities do.

There seems to be an implication that there is some kind of character flaw in sports fans on the west coast, which is patently ridiculous.

[Schmidty]

There seems to be an implication that there is some kind of character flaw in sports fans on the west coast, which is patently ridiculous.

I don't equate "character" with fandom, so that's not the case. Also, while I know there are die-hard fans out here (especially Mariner fans), they seem far fewer than where I'm from. I'm just calling it the way I see it. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know.

[DaddyTorgo]

First, I'm suprised and annoyed that you A) brought gay marriage (which I have no problem with politically) into a sports discussion and B) took a personal shot at me because I have a differing opinion from you. Those two things alone tells me that a discussion with you is a pointless waste of time.

You're acting as if I'm saying that bandwagoners are awful, awful people, and I'm not. I'm just saying that they annoy me.

I've always liked you man, but I'm really disappointed in the way you acted in that last post.

naw Schmidty, I think you misread/minunderstood. the YOU in capitals wasn't intended to mean "you-schmidty". it was a general YOU. an impersonal YOU.

and the gay marriage thing...what can i say...it was just the comparison that made the most sense to me.

[SirFozzie]

I thought that Boston/New England was the biggest non-New York bandwagon of the decade over the last year myself.

[Schmidty]

naw Schmidty, I think you misread/minunderstood. the YOU in capitals wasn't intended to mean "you-schmidty". it was a general YOU. an impersonal YOU.

and the gay marriage thing...what can i say...it was just the comparison that made the most sense to me.

Ah, ok. :)

[Schmidty]

I thought that Boston/New England was the biggest non-New York bandwagon of the decade over the last year myself.

Well, that was just my perspective as a non-bostonian. You would know more about that than me.

[SirFozzie]

2004 was the year of the Boston bandwagon. 2005 was the year that the bandwagon fell apart and it became fashionable to hate the area..

[DaddyTorgo]

Ah, ok. :)Please man http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif. I try to hold myself to a higher standard than that. I like to think that I'm above the level of personal attacks on people on a message board, no matter what their stance on anything. I try to use this more as a forum for intellectual/humorous discussion and stuff, not for taking shots at people.

V (peace)

[Schmidty]

Please man http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif. I try to hold myself to a higher standard than that. I like to think that I'm above the level of personal attacks on people on a message board, no matter what their stance on anything. I try to use this more as a forum for intellectual/humorous discussion and stuff, not for taking shots at people.

V (peace)

That's why I was suprised when I thought you were taking a shot. I'm glad that wasn't the case.

Even I, grumpy asshole that I am, can't recall a time that I've taken a personal shot on the board. :)

[DaddyTorgo]

That's why I was suprised when I thought you were taking a shot. I'm glad that wasn't the case.

Even I, grumpy asshole that I am, can't recall a time that I've taken a personal shot on the board. :)grumpy asshole? try some metamucil

[dawgfan]

I don't equate "character" with fandom, so that's not the case. Also, while I know there are die-hard fans out here (especially Mariner fans), they seem far fewer than where I'm from. I'm just calling it the way I see it. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know.
You're from Michigan, right? You follow the Detroit sports teams? Tell me, how long have they been in existence?

I'm simply trying to point out that the relative newness of the Seattle sports teams means it's unlikely that the fanbase here will be quite as fanatical and diehard as in other cities in the mid-west and east coast that have had teams for 70+ years.

[gottimd]

What, no Speedwagon Fans thread yet?

[Jonathan Ezarik]

2004 was the year of the Boston bandwagon. 2005 was the year that the bandwagon fell apart and it became fashionable to hate the area..

Don't tell me I missed the "Hate Boston" bandwagon! I got all these T-shirts made and everything.

Seriously, though, I have seen a lot more Red Sox caps since they finally won the World Series. And before the Pats recent good run, did anyone ever see a Pats jersey/cap outside of New England?

There seems to be an implication that there is some kind of character flaw in sports fans on the west coast, which is patently ridiculous.

Wait, there are teams west of the Mississippi? :D

[Honolulu_Blue]

Obviously there are bandwagon fans out there. People who don't have much interest in a team until it gets close to winning a championship. These "fans" then stick around while the team remains on top or close to the top, though once they start to slip the "fan" loses all interest. I think that's the classic example/definition of a bandwagon fan.

I think there are a lot fans, however, who are incorrectly identified with being a bandwagon fan. Just because you don't own a jersey or a baseball hat or don't go around wearing your team's colors on your sleeve doesn't mean you're not a fan of the team. You're most likely a casual fan. You always hope "your team" wins the game, will catch the game if you can, but that's that most of the time.

When teams get good they get more fans. Some are bandwagon fans, as discussed above, and others are just casual fans who followed the team but who never really felt the need to express their loyalty, but once the team starts getting good and people start talking about them, the local media is all over it, they all of a sudden decide to take the plunge and buy a hat, jersey, car flag, what have you. They get caught up in the frenzy.

Take the Red Wings, for example (simply because I know them better than any successful other team). Other than Toronto, they probably have the largest fanbase of any NHL franchise. They had their glory days back in the 50s and then the team went into disrepair for a very, very long time. Up until the mid-to-late 80's they couldn't give tickets away. They had all sorts of gimmicks and what not to get people to come to games. I remember back in the late 80's (1987-88) I was the only kid in my middle school to own a Wings jersey (yes, bbor, of course it was a Klima jersey http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif). I remember people asking me how I got the jersey (since it had a player's name and number on the back) and if he had given it to me. My mom had it made at the local sporting goods store. Needless to say, wearing such a thing was rare. I was in highschool during the "Bad Boys" era of the Pistons and vocal, color-displaying Wings fans were scarce. It was all Pistons, all the time.

Momentum slowly built as the Wings crept closer and closer (with a step backwards every now and then (see, e.g., Nikolai Borchevsky, San Jose Sharks, etc.)), but it wasn't until 1995 or so, when the Wings finally made it to the Cup finals, that the city really came to life as far as Wings fans go. It hit a crescendo in 97-98 when the Wings won back-to-back titles. Wings jerseys were everywhere (even 3rd and 4th line guys), there were Wings flags flying from every other car, it was madness. Were all of these people "bandwagon fans"? No, I don't think so. Some of them? Sure, but most were casual fans of the team who got caught up in the excitement. It was hard not to. I assume the same thing is happening in Seattle. Some of these casual fans cum die hards will stick around and others wont. Luckily for the Wings, despite a few setbacks, they have remained very competitive and have been the league's best franchise for years now. That's a way to keep fans around. If the team flamed out and had been dismantled after '97 and '98 and missed the playoffs consistently there would be a lot fewer jerseys and flags out there, trust me. Just look at the Pistons during that horrible teal uniforms/Grant Hill Era. It wasn't pretty.

[DeToxRox]

Pretty much any Pistons fan who chants for Darko.

[SFL Cat]

I'm a lifelong Cowboys fan. Started rooting for them back in 70. So ordinarily, cheering for the Steelers is the farthest thing from my mind. However, I've only heard good things about the Rooney family, and I think Cowher is one hell of a coach, so in that respect, I'm glad to see him win a Lombardi trophy.

Also, I despise the Redskins, but I respect Joe Gibbs and think he's a great coach and a class individual. So I was also glad to see him get the team back to the playoffs this season (of course when he leaves again, the Deadskins can crash and burn forever baby!!!).

[Schmidty]

Obviously there are bandwagon fans out there. People who don't have much interest in a team until it gets close to winning a championship. These "fans" then stick around while the team remains on top or close to the top, though once they start to slip the "fan" loses all interest. I think that's the classic example/definition of a bandwagon fan.

I think there are a lot fans, however, who are incorrectly identified with being a bandwagon fan. Just because you don't own a jersey or a baseball hat or don't go around wearing your team's colors on your sleeve doesn't mean you're not a fan of the team. You're most likely a casual fan. You always hope "your team" wins the game, will catch the game if you can, but that's that most of the time.

When teams get good they get more fans. Some are bandwagon fans, as discussed above, and others are just casual fans who followed the team but who never really felt the need to express their loyalty, but once the team starts getting good and people start talking about them, the local media is all over it, they all of a sudden decide to take the plunge and buy a hat, jersey, car flag, what have you. They get caught up in the frenzy.

Take the Red Wings, for example (simply because I know them better than any successful other team). Other than Toronto, they probably have the largest fanbase of any NHL franchise. They had their glory days back in the 50s and then the team went into disrepair for a very, very long time. Up until the mid-to-late 80's they couldn't give tickets away. They had all sorts of gimmicks and what not to get people to come to games. I remember back in the late 80's (1987-88) I was the only kid in my middle school to own a Wings jersey (yes, bbor, of course it was a Klima jersey http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/biggrin.gif). I remember people asking me how I got the jersey (since it had a player's name and number on the back) and if he had given it to me. My mom had it made at the local sporting goods store. Needless to say, wearing such a thing was rare. I was in highschool during the "Bad Boys" era of the Pistons and vocal, color-displaying Wings fans were scarce. It was all Pistons, all the time.

Momentum slowly built as the Wings crept closer and closer (with a step backwards every now and then (see, e.g., Nikolai Borchevsky, San Jose Sharks, etc.)), but it wasn't until 1995 or so, when the Wings finally made it to the Cup finals, that the city really came to life as far as Wings fans go. It hit a crescendo in 97-98 when the Wings won back-to-back titles. Wings jerseys were everywhere (even 3rd and 4th line guys), there were Wings flags flying from every other car, it was madness. Were all of these people "bandwagon fans"? No, I don't think so. Some of them? Sure, but most were casual fans of the team who got caught up in the excitement. It was hard not to. I assume the same thing is happening in Seattle. Some of these casual fans cum die hards will stick around and others wont. Luckily for the Wings, despite a few setbacks, they have remained very competitive and have been the league's best franchise for years now. That's a way to keep fans around. If the team flamed out and had been dismantled after '97 and '98 and missed the playoffs consistently there would be a lot fewer jerseys and flags out there, trust me. Just look at the Pistons during that horrible teal uniforms/Grant Hill Era. It wasn't pretty.

Summary? I'm not reading that fucking novel.

[RendeR]

No offense HB, but the lrgest fanbase in the NHL still belongs to Montreal. The sales reciepts may not show it, but you'll find Les habitants fans everywhere, unlike all but two or three other NHL clubs, and you'll find more Canadiens fans in areas outside Montreal than you will find Redwings fans outside Detroit.

I know they've lost the luster they used to have, but I guarentee if they upswing again, you'll see the habs red and blue showing up everywhere.

Very good analogy and post however! I just wanted to correct what I thought was a rather obvious mistake =)

[ISiddiqui]

You should! It's a damn fine post!

I agree with it fully. There are a lot of 'bandwagon' fans who are actually casual fans who don't buy their memorabilia except when everyone is wearing it and they figure, what the Hell, everyone else is wearing it too!

Then again, there are big time sports fans who don't buy that stuff either. I, for one, don't own a cap, jersey, etc., of any team. I don't like caps and jersies just cost too much :D. So you shouldn't judge on the fadedness of the memorabilia ;).

[Honolulu_Blue]

Summary? I'm not reading that fucking novel.Man... always having to dumb it down for the Sparties...

Ok, here's the Cliff Notes version.

Some fans accused of being bandwagon fans are actually just casual fans. Casual fans tend to get more vocal, buy more paraphenilia, etc., when a team is doing well. When a team is doing well, the city gets excited, local media covers said team, more merchandise is put out on the shelves, and thus casual fans start getting a little more die hard/hard core. (see, e.g., Detroit Red Wings 1970-current day).

[Schmidty]

No offense HB, but the lrgest fanbase in the NHL still belongs to Montreal. The sales reciepts may not show it, but you'll find Les habitants fans everywhere, unlike all but two or three other NHL clubs, and you'll find more Canadiens fans in areas outside Montreal than you will find Redwings fans outside Detroit.

I'd like to see proof of that. I know Hab fans are passionate, but there are many more Wing fans number-wise, they're just spread out.

There are so many Red Wing fans, that I heard "Let's go Red Wing" chants during the Avalanche game on saturday. I mean, the Red Wings here that in every other city, but in COLORADO??

[Schmidty]

Man... always having to dumb it down for the Sparties...

Ok, here's the Cliff Notes version.

Some fans accused of being bandwagon fans are actually just casual fans. Casual fans tend to get more vocal, buy more paraphenilia, etc., when a team is doing well. When a team is doing well, the city gets excited, local media covers said team, more merchandise is put out on the shelves, and thus casual fans start getting a little more die hard/hard core. (see, e.g., Detroit Red Wings 1970-current day).


Thank you, my beloved Wolverette. :)

[SFL Cat]

I just don't freakin' care about hockey. I've tried, but it just doesn't do anything for me.

[RendeR]

I'd like to see proof of that. I know Hab fans are passionate, but there are many more Wing fans number-wise, they're just spread out.

There are so many Red Wing fans, that I heard "Let's go Red Wing" chants during the Avalanche game on saturday. I mean, the Red Wings here that in every other city, but in COLORADO??
Simplest way to explain this:

There are how many teams in Canada right now?

If the Habs get into the finals, the entire nation rises to cheer for THE hockey team from Canada.

I won't argue that its the same in the states, but the history of the NHL is in Montreal. Perhaps my being part of an older generation colors my vision somewhat. The Detroit Red Wings wave is truly a relatively modern era thing. Even in the distant past when the Red Wings had great teams and players, they were always overshadowed by the Canadiens.

For myself, I followed them for years and will always have a soft spot for them, but have since fallen in love with the Sabres of Buffalo. Sad little team they have been, but this season is looking up!

[Honolulu_Blue]

No offense HB, but the lrgest fanbase in the NHL still belongs to Montreal. The sales reciepts may not show it, but you'll find Les habitants fans everywhere, unlike all but two or three other NHL clubs, and you'll find more Canadiens fans in areas outside Montreal than you will find Redwings fans outside Detroit.

I know they've lost the luster they used to have, but I guarentee if they upswing again, you'll see the habs red and blue showing up everywhere.

Very good analogy and post however! I just wanted to correct what I thought was a rather obvious mistake =)
I could see that. It's one of those things that are impossible to determine. Trust me, Les Habitantes entered my mind when writing that sentence (I almost added them in a paranthetical like this one here!).

I can never argue against the Habs. My grandfather was from Montreal and a die hard Canadiens fan. He's the source of my hockey fan gene.

[RendeR]

I could see that. It's one of those things that are impossible to determine. Trust me, Les Habitantes entered my mind when writing that sentence (I almost added them in a paranthetical like this one here!).

I can never argue against the Habs. My grandfather was from Montreal and a die hard Canadiens fan. He's the source of my hockey fan gene.
Every true hockey fan's blood runs Red, Blue and White :)

[Crapshoot]

2004 was the year of the Boston bandwagon. 2005 was the year that the bandwagon fell apart and it became fashionable to hate the area..

Dude, you live here like me - half of the damn "Pats" fans in Boston couldn't name the QB before Tom Brady... :D

[wishbone]

Dude, you live here like me - half of the damn "Pats" fans in Boston couldn't name the QB before Tom Brady... :D

Most of the Seattle fans I've talked to are the same way, they can't tell you how their beloved 'hawks did last year, name a defensive starter or remember a moment in the Seahawks that made them feel anything.

Bandwagon fans talk about their team winning because that's all they know. They only know that it's playoff time and only care about the next game. Real fans talk about the times they have won, how they have been hurt in the past and the long-term success of the team in addition to the next game.

[Cringer]

That's rather harsh.

The longest Seattle has had a professional sports franchise is the Sonics, who started play in 1968. The Seahawks and Mariners started in 1976 and 1977 respectively. So basically, you've had around 1 generation's worth of time for these teams to imprint themselves in the local consciousness.

The Sonics have had mostly very loyal followers, being the first and most successful of the city's teams. There have been brief down periods, such as the early '80's when the title team had faded away and before the emergence of the Xavier McDaniel/Tom Chambers/Dale Ellis teams, and again following the disbanding of the Gary Payton/Shawn Kemp teams and the lockout, but mostly the team has been very well supported.

The Seahawks were a big hit from the start, even weathering the end of the Jack Patera era. But when Chuck Knox left and Ken Behring bought the team and ran it into the toilet, even going so far as trying to move the team to Anaheim without the NFL's consent. Given that the team was only 15-20 years old at that point, was it a huge surprise that the season ticket base declined (the Kingdome had been sold out for most of the team's history with a huge waiting list)? It's taken a while, but since Paul Allen bought the team and brought in Mike Holmgren, trust has slowly started to build up again in the team.

The Mariners flat out stunk for the 14 years of their existence and played in one of the worst baseball venues ever. Is it a big surprise then that the team wasn't a huge draw? Once the team finally got good with Lou Piniella in charge, the city flocked to the team and has remained steadfast in it's support. Despite back to back last place finishes the team has still drawn 2.9M and 2.7M fans the last two years.

Now, I'm not going to argue the point that Seattleites have many options at their disposal for spending their free time and money - they do. Given that, I think it's inevitable that there may be greater "bandwagonism" in Seattle than many other locales simply for the fact that the average Seattleite has a lot of options on how to spend their recreational time and money.

But do not argue the fact that there are a lot of very passionate fans of every team in this city or that there aren't bandwagon fans of every team in every city in the country. Talk to me again in another 30 years when there have been 2-3 generations of fans of our professional sports teams (something most East coast cities have had for a while), or compare Seattle to other communities that have had their teams for a similar or shorter amount of time and tell me we're significantly different in our fanaticism.

I think this is a pretty good breakdown of the Seattle franchises. I grew up (mostly) in Spokane, WA, I am now 28. No other pro franchises even lose to my area, except the NBA's Trailblazers.

I think I had very few friends who were big Seahawk fans in school. Most were fans of other teams, and they became fans of these teams either because of a history of their family (father) liking that team, or because they were a good team when they were kids probably. There were a lot of fans of Denver, L.A. (then) Raiders and Rams, 49ers. I became a Packers fan because of two things, I started reading about their great past (which the Seahawks didn't have one) and then shortly after that one of my better friends was a guy who grew up in Milwaukee, so we became lone Packer fans in our minds.

The L.A. teams were big because of the influx of people moving up from there.

So yeah, I would say a lack of history for the teams, and no real success in their short time to grab kids at a young age, has kept them from getting the huge diehards yet. I think they are building though, and this Superbowl will help the Seahawks in that area.

[SirFozzie]

Dude, you live here like me - half of the damn "Pats" fans in Boston couldn't name the QB before Tom Brady... :D


Oh yes they could :P The one BEFORE Bledsoe, maybe, but not the one before Brady ;)

[Cotton]

Dude, you live here like me - half of the damn "Pats" fans in Boston couldn't name the QB before Tom Brady... :D
This'll probably sound weird to anyone outside of New England, but most Pats bandwagonners are actually Red Sox fans that actually and finally bothered to notice that little football team out in the woods of Norfolk County. The Patriots are more New England's team than Boston's team and will always be the ugly stepsister of the Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins to anyone in Suffolk County.

Boston is just not a football town. But if you get outside 495, it's a totally different story.

[Crapshoot]

This'll probably sound weird to anyone outside of New England, but most Pats bandwagonners are actually Red Sox fans that actually and finally bothered to notice that little football team out in the woods of Norfolk County. The Patriots are more New England's team than Boston's team and will always be the ugly stepsister of the Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins to anyone in Suffolk County.

Boston is just not a football town. But if you get outside 495, it's a totally different story.

Actually, I agree completely. The Sox are the lifeblood here- the Pats are the red-headed stepchild everyone ignored till they won something, and promptly ignored again once spring training started.

[Desnudo]

Dude, you live here like me - half of the damn "Pats" fans in Boston couldn't name the QB before Tom Brady... :D

I know you're being facitious, but everyone knows Bledsoe, come on. He was an icon before Brady's coup. Most people over 30 will know Grogan for sure, Eason, most likely.

Not like any of the ones in-between were particularly memorable. Combine them all together and you still don't have a real QB.

[Crapshoot]

I know you're being facitious, but everyone knows Bledsoe, come on. He was an icon before Brady's coup. Most people over 30 will know Grogan for sure, Eason, most likely.

Not like any of the ones in-between were particularly memorable. Combine them all together and you still don't have a real QB.

Truth ? I was being a little facetious, but I have met people who didn't who Drew Bledsoe was. Now that's fine - but these are the same people who claim they've been die-hard Pats fans forever. It may well be a product of the city itself - the Sox have always been number 1, 2, 3, 4, followed by the Celtics and eventually the Pats. The Pats' aren't Boston's team as much as New England's.

[Desnudo]

Okay, how many people over the age of 8 that you've met in Boston that follow sports don't know who Bledsoe was?

[Cotton]

Actually, I agree completely. The Sox are the lifeblood here- the Pats are the red-headed stepchild everyone ignored till they won something, and promptly ignored again once spring training started. I had to laugh when Brady made this annoyed face at a press conference a couple of years ago and asked, "The Red Sox? Are we still talking about them?"

The morning after the Patriots won the Eastern Division title, I tuned into the local cable news channel to hear all about the glove leather mousepads the Red Sox were sending out to their season ticket holders.

So, you can dump on Brady for the no-respect comment, and justifiably, but he does play for the Patriots. I kinda understood it. The bandwagonners were dropping like flies (Ooh! Theo! Come back, Theo!) when they went 4 and 4, and I'm almost positive that was what he was talking about.