I’ll be the first to admit it. I hopped on the Blue Jays bandwagon this year and rode it right into the post-season. And yeah, maybe I even cheered whenever Steph Curry drained a three against Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
But what’s the big deal?
I’m willing to bet I wasn’t alone. People are drawn to success.
Anytime a team starts winning big, you can bet there’s a new squad of fans following close behind. And berating them in a storm of Reddit comments are the hipster-like fans who act like they’ve been swinging bats, shooting threes or making tackles with the team since the early ‘90s.
What these hardcore guys and gals might not understand is that there needs to be a point when someone decides to become a fan. As much as some of them might believe, nobody is born into fandom like some sort of 18th century royal family.
A winning streak is a perfectly understandable reason to gain a liking for a team. Who’s all of a sudden going to decide they like watching the Leafs play? Didn’t think so.
It’s moments like the Blue Jays’ success this season or the Ottawa Senators’ playoff squeeze last season that can turn the average person into a life-long sports fan.
I’m admittedly guilty to a few counts of bandwagoning – it’s been fun Toronto, but I can say that experience has turned me into a fan for the future.
When it comes to the teams I consider myself a “true fan” of, I welcome support with open arms. In the end it’s all love for the team I’ve been rooting for win or lose.
So, to all the angry die-hards in the world, bandwagoning is just fine and its breeding future sports lovers everywhere.