Eurolanche

Bandwagon fans

I have been doing some pondering on what topics to write about. There are only some many articles people can read and write about how the Avs defense hasn’t changed much. How it can possible be as horrible as it was this year or will be leaps better. So I decided to take a look at something on a much broader scope today: the bandwagon fan.

You know who I am talking about. The scourge of the hockey community. Those people who know maybe two players are there so called favorite team. Who only love a team when it's winning the Stanley Cup. But you know maybe bandwagon fans aren’t as bad as they seem. Well, just maybe.

The way I see it there are two main types of bandwagon fans. The ones that deserve the hate, who are just pure Cup groupies. Those who change their favorite team as often at the cup changes winners. These are the ones everyone should be mad at. They choose to be uneducated about the team and the game. Their only responses in debates are “Ya Cup ring baby Cup ring.”

When dealing with that type of person it is acceptable to get angry and generally hate them. It is the second type of bandwagon fan people should be a bit nicer to. The new fans that are just getting interested in NHL hockey. I don’t blame someone who never watched hockey much for choosing a winning team. The winning teams are all over the media. It is much easier to learn about a new team in a new sport if they are winning.

Winning teams have better parties and celebrations. A Stanley Cup party is always better than a draft party. Winning teams normally have the household names. If you are new to a sport you are just more likely to choose this way. The first team I liked as a kid was the San Jose Sharks because they had a shark on the logo. Kid logic. As I got smarter I started to like players more than teams. No one team stood out until 1995 when the Avs were formed. I loved Joe Sakic. Who didn’t? The team's logo is an A like the first letter in my name. Again, kid logic. I was seven.

But I wasn’t fully sold on the team until Roy was traded because I always loved goalies and defense more than forwards. So in a way I was a bandwagon fan back then. Bandwagon fans can grow into real fans given time. So the next time you get mad at some newbie sporting Hawks logos just give them a chance. Unless they wear a Red Wings logo, we don’t give those people chances.

Now as to how this all effects the Avalanche. Well as the team gets better (Yes, they will get better. It just might take longer than some people want.) we'll start getting household names like Duchene, Landy and now MacKinnon. The Avs will attract some bandwagon fans. So be nice to your new Avs family member and give them some time. They will either stick around and grow into a true passionate fan, or leave when the going gets tough. Always remember everyone starts somewhere.