By Thalia Bardell, howiGit Contributing Writer, Boston, MA
I’ve thought a lot about the concept of “fandom.” What makes someone a fan and why are we convinced that some people are better fans than others? Looking for answers I busted out the dictionary: Fan, noun, “a person who has a strong interest in, or admiration for, a particular sport, art form, or famous person.” Alright, but I know it goes beyond that; especially in a sportstown like Boston.
As the Bruins edge closer to a historical moment and it seems that almost all of Boston is wearing a Horton, Chara, or “Puck the Nucks” tee I wonder how many of these people had watched the Bruins before the playoffs began. Bandwagoners; it’s a word we spit through our teeth, an insult, and one I’ve used many times in near derogatory manner. With social media in the picture it seems the Bandwagon has gotten even larger, with everyone proclaiming their undying love for the Bruins all over my news feed. This makes me a little mad, but then I have to stop myself; who am I to get pissed off at someone who is swept up in the excitement of a playoff run? Perhaps some of this year’s bandwagoners will get hooked and follow the team fully next season – and isn’t that good for a city trying to rebuild its reputation as a hockey town?
It seems that the two greatest factors in the making of a serious fan are how much they care about each game and how much disappointment they’ve suffered at the hands of their team. I would call these two factors together “commitment level.” I, most days, consider myself a Red Sox fan. I care about game one as much as I care about game 162; however, I’ll admit right here that I don’t know how much disappointment I can hold myself accountable for. In 2004, when the Sox finally won the World Series I was seventeen years old and while I liked baseball I didn’t follow it closely and I wish I had. Watching the ESPN’s 30 for 30 film Four Days in October gives me goose bumps for sure, but I feel just slightly removed from it, like it’s not quite mine to share in because I hadn’t shared very much in all the previous disappointment. I’ve matured as a fan mostly in an era of success.
I just started watching hockey this year. I’ve been to one game and own one t-shirt (I couldn’t go into the Garden looking like a rookie), which, in the midst of the playoffs, I feel self-conscious wearing because I don’t consider myself a Bruins fan. I’m developing a taste for hockey; the quickness is a refreshing change from the pace of baseball, but I’m too green to consider myself a fan by my own standards. If the Bruins don’t win the Stanley Cup I’ll be disappointed, but I won’t be heartbroken, and there are definitely people who will be – fans.
Good article Thalia. I think you are pretty on point and I feel as you do – I want the Bruins to win, but I have not “suffered” at the hands of their loses in the past. I can’t say that about the Red Sox, Patriots, or Celtics, all of whom have managed to devastate me at one time or another.
before the big three when did the celtics devastate you?
If you wanna talk about bandwagon fans look no further than Vancouver. It’s even worse here than in Boston and I would bet a lot of money on that. Everyone wants to be a fan and say that they were somewhere special when the Vancouver Canucks won the cup for the first time. Too many phonies have shirts, jersey’s, car flags, scarfs, and hats. It’s kind of sickening because people pretend to be long time fans when they know nothing and in the end don’t really care if the team wins or loses. They just want to go downtown to join in the celebration.
With that being said, I really appreciate that you understand where you stand. There’s nothing wrong with that and I think it’s great that you’re starting to get into the game of hockey cuz it’s a great game. I think what bothers me most is that people convince themselves that they are real fans and don’t realize what they’re doing. If you’re aware of with what you’re doing then that’s all we long time fans ask for. Don’t fake it.
Its fair to say over the past two years I have become more a fan of the Bruins than the Celtics.
The Celtics called…they hate you.
but I wouldnt pretend to have suffered over previous Bs losses. I will start doing so though
Game 7 might give you your shot.
Wouldnt shock me…
With that said its hard to say the NBA provides a better playoff product than the NHL and to be honest I think the regular season sucks for both leagues
I agree with the regular season, but I like the NBA playoffs better.
I think the American public would disagree with you, although I agree.
This a good article and I would agree that too many people who get caught up in the excitement of a playoff run and declare themselves fans for the sake of joining in the celebration. However, if you are a local who supports his/her local teams, but may not necessarily be an avid follower of one sport team who is suddenly on the verge of a title does it not give you the right to get excited and celebrate the victory for the city as a whole? This is exactly what having sports in our major cities is meant for in my opinion.
Good point, I agree.
Agreed.
My interpretation is that one roots for a team. And is a fan of a sport. Can you be a Celtics follower and not care about the NBA Finals if the C’s aren’t in it?
Sure you can.
how many “real” fans taunted a guy with a broken back last night?
How many Canadiens loved the hit on Horton?
Not sure, they weren’t on national television taunting someone with a broken back.
I’m sure your mom would love to hear you condone shit head behavior with oh yeah they do it too.
Hahaha who said I’m condoning any of this behavior? I think I’ve established already that I have higher standards when it comes to this sort of thing than most.
you going out for the bruins tomorrow? I rented the Holiday Inn at the Garden
Yes, I will be at probably either Sullivan’s Tap or the Harp. I’ll let you know as game time nears. I’d prefer not to see you though.
First of all, let me congratulate the Bruins and al of the TRUE, lifelong Bruins fans out there on winning the Stanley Cup.
I agree with this article. I have a long time friend who has disliked hockey as long as I have known him. This goes back to middle school/ high school. For years I have tried to get him into hockey. It was always, “I hate hockey, it’s like soccer,” or “Winter is so depressing because after football there is nothing to watch until spring training,” or “hockey is stupid, one goal and you have a huge victory.” I am a die hard Capitals fan and a huge fan of hockey. So much so that I over the years have collected other jerseys and pucks. I realized that collecting the jerseys wasn’t being true to my team and have parted with them. I gave one jersey, a Coyotes jersey, to my friend due to having a family member in Arizona. I haven’t once seen him wear it or seen it at all. We debate back and forth over the years about sports and jeer at one another, but it has never involved hockey because he doesn’t like hockey and never has. He’s been to one game that I know of and that was his Christmas present to me years ago. This past year, Not a word about hockey until it was discovered that the Bruins were playing the Canucks. He is a die hard Red Sox fan and used to be a Patriots fan but has disowned them after spy gate. Once the two teams were locked to play in the finals he emailed me saying,”So, who are you cheering for in the NHL finals, I know, I know, I’m not a hockey fan.” I emailed him back to agree that he is not a hockey fan and I will not acknowledge him as one. I told him that I don’t think that it would be fair for him to pick a team that had 5 Stanley Cups in their rafters and possibly a 6th. I told him it wouldn’t be fair to brag, or jeer, or poke fun if his team beat mine in the future, especially to brag that his NEW team has Stanley Cups and mine got swept in the 98 finals by Detroit. I think he is being a bandwagon fan. He’s never owned a Boston Bruins ANYTHING. He sends me a text message immediately after game 7. It was a picture of him drinking a beer, giving me a thumbs up while wearing a CRISP, BRAND NEW, Bruins jersey. The text said, “Stanley Cup Champs, Yeah Baby!”
Can you get any more bandwagon than that?
I agree….there are a lot of those running around, although I’ll admit, there are also a lot more hockey fans in the city than people may think.