Bandwagon fan
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A bandwagon fan is a phrase used among sports fans and sports writers to describe a fan that only roots for popular and successful sports franchises. This kind of fan is typically despised by fans who consider themselves "die-hard fans" . Other similar terms for bandwagon fans are fair-weather fans, fake fans, t-shirt fans, and disloyal fans.
[edit] Characteristics
A bandwagon fan, also called a "fair-weather fan" supports their team only when it is winning. [1] They will often ""jump" on and off the "bandwagon" of the teams having the most recent success in the major professional and college sports. They generally don't care if their adopted team has a bad season, or even a bad game, as they ultimately don't care too much about the team.[2] Boston Herald sports columnist Tony Massarotti equates bandwagon fans to church patrons who show up only at Christmas. [3] Ali Hasnain of the Daily Utah Chronicle calls bandwagon fans, people (who) root for teams or players who they have no clue about. [4]
A bandwagon fan will often leave a game before completion should their adopted team be losing.[5]
A bandwagon fan will cheer for another team than his own if his own team is not doing well enough. [6]
A bandwagon fan will only support “their” team when they are successful, but claim they have always supported them.[citation needed]
However just because a sports team wins frequently does not mean the team will have bandwagon fans. A team must not only win but must have dynamic and popular players to be on the team for successful bandwagon fandom. [7]
[edit] Other uses
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have claimed that anyone who likes both South Park and Family Guy (their rival show) is a "bandwagon fan" of their show.[citation needed]
The term may also be applied to fans are considered latecomers, even if they are genuine. For example, Star Trek became mainstream popular after the success of Star Trek The Next Generation and it's spinoffs including Enterprise and they are credited with ushering in fans who were introduced to, and remain more familiar chiefly with the TNG era of Trek. [original research?]
