What happened to the Red Sox Nation?

Question

I am as well as my whole family have been a die hard fan of the red sox and sports in general? When was it ever acceptable for any "fan" of sports to buy a hat just because that team won? Please do not wear a hat or logo of a team you know nothing about. Bandwagon fans might bring in money, but they hurt the sanctity of any sport. They are the fans who show up for games only when the team is winning, not when they are 20 games under .500.

Answer 1

Meh, bandwagoners don't bother me too much. Like you said, they bring money to the team. Any money the Sox get is fine with me. Just do what I do with the bandwagoners, just point and laugh

Answer 2

This will "date" me, but I joined "Red Sox Nation" probably before it was even called that - 1960 as a very young kid when I saw all the media hoopla over Ted Williams hitting a homer in his final at bat. I was born and still live in the greater Sacramento CA area and had just become a SF Giants fan that year. I never did become an Oakland A's fan, although I wouldn't object if they won a Series in any year the Sox or Giants don't make it. (it would be a difficult call for me if the Sox & Giants ever faced off in a Series!) I became educated on the lore, legends & myths of the game, including the "Curse of the Bambino." I also had a love for all the great old, often quirky ballparks and hated most of the "cookie cutter" and multi-use stadiums built in the 60s & 70s. I've been to Fenway twice, once in the late 80s during the Boggs era and once in '03. I rejoiced in the magical year of 1967, suffered all the disappointments from Bucky to Buckner, the "almost '03," and actually shed tears of joy in '04 both after the final out of the fantastic ALCS comeback against the Yanks and after the final out of the WS sweep. And I have a beloved & battered old Red Sox traditional blue & red cap that I am wearing proudly!

Answer 3

For the most part, the people wearing the pink hats ARE recent, bandwagon jumping fans. They are--I'm sorry, but it's a fact. Most of them are girlfriends and wives who decided if Drew Barrymore could be won over in that movie, they can join their man to cheer along, too. Maybe that one lady above is a true, life-long Red Sox fan who just happens to own a pink hat, but she is pretty much the only one, and if she really is a true, life-long Red Sox fan, she should know better than wearing a frigging pink Red Sox hat. Did Teddy Ball Game every wear a pink hat? Did the great Jimmie Fox ever wear a pink hat? Did Yaz ever wear a pink hat? Did Carlton Fisk ever wear a pink hat? Did Jim Rice ever wear a pink hat? Have Manny or Big Pappy or Tek ever worn a pink hat? Pink hats are trendy, pop marketing hype. They are the People Magazine effect on professional baseball and I and every other true, old school Red Sox fan strongly disapproves.

Answer 4

I know what you mean. It's because of all these bandwagon fans that those of us who have been fans our whole lives have a tough time getting tickets to a game. 5 or so years ago, I used to be able to go online the week before a game I wanted to go to and get a ticket. Now, it's next to impossible. I used to go to several games a season, now, I'm lucky to go to 3. It really shouldn't matter if they are in first or last place........ if you are a real fan, you would support them regardless.

Oh, & I feel the same way as NLM86. I have been a LIFELONG Sox fan & wear a pink hat. Does that mean that I am one of the "bandwagoneers" ?!?!? Hell no ! All it means is that I am glad that the organization is FINALLY realizing that females are just as much of fans as males are and are starting to cater to us gals who want to either look cute, not like a guy, or, just like the color pink !

Answer 5

You're right but that's the case with any team. Most fans are casual fans. That's just the way it is. We see it all the time, a team wins and suddenly everyone is wearing a hat and shirt of that team.

After you've been in here for awhile you get a pretty good feel as to who the real fans are verses the "Bandwagon fans" as you call them.

One thing is for sure, the real fan ends up appreciating the success of the team they root for far more than the "Bandwagon fan". The real fan understood what it took for his or her team to get where they got.

You're a Red Sox fan, so just enjoy their success. For me, there is always next season! lol

Answer 6

I'm not either a band wagon fan or a "casual fan".

I'm a die hard fan of the Red Sox also and always will be.

I do agree with your statement though, bandwagon fans make us real fans look like crap.They come on here and act like they know something about that team or the game of baseball in general.

Answer 7

i became a red sox fan back in '86 with the infamous buckner erroe. that was 21 years ago. my heart went out to buckner because it was devastating to lose the game and ultimately the series the way the sox did. i remember the boston fans were savages towards him and his family for just that one flub.
i grew up in the dallas/ft worth area in the 60's and became a die hard cowboy fan. i carried it through many winning seasons, but i moved to the seattle area in the mid 80's and my loyalty shifted to the seahawks. i suffered through some very lean years with changing owerships and poor talent on the field. i feel i'm being paid back for my perservance with how successful the hawks and red sox have been of late.

Answer 8

Your team's offense didn't come up when it had to, and the pitching was outperformed by the Angels' starters. In Game 3 the Red Sox were able to touch up Kazmir, but Papelbon couldn't close it for you guys. Simply put, you guys just didn't have it this year.

Answer 9

OMG what are you the "sports team support" police? People can support or buy memorabilia of the players or teams that they like. I liked the Lakers of the 80's and have bought throwback jerseys of Kareem and Magic in the recent years. I hate the Lakers now. I've never lived in LA

Sports is for entertainment, not for testing people's allegiance towards a particular geographic location. It is not a f*cking religious service.

Answer 10

Red Sox nation hasn't gone anywhere. Unfortunately, when you're a winner, everyone wants to be a part of it, hence all of the bandwagon fans latching onto us.