I Hate Your Bandwagon

Let’s step away from the players and point the spotlight on the people who make it the easiest to hate any given sports franchise – the fans. In Miami’s case, the fanfare was downright head-scratching. Having grown up in South Florida, I can say firsthand with confidence that the Heat’s fan base is primarily bandwagon. That’s not to say that I don’t hold some of the team’s fans in high regard as intelligent and legit, but let’s call it what it is. And if you disagree with me I beg you to take a good look at that photo above, and ask Lil Wayne, AKA Miami’s biggest fan, how his evening was.

For further evidence, let’s look at the home crowd of Game 6 leaving with more than 2 minutes left in a game that the Heat were only losing by 7 at the time. Sure, you’re upset and disappointed that the guy who promised you 6 championships last summer was throwing the ball away from the basket like it was covered in anthrax, but you’ve paid a buttload for those tickets and you’re witnessing history. If you’re walking away from that, you’re not a fan of the game, you’re just a fan of convenience.

But like hatred, bandwagon fans are an inevitable side effect of success, and they breed more hatred because bandwagon fans locked into other teams are sad that they can’t become Heat fans, and the actual Heat fans hate them for latching on. And it’s all fine to enjoy this wonderful hate.