Growing up, I heard the phrase “fair weather fan” a lot. It was always used in a derogatory manner.
A fair weather fan was a person who only rooted for a team when they were winning. He wasn’t loyal. He didn’t stick with an organization through thick and thin. Maybe this person didn’t even have a team that he would describe consistently as his favorite. When the Browns were good, he rooted for the Browns. But when the Browns were terrible, maybe he rooted for the Cowboys.
In other words, he mainly rooted for the Cowboys.
Instilled in me then was the belief that good fans watched every game, checked every box score, cheered for all four quarters or all nine innings, no matter the team’s win-loss record or its in-game deficit.
How do I feel about this now?
Well, frankly, I feel that these ideas are pretty much bogus.
While I understand that sports teams often become symbols for entire cities, sports - in their purest form - are merely entertainment. They are supposed to be fun to watch. Sporting events are meant to be enjoyed.
Why then should any of us willingly sit in front of a TV or enter an arena or stadium to knowingly be bored, frustrated, or depressed?
We shouldn’t. It makes no sense.
You might imagine why I’m raising this point now. On Tuesday, I sat through all 48 minutes of the Cavs game against the 76ers. For 48 minutes, I wished I was doing something else. Although the Cavs ended up winning, the basketball wasn’t interesting or beautiful to watch. Anderson Varejao continued to prove to me that he is the best all-around basketball player in Cleveland, but other than that, I felt empty.
On the contrary, during Sunday’s Browns game against the Jets, I was absolutely riveted. Ask Tim. Ask Dad. I never feel that way. Football is my least favorite sport of the three majors. A lot of testosterone in between those two white lines. Yet, on Sunday I found myself becoming a football fan, caring more about the Browns, as well as the nature of the game itself, with each successive snap.
Should I feel bad about this?
No, I don’t think I should. To me, the analogy is simple. One game was a slow, uninviting movie about two people talking in a room. The outcome of their conversation was irrelevant. The other game was a suspense-filled action film, with high (or at least higher) stakes and well-executed drama. Who wouldn’t turn the first movie off? Who wouldn’t pay to go to the theater to see the second flick?
Really, the logic is fairly obvious.
I’m not sure why we have attached some kind of badge of honor to following a bad or boring team. If Tim and I were to write an entirely uninteresting movie, no one would feel obliged to go see it (except maybe our mom and dad). Why should we criticize fans for walking away from their favorite teams if said teams are producing uninvolving semi-competitive theater?
I don’t think we should, especially when we consider how many other entertainment options are available, or simply how many other opportunities life presents. In fact, I think we should actually commend the die hard fan who doesn’t bother to watch the 2010-11 Cavaliers play the New Jersey Nets and instead sits down and has a cup of coffee with his parents. Maybe he reads a book. Maybe he goes for a walk and thinks about his future … I don’t know … but there’s nothing dishonorable about turning off or avoiding bad entertainment.
You don’t owe a corporation anything.
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itsmurf reblogged this from josemesaisdead and added:
Jay ee tee ess Jets Jets Jets!
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