Fairweather fans miss true thrill of victory
By Jackson Hawkins
Game seven of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians wasn’t just the most watched baseball game in 25 years, it was probably the biggest game in baseball history. The Cubs hadn’t won a championship in 108 years while the Indians had their own title drought of 68 years. The Cubs ended up winning 7-6 in a 10-inning nailbiter, but they also won the hearts of countless “bandwagon” fans. Just 15 hours after the final out, $30 million in Cubs merchandise had been purchased online by Cubs “fans.” But honestly, these people aren’t fans at all because if the Cubs fail to replicate their success next season, these hats and shirts will be shoved in the back of a closet, collecting dust.
A bandwagon Cubs fan is an oxymoron, because true Cubs fans are people who have supported their team for their whole lives, suffering through losing season after losing season, without reward of a single World Series appearance for over 50 years. Great examples of this were when all of Wrigley Field sang “Go Cubs Go” together after each win, and the pure joy expressed by lifelong Cubs fan, Bill Murray, when the Cubs won. The “Caddyshack” actor had waited his whole life to see his beloved Cubbies win. TV broadcasts frequently showed him at the edge of his seat during games, and celebrating in the locker room spraying champagne with Cubs centerfielder Dexter Fowler and General Manager Theo Epstein.
While bandwagon fans have instant gratification when the team they’re supporting wins, the satisfaction genuine fans get clearly is much greater. Real fans support their team during both good times and bad. Season after season of compounding frustration is what led to over five million people attending the Cubs victory parade, not just the excitement of the last couple weeks.
The glory of a championship doesn’t just come from the single moment of victory, but from all the narrow defeats and “wait ‘till next years” sighed by optimistic true fans.
A bandwagon Cubs fan is an oxymoron, because true Cubs fans are people who have supported their team for their whole lives, suffering through losing season after losing season, without reward of a single World Series appearance for over 50 years. Great examples of this were when all of Wrigley Field sang “Go Cubs Go” together after each win, and the pure joy expressed by lifelong Cubs fan, Bill Murray, when the Cubs won. The “Caddyshack” actor had waited his whole life to see his beloved Cubbies win. TV broadcasts frequently showed him at the edge of his seat during games, and celebrating in the locker room spraying champagne with Cubs centerfielder Dexter Fowler and General Manager Theo Epstein.
While bandwagon fans have instant gratification when the team they’re supporting wins, the satisfaction genuine fans get clearly is much greater. Real fans support their team during both good times and bad. Season after season of compounding frustration is what led to over five million people attending the Cubs victory parade, not just the excitement of the last couple weeks.
The glory of a championship doesn’t just come from the single moment of victory, but from all the narrow defeats and “wait ‘till next years” sighed by optimistic true fans.