If You Leave Before the Game is Over, You NEVER Were a Fan

20th of January 2017

As I watched the highlights for the Iowa State/Kansas game the other day, there were some fans that left the game early. That is a big pet peeve of mine. If you're really a fan, you'll endure the ENTIRE game, not just the parts you want. There's good and bad to every team. We, as fans, are supposed to be there to cheer them on to get through the bad. We paid the ticket, and ticket prices today are NOT cheap. Not even for students. Students don't get any type of break. So why would you leave the game paying that much money leaving your team in the time it needs you the most? You might think that I'm making more out of this topic than I should, but with the term "bandwagon fan" being thrown around a lot today, I feel I'm not. Many that throw that word around are the ones that leave games early when their team isn't doing well. "Ah, I can't watch this." "This isn't the team I root for." Whatever the excuse, stick with your team! All teams go through good times and bad. You can't pick and choose when you're a fan. Either you are a fan, or you're not. They're going to make mistakes. They're not going to be perfect every time. They've got their coaches yelling at them for all of that (although maybe not all. I've had both types when playing ball). Go there and be the motivation for them.

If you leave the game because you have work the next morning, I'm kind of mixed on that. I've left events because I was still working but went on break. It was roller derby, and I was happy to support my team for at least the first half. That seemed to be enough for them, and I always showed my support for them in many other ways. I got them local media coverage. I went to any fundraiser I could (go to the ones you can). I even went on a road trip to see them against another team. It was such a great time that I can't remember if they won or not. However, I'll never leave because I have work the next morning. Just my personal thing.

I'm not saying attend every single event they have. If you do, more power to you. There's no way I'll call you a bandwagon fan. I don't even use that term. My issue is leaving early when the team needs you the most. When they lose the lead or when they're having a bad year. When you're tired of the ref's bad calls, whatever the reason. Stick with your team. I have had some moments to the point where I denounced the Cubs as my team. However, did I really? I still went to Iowa Cubs games. I still followed the Chicago Cubs. I still hated when they lost. I still watched any game I could. I still wore the shirts I had. I never got rid of them. I couldn't abandon them. I just couldn't. When I said that yes, they are my team, they finished dead last. I stuck by them until BAM. Last November, the magic moment happened. Stick with your team, and you will get results. If not, at least it shows that loyalty is still apart of your character.