“Diehards” vs “Bandwagoners” Pt. 2

You’ve all heard Meghan’s two-cents on this Washington Post article, but here’s mine:

Yes, I am a new fan. Yes, I didn’t pay attention to the Washington Capitals until 2007. Yes, I became a fan when the Washington Capitals were getting good. Yes, I didn’t become absolutely, totally, and completely a fan until the latter half of last season. Being a new fan doesn’t automatically make you a bandwagoner.

There’s a big difference between new fans and bandwagoners. Bandwagoners like it because it’s popular. They couldn’t care less about the game or the team or the players; they like it because it’s “cool”. New fans are just that – new. Being new to the Washington Capitals does not make me any less of a diehard fan. Bandwagoners cannot name players beyond the stars, or know the stats, or carry on conversations about the game or other teams, simply because they do not care. They abandon the team once they begin to do poorly, and more than likely, they’ll be gone by the off-season.

But new fans – new fans grow. They may start off as ignorant, but they transform into indistinguishable  knowledgeable, diehard fans. They learn the entire roster, they learn about the stats, they learn to carry on conversations about the game or other teams, simply because they do care. Half the time, you wouldn’t know they’re not from the “lean years” unless they tell you.

And, is it really such a bad thing that the Caps sell out the Verizon Center? That away team’s ticket sales go up when the Caps come to town? That more and more people are wearing Caps shirts, going to Caps practices, supporting the Caps? Because if you think it’s bad for the boys to be having so much success, then maybe you’re the bad fan, not the new ones.

So yes, I am a new fan. Hate me if you want, but know that I love this team just as much as you do.

Embrace Them, Love Them, Get Over Yourselves: “Die Hards” VS “Bandwagoners”

After reading a this article on the Washington Post website I felt like I was being lumped into a category I didn’t want to be lumped in. I felt like all “die hard lean years” fans were being called resentful bandwagon haters.

When I moved to the DC area, it doesn’t seem that long ago but I guess it’s eight years now, I wasn’t terribly interested in the Caps since I was I confess a bit of a Jackets fan at the time. But, I began to go to Caps game, as a hockey fan deprived and raving after the lock out, during those lean years when the players wore black and gold, when Hanlon was coach and Ovechkin was just starting his rookie season and fell in love with the floundering team. When I became a fan I never expected them to be very good though I hoped they would be; I saw the potential but I wasn’t sure how it would pan out.

Everyone has to become a fan at one point. Just because I (and others) happened to become a fan during those losing years; learning the players names and positions slowly but surely does that make me more of a fan than those who are learning now? Or only a few years ago? No, absolutely not.

I love the new fans. I encourage it. I want my boys to have that support of a full house every night. To see people in their gear around town. Maybe the concourses are a little crowded or tickets a little harder to find but isn’t that a small price to pay for a growing community? What is better a community or a small “holy crap there’s another Caps fan in my town?!” like atmosphere?

 I actively try to convert people to hockey, see fellow Chronicles blogger, and now indistinguishably die hard fan Anna, and sure it can be a little trying when they mess up a term or don’t know a name but be patient they’re trying. And, if they’re not trying their going to lose interest pretty quick and you won’t have to deal with them anyways.

I can understand that feeling of almost resentment at “bandwagon” or new fans. The sudden influx of people claiming to be fans after winning a playoff spot and unexpectedly clinching the top spot in the Southeast, I was at the Panthers game that was do or die for clinching that spot, after firing Hanlon and hiring Bruce in 07-08 was a little startling. But, it’s the 09-10 season now and the new fans have been around for a while, time to get used to it.

There’s a difference between “bandwagoners” and new fans. New fans are going to be considered “die hards” in a couple years and are going to be the next generation of fans, I’m one of those “new generation” fans even if I did become a fan back in the “lean years” and was into hockey before the lock out and Mr. Ovechkin and Mr. Crosby.

Bandwagoners will lose interest by the first week of July and not be back in October. (Though new bandwagoners will be but what are you going to do?) And, anyways I know plenty of long time fans and self labeled “die hards” who have NO clue what they are talking about anymore than a bandwagoner.

I love the new fans; welcome to the bandwagon. Don’t scare them away or try to, fellow die hards. Don’t be selfish with your team. Basically, pardon my language (children cover your eyes!), don’t be a hockey-snob ass.

Well This Is When One of Those Life Things Would Come In Handy

No Capitals hockey until Thursday. Ugh. And, looking over the Versus schedule not exactly scintillating stuff for a Caps fan; Rangers and Penguins. And while the fact at this very moment the Sharks are wiping the floor with the Rags which tickles me pink, I am dedicating my unusual amount of wasteful week day evening to getting some work done and actually watching some of my favorite shows that I usually have to Hulu one lazy weekend instead of actually watching the game.

I am not crazy about all this random week day free time. I mean what does one do on a week day evening? When it’s cold and dark by five. Usually I have two days of hockey and the rest are for scrambling to do the work I put off for hockey. Only one day of hockey towards the end of the week rather confuses me. I guess I can catch up on my reading.

In other news happy 26th birthday Boyd Gordon! If Bradley tells you he has a special birthday surprise you run the other way.

And little Cody Eakin got in a fight! And, he kicked ass. See here: