I don't want the REAL FOOTBALL thread to continue going off-topic, so I am moving the discussion here. So far here's what we know:
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- Let's Get Up Close first... and THEN Personal
- Watching them on TV doesn't count; Even if it means you've shelled out extra money and bought the NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, etc. just to follow them if they're on the other side of the country.
- You have to have attended games, particularly home games more than just your weekend trip in the summer. [1]
- Thou not allowed to start following a team on a permanent basis just because you enjoyed the fact they were a good team. Even if it means 5-10 years later you still enjoy them. (Also defined as: "If you like your team, you can't keep your team") [2]
- The Theory of Relatives
- If you were a young child and your father was a fan of the team and he forced you to watch it and that's all you know, you're not a real fan even if it means 15-20 years later you're still following the team whether they've sucked or not. [3] [5]
- You are NOT a true fan of a team, if you do not compare to 3 generations worth of Boston Red Sox fans. [4]
- If your grandpa or father was a fan of the team and you didn't follow sports before but you follow them now as tribute to them, whether or not if that team is currently a successful winning team or bottom of the barrel losing team, you're still not a real fan because it was not genuine inspiration.
- The Individual Mandate
- If you root for an individual sport player (tennis, boxing, golf) and they just happen to be one of the best at their sport because winning is what gets them shown on TV the most by default, you're just a bandwagoner.
- If you are a fan of Roger Federer, the chances are extremely likely you love Tiger Woods, Jimmie Johnson, Floyd Mayweather Jr., or Joey Chestnut in addition. Because we all know, that if you love one dominant player in an individual sport, it automatically carrys over to every other individual sport. [6]
- You must root for your countryman, even if they're terrible and get dominated by a player from another country. If you like the foreign player, you are just a bandwagoner and loves the front-runner/winners.
- If you have no specific allegiance to a particular team in a given sport, but happen to follow and appreciate a great player (Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Barry Bonds, Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, etc) you are not a fan of the team nor the player, you are just a bandwagoner who loves the front-runner.
Notes:This thread will constantly be updated as we reveal more.
1.2.3.4.5.6. KeithLockhart: I have rooted for Federer for 9 years because he's the greatest player I've ever seen. I go out of my way to watch his matches.