In this thread, we decode gilesfan's rules for being a true fan of a sports team.

[The Chosen One]

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

1. 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.
   
2. You have to have attended games, particularly home games more than just your weekend trip in the summer. ^[1]
   
3. 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

1. 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]}
   
2. You are NOT a true fan of a team, if you do not compare to 3 generations worth of Boston Red Sox fans. ^[4]
   
3. 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

1. ​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.
   
2. 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]
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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:
1.

BC I go to a lot of games. What use is rooting for a team 4000 miles away just bc they are good? I don't have respect for people that just root for random winners.

2.

You don't understand how stupid it is to just root for the best team, no matter where they are located? And you guys are over 12 years old, not kids.

3.

Maybe when you grow up some you will understand it more. How can you actually get excited about your team winning when you have no allegiance to them?

4.

5 years? Lol. What about 3 generations of fans supporting a team. Thats real support and rooting for teams 3k miles away isnt the same.

You think ur as good of a fan as someone in Boston that has 3 generations of fans living and dying with team?

5.

Bc my fandom is real and not just some phony let me pick who is good to root for.

Hmm, let me be a Lakers fan even tho I've never been to a game, never been to LA, and have no ties to the place. But, hey I can brag to my friends that I'm a lakers fan!

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.

Yeah, root for the best! Big Tiger Woods fan too?

This thread will constantly be updated as we reveal more.

[sturg33]

I nominate this for post of the year

[gilesfan]

The individual mandate were very accurate

[jgriff3029]

I have a question about the individual mandate. I tend to root for Russian Female tennis players. Is this allowed. Not sure since a lot of times they aren't any good (see Kournikova, Anna). Does this make me a bandwagon jumper or just a pervert?

[gilesfan]

Bandwagon.

[The Chosen One]

I just find it amazing of how you've deduced this.

I didn't care for tennis much at all until I watched Federer play, much like many people who didn't care for basketball much until they watched Magic, Jordan, or LeBron play. Federer plays the game unlike any other player there's ever been in professional tennis. He also has the most beautiful game/most effortless looking game that any commentator or historian will tell you. There's a reason he has a huge fan base. On top of shattering records in tennis that probably won't be broken again:

Just a few:
10 consecutive Grand Slam Finals, previous record was 4. That's 2.5 years vs. 1 year.
23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals , previous record was 10. That's 5.75 years vs. 2.5 years.
36 consecutive Grand Slam Quarterfinals, previous record was 27. That's 9 years vs. 6 years.
#1 player for 302 weeks, previous was 286 weeks.
First and only player ever to be ranked #1 for 200 consecutive weeks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._Roger_Federer

I started following Federer in 2005, when at that time he had only won 5 grand slams. He has 17 now, so I've seen 2/3 of his grand slam victory matches in their entirety. I have every notable match he's ever played in whether grand slam or second tier tournament win or lose, on my backup harddrive.

I've been following him for 8 years now. He won his first Major 10 years ago. If this makes me a bandwagon fan, then so be it. If tickets to his matches weren't so expensive on top of having to pay to travel to New York, Miami, Cincinnati or Los Angeles to watch him play, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

And for the record: 1) I don't care about Tiger Woods. Much like I don't really care about golf. 2) I don't like Nascar, because I don't like Nascar. 3) I don't like Mayweather because I like Pacquiao instead. Seeing as how my parents are both from the Philippines, which means I'm of Filipino heritage despite being born in America, I like rooting for him. Whether or not this qualifies on the gilesfan rules of bandwagoning I have no clue.

[jgriff3029]

After thinking about it. i can see Giles's point, if it was 1950. If I had no way to follow the Braves on radio or TV, I would agree with a lot of his points. But thank goodness I live in a time with cable, satellite, and internet. If it wasn't for satellite dishes, I might not of got to watch Rafael Ramirez, Gearld Perry, and Murph. They might have sucked, but they were my favorite time.

[ESP47]

Giles, I don't want to be a Giants or A's fan cos I don't liek them but I still want to be a real fan and have you liek me. What do I do?

[gilesfan]

And he's still not backing out. The lulz.

I think we need to address the real issue. Why did Giles fan route for the Braves and not the Orioles. I really want get into this issue because I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering how someone from Virginia doesn't root for the team that's closest to him.

Baltimore and Atlanta were pretty equal in distance away. Went to Atlanta games

[zitothebrave]

Baltimore and Atlanta were pretty equal in distance away. Went to Atlanta games

How did I never catch this post? Didn't you grow up in the Virginia Beach area?

[gilesfan]

Nope, GF is superior to us in terms of fandom. He gets to set the rules.

49ers, Braves, Thunder. The lolz! No rhyme or reason for your fanhood.

You should take up Bama football too.

[thethe]

49ers, Braves, Thunder. The lolz! No rhyme or reason for your fanhood.

You should take up Bama football too.

Well it was originally the Supersonics and I explained that when I was a kid I was rooting for all the teams that were doing well. That was my reason. Your reason was that you lived close to the team. Why is one better than the other?

[gilesfan]

I think 90% of you guys even root for colleges you didnt attend. Tenn, UNC, louisville, Duke, UGA.

[zitothebrave]

I think 90% of you guys even root for colleges you didnt attend. Tenn, UNC, louisville, Duke, UGA.

I don't root for any college. I semi root for Rutgers since theyre Jerseys d1 representative and if there is one thing I am, its a fan of Jersey

[ChapelHillMatt]

I think 90% of you guys even root for colleges you didnt attend. Tenn, UNC, louisville, Duke, UGA.

I didn't go to college so you would be right as far as I'm concerned. I don't think it's a requirement however. My only point was when you talk about fans having a legitimate attachment that would be the one case where you would have a valid point. Cheering for the home team doesn't give you any special attachment, all it does is give you easier access to the games. This might be one of the worst arguments I've ever seen you make.

[jgriff3029]

So I have a question. I live 250 miles north of the nearest professional teams (Oakland and SF) and about the same from any D1 colleges. Does this mean it is impossible for me to be a "true fan" of any team?

[ChapelHillMatt]

So I have a question. I live 250 miles north of the nearest professional teams (Oakland and SF) and about the same from any D1 colleges. Does this mean it is impossible for me to be a "true fan" of any team?

Sounds like it, your best bet is to move so you can be a real fan.

[gilesfan]

So I have a question. I live 250 miles north of the nearest professional teams (Oakland and SF) and about the same from any D1 colleges. Does this mean it is impossible for me to be a "true fan" of any team?

No, u can be a fan of either.

And Braves post Giles.

[gilesfan]

How is the team representative of the city though? What characteristics of a city are transferred to a team?

The reason the professional stadium experience has gone to crap is because of technology available in the home. That is the only reason and no other.

There is nothing to compare to watchig games in person. But hey root for a team u will never see

[thethe]

There is nothing to compare to watchig games in person. But hey root for a team u will never see

Way to avoid the questions.

I get to see the team every single game and I get to see the action more up close and with better angles. Why would I want to go to games?