Who Is A Fan?

I think there is a very broad definition for the term "fan". Many start to follow a team when it is doing good. It becomes the popular thing to do. Success breeds followers. What happens to these people when their team hits a bump in the road?

Pats fans are spoiled by having won three Super Bowl in four years. Since then, some fans have been whining because it has been seven seasons between titles in spite of getting to the big game two more times.

The Pats had a playoff game drought from 1986-1994. That never stopped me from following the team or watching them. What will happen to fans when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are no longer part of the team? It will be like rats jumping off a sinking ship.

I saw a comment on Facebook from somebody who was threatening to stop following a college team because they suffered an embarrassing loss yesterday. That person is not really a fan. The easiest thing to do is to jump on the band wagon when things are going well. His team will probably have a losing record and not get an invitation to the nearly 30 post-season bowl games. It looks like he is getting ready to get off the wagon.