Your Response to Bandwagon Fans

[wuck]

I got a funny message from my cousin this morning asking whether it was too late to climb aboard the Cavs bandwagon. He's a college/NBA basketball fan with no particular allegiance (moved around a lot) but he appreciates teams who play smart ball and he has been in awe at the Cavs teamwork and chemistry. Not to mention their blowouts.

So, what's your position on welcoming fans to the Cavs Bandwagon?

 

[chiefwahoo]

We're just gonna have to get used to these bandwagon fans... their arrival is inevitable once we start rolling up multiple titles. Maybe it means that if there's another little LeBron (besides LBJ Jr. and Bryce) running around out there he'll at least grow up a Cavs fan.

 

[The Oi]

Bandwagon fans are on board here in Florida. I was at a business conference the last two days and I wore Cavs shirts out both nights. We had about 50 or so people here in Orlando and at least 10-12 with no Cleveland connections were cheering on the Cavs at the bar. A lot of people made comments on how much they liked our team.

Personally, with all the negative energy thrown in Cleveland's direction over the years, I'm more than happy to have the bandwagon fans on board.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

There is always more room for people to spend their money to this organization. ALL ABOARD!

 

[wuck]

Like Jigo, I had similar responses on a recent trip. Cleveland became a topic of interested (and interesting) conversation about LeBron and the Cavs. Years back, "Cleveland" seemed to mean some kind of cold place and sometimes prompted a joke about something (related to some football disaster or a burning river).

Now, mentioning Cleveland prompts questions like "have you been to a Cavs game" or "you think LBJ is with the Cavs forever"?

 

[theSTEREO.]

Everyone is welcome. Don your hippie garb and reach out for massive hugs.

This team is legit, and not because of snobbery or poor sportsmanship. Let's make the whole country Cavs fans!

(I've already converted most of my Nor-and-So-Cal homies, even some die hard Lakers fans that will be cheering us except against their own boys.)

 

[BooyaCS]

The more bandwagon fans the better. We might be able to keep some too during rough stretches but by having more and more fans then the OIC mentality dies and thus any "Curse" as well.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Maybe it's the glitz of LBJ, but I'd like to believe that some of the out-of-town bandwagonners are real basketball fans who appreciate seeing the game played the way its supposed to be played, by a bunch of guys who really like each other, and with a superstar who give the highlight plays. You could tell from his commentary last night that Mashburn really enjoys watching the type of basketball the Cavs play. Not just the alley-oops and dunks, but the team defense and camaraderie.

As fundamentally sound as the Spurs, but not as "boring".

All aboard!

 

[Jon]

IMO, they're all welcome on the bandwagon, my only hope is that if they decide to find a message board that we get the thoughtful ones.

 

[Da_James_Gang]

I have no problem with them, can't hurt to have more people cheer for your team. They usually show theirtrue colors at some point or another anyways.

 

[Jon]

Maybe it's the glitz of LBJ, but I'd like to believe that some of the out-of-town bandwagonners are real basketball fans who appreciate seeing the game played the way its supposed to be played, by a bunch of guys who really like each other, and with a superstar who give the highlight plays.

Do you think our watchability has improved that much better? A lot of people used to complain about the LeISO's and walking the ball up the court which we still do much of the time.

One factor is always who the out of town fans can relate to better and/or who they hate more. For instance if the Celtics lose their fans will likely cheer for whoever plays the Lakers, and visa-versa. I think we saw some Spurs fans getting on board with the Cavs because we seem like San Antonio East. Others are going to relate to the underdog factor and/or just feel sympathy that it's time for Cleveland to win something. And then the majority are just going to hitch themselves to LeBron like so many used to hitch themselves to Jordan.

Is LeBron the same sort of fan magnet? Dunno, but at least he's never been tried for rape like one of the other candidates.

 

[aaronbev79]

I think an argument can be made that it's more difficult to be a bandwagon fan (at times) in opposing cities than it is to be a long standing homer. If you wear a Cavs jersey to an LA game, I'm pretty sure you're going to get a ton of shit, and have to deal with hecklers. That deserves some respect if you ask me.

Besides, the more bandwagoners we have in opposing cities, the more people we have cheering on the Cavs in hostile environments.

 

[Sea]

I guess I could be considered bandwagon since I only became a real cavs fan when the Cavs drafted Lebron. I'm 25, and like most people my age, we had our favorite players growing up and they didn't play for the Cavs. I mean say what you want, but there was nothing particularly enthralling about Terrell Brandon, Chris Mills and Tyrone Hill for someone in the 6th or 7th grade. I always rooted for the Cavs to win, but I would be lying if I said I watched every Cavs game as a teen like I do now. I went to a ton of games at the coliseum with my dad as a kid, but like most kids, we cared more about getting a mini basketball than if the team actually won. When I got a little older I became more of a fan of players than a certain team because I had a ton of jerseys I would wear to school in the 4rd and 5th grade (Jerry Stackhouse(76ers), Shawn Kemp(Sonics), Latrell Speewell(Warriors), Damon Stodumire(Raptors), MJ, and of course Shaq) I don't think I was abnormal either. I never had a NBA team I was die hard for, just players I liked watching. Since I'm a fan of all Cleveland sports though, I'm a Cavs fan.

So I don't have a problem with Lebron-era fans. Those fans are the ones that help the Cavs franchise advance into what it takes to be successful. If the Cavs were good, and nobody went to the games, then you could forget about Gilbert spending money, or Lebron staying here.

 

[TAS]

I got a funny message from my cousin this morning asking whether it was too late to climb aboard the Cavs bandwagon. He's a college/NBA basketball fan with no particular allegiance (moved around a lot) but he appreciates teams who play smart ball and he has been in awe at the Cavs teamwork and chemistry. Not to mention their blowouts.

So, what's your position on welcoming fans to the Cavs Bandwagon?

We should welcome them with open arms. Like i have said before, i started watching the Cavs after they drafted LeBron. I probably sent 5-10 emails / day asking Runwald to let the Raptors tank. I might have ended up on the ignore list.:chuckles:

At the end of the day what Gilbert & LeBron are trying to accomplish is much bigger than bringing a championship to Cleveland. They want to expand their fan base & become a global icon like the Lakers, Manchester United, Dallas Cowboys etc..

 

[Rick Astley]

All aboard the Cavs Ferry! Who knows, they could grow into full time Cavs fans when the time comes that they realize that Cavs is more than just a team to follow around because of their winning status.