After the season the Detroit Tigers had last year and the one they are off to this year (best record in baseball, as of today), it’s really not surprising to see how many “fans” have hopped on the bandwagon. Every time I’m at the mall or the grocery store, I never fail to see a multitude of people sporting Tigers’ t-shirts and hats. When I see all these people, I honestly want to ask them when said t-shirt or hat was purchased and, if the answer is anytime after Opening Day 2006, I think they should trade in their “true fan” card for a “bandwagon jumper” card. Don’t even get me started on all the people suddenly GOING to the games!This kind of things always has bothered me but it really hits home with the Tigers. Maybe it’s because I’ve been going to games my whole life – win or lose – and have the ticket stubs to prove it. Maybe it’s because I interned with the Tigers in 1998, an awful year when they finished 65-97, dead last in the AL Central (and 24 games out of first place). Whatever it is, at least I can walk around truly proud of this team’s success, knowing that I’ve been there through thick and thin and didn’t just jump on the bandwagon when things started to go well. Last year, when I saw this t-shirt (above), I thought all true Tigers’ fans should be issued one so you could tell the differences between us and these types of people.
