Bandwagon Boneheads

It seems to happened once every year. No I'm not talking about doing your taxes or pesky June bugs (Although it's just as annoying), I'm talking about the herds of so-called baseball fans who jump on the Red Sox bandwagon every time they make the playoffs.

With the World Series set to begin this evening, this years team is no exception. People come out of no where and declare their love for a team who they probably can't even name five players. Where are these fans during the regular season, and why does it seem like the Red Sox attract more bandwagon jumpers than any other team in sports?

It probably dates back to a few years ago, when the Sox had their improbable World Series run, and came back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the evil Yankees. Back then it was the fashionable thing to cheer for the Sox to break the curse, just like it would be alright to cheer for the Cubs if they're ever able to have some playoff success. But come on now, the Sox got their ring, and come playoff time they're still every one's new favorite team. Give me a break. I never thought I could dislike any team as much the Yankees, but I think I do now. Actually sorry, I hate the Toronto Maple Leafs more but that's a story for another day.

And speaking of the Yankees, they're probably the main reason most people choose to cheer for the Red Sox. It's well publicized that the Yankees spend a hundred gazillion dollars each year on their roster, and that's one of the reasons people hate them so much. But people seem to forget, that the Red Sox only spend a few pennies less than the Yanks each season to have one of the most outlandish team salaries in sports history. But I guess that's ok, right Red Sox fans?

If there's one thing that bugs me as much as a Sox bandwagon jumper, it's a Red Sox fan who has an excuse for everything. One of my favorite sports stories from the summer is when 'The Golden Boy of Boston' Tom Brady was spotted wearing a Yankees ball cap, and Red Sox fans say he was simply wearing it as a disguise not to be recognized in public. Wow.

Are the Red Sox a good team? Nope, they're a great team. It's just flat out annoying that so many people who know nothing about baseball decide to cheer for them and rub it in when they win. So many Red Sox haters would love to see the Rockies sweep the Sox and shut up the bandwagon jumpers. But not me. I'd love to see the Rockies blowout the Sox 10-0 in game seven at Fenway Park. I bet the wagon would be pretty empty after that.
-Joe Osborne