I think it’d be great to have 15,000 Warrior fans at a Bucks game.

I can’t understand being a Laker fan.

It’s like you don’t even acknowledge the existence of casual fans.

As with any sport (look at the Niners fan base explosion this year), when you win, it becomes easier to support, easier to enjoy, easier to talk crap, and just easier to be a fan. It never fails. Just because some people don’t care enough about a particular team to stick with them through the lows, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Some people watch and enjoy sports without having a team they root for at all.

So all the hate that comes the way of the fans of the successful teams is just unwarranted. You can point to all of them, and say that they have casual fans paying attention, who really don’t know much, and try to pretend that they do. Again, without fail. But then we try to blame it on the fans that DO stick with their teams no matter what? That DO know their team? That have been with them for a decade? That love the guys who put their team’s jersey on their backs?

You refer to “bandwagon” Laker fans in the Bay. Nearly everyone here does. But no one ever references just “Laker fans.” You have to attach “bandwagon” to the front of it. Same goes for when we’re talking about Heat fans, or Celtics fans, or even now, OKC fans. I know plenty of people here that have NEVER been Warrior fans. That don’t swing their allegiance at all just because the Warriors make the playoffs.

It’s aggravating, because we, as a fan base, hate the success the Lakers have and what comes from it. The success we hope our franchise imitates. But what then, do we expect if we ever do accomplish that? We’re going to have the same types of fans. We have already sort of had that for a while. Do you know how many people view us as their “2nd team” around the NBA because of the exciting style we USED to play? We’re one of the rare terrible NBA teams (excluding Nets for their suckiness for obvious reasons) with any sort of non-local fan support.

So I just can’t understand being annoyed at what is the natural cycle and reaction of the casual American sports fan. I love it when we’re successful. I love it when it brings out MORE LOVE for my team. It’s absolutely awesome. I remember being able to walk down the street after our playoff run and see Warriors gear more than I ever have in my life. I don’t care that it came from “used-to-be” fans of other teams. I don’t care that it might not last. I care that it’s there, and my guys on the court are getting the local and national recognition they deserve.

I’ll be taking BART, but the offer is much appreciated.

classy move, bobaballa!