by: Violeta Pons and Maria Nicolau | @marianicolau @violetapons
Is Drake a Bandwagon Fan?
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| What is a bandwagon fan? Bandwagon fans only show interest and support for a sports team based on recent successes or popularity, e.g., when their city’s football is going to or has won the Super Bowl. |
Being a bandwagon sports fan often gets a bad rap. But what, exactly, is wrong with getting spontaneously excited about something new and expanding your horizons a little?
Aubrey "Drake" Graham (born October 24, 1986) is an Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, businessman and sports lover. With over 51.5 million followers on his Instagram account.
Drake has been a global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors for quite some time now, but that hasn’t stopped him from showing love to other great players and teams around the NBA. The Canadian musician is one of the NBA’s most famous fans and shows it in different ways from references in his songs to hanging out with players in his backyard.
Even though Drake is really proud to be from Toronto, he doesn't always support the Raptors. Despite his public displays of affection for the team, including a dedicated "Drake Night" at the Air Canada Centre, his fandom often seems to waver. He's been spotted courtside at games across the NBA, from Cleveland to Oakland, raising questions about the depth of his commitment to his hometown team. Drake clarified that he primarily supports players, not institutions. While he remains loyal to the Toronto Raptors, his friendships with athletes often lead him to support their teams. He emphasized his strong bond with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, explaining his frequent appearances at their games.
"I'm not team jumping. I'm a supportive friend," Drake stated.
How can you like so many teams and still be loyal to one?
His BFF Johnny Manziel is with the Cleveland Browns and LeBron James is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, you have to wonder if Drake is now on the Cleveland bandwagon. When asked if Cleveland is now his favorite sports city, Drake spoke out against being labeled as a “bandwagon fan” and defended his fandom.
“Of course, I’m gonna go watch games in Cleveland. If not for LeBron—who I said is a brother to me, we’ve got three kids from Toronto on one team, plus Manziel who is part of our family and our brother. I definitely have to look into some real estate in Cleveland and spend some months of the year out there. Like I said, my teams will always forever be who they are but I will support the group who has shifted to Cleveland.”
After his last confesions we've seen him having aggressive performances in some games.
This has raisen questions to us about the nature of loyalty and commitment, and the difficulty to mantain long-lasting connections.
For us, being a sports fan makes us competitive. And with competition comes harassment, heartbreak, and unfortunately in some cases, violence. We have arrived to the conclusion that just because you notice someone is a fan now, doesn’t mean they weren’t before. With social networking at an all-time high, people share their life much differently than they did back then. That includes changing profile pictures, status updates, and tweeting nonstop about nothing other than likes of your favorite organization. With all this exposure, the love for your team is now shown in ways that could not have even been imagined years ago.
. Instead of spiting each other, fans should come together and continue to show love and support for their subject of mutual admiration.
Great post! This post really brings out how much fairness matters in sports. It’s not just about the competition, it’s about making sure everyone can take part and enjoy it equally. I love how the new Camp Nou changes the aim to be more inclusive, from accessible seating to sensory rooms. It’s a great example of how sports can be for everyone. Beyond just physical access, what other steps could sports organizations take to ensure every fan and player feels equally valued and included?
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ReplyDeleteNice article! Moving forward in sports fairness can be seen as a key aspect in the enjoyment of a match/game for all fans or participants. Regarding the race, age and gender fairness, do you know which practices are put in place so no discrimination is caused?
ReplyDeleteIs there anything that can be done to educate athletes about inclusion? This to create a positive atmosphere for everyone.
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