The Bandwagon Fan: Fake Federer Fans

When Roger Federer wins, he has multitudes of fans.  He is adored by all who want to share in his cup-raising glories from Wimbledon to New York to Melbourne and Paris. 

It seems that everyone has claimed a spot on the bandwagon.

Not so fast.  I have been following Roger like everyone else at the French Open.  However, I have been monitoring his website for fan reaction DURING the matches. 

Several times during Roger's matches in which he has been trailing, there have been a flood of criticisms levelled at him.  Real and serious anger has been directed his way. 

Phrases like - "Federer how can you play so horrible" to "You have to cut down on your forced errors" to the famous "GET A COACH".  Sound familiar ?

If you were one of these people getting on his case, I am sorry but you are what I like to label -"The Bandwagon Fan".

You know in your head that it takes three full sets to win in this grand slam yet you desert him and give up on him, dismissing him as not the player he used to be.

The bandwagon fan has little patience for anything in life.  He/she wants results and they want it now.  Results even that are not assured or owed to them. 

The bandwagon fan will love Federer if he wins in Paris and will temporarily agree that he could be the greatest until all is forgotten at the next tournament if he loses to Andy Murray again.

The bandwagon fan can be found in Roger's website in his column comments preceding the present match.  That is where all the fans like to post their unreal reaction in real time.

The true Federer fans are the ones that marvel in all of his shots even when he loses.  He lost to Ivo Karlovic in Cincinnati in 2008.  One shot that he made was just incredible and it did not make his top shot video.  Why?  Because he did not win the match.

Twenty consecutive semi-finals in the grand slams and the last four grand slams he has the made the finals and he is "not the player he used to be"? Come on!

The bandwagon fan contributes zero and demands perfection and domination, a completely useless function, kind of like a case of two union workers supervising the one guy doing the job. 

If Roger should beat Robin Soderling in the finals on Sunday, you can be sure his accomplishment will be conveniently forgotten should he not win Wimbledon. 

So, Mr. or Ms. Bandwagon before you jump ship on that no-good Federer for actually trailing a match, use the same criteria to judge what you see in the mirror. 

Roger owes you NOTHING.  You are delusional if you think your criticisms and degrading comments actually motivate him to be the best. 

Sadly, the bandwagon fans will be around in numbers.  They will be ready to praise every win and pounce on every loss. 

While everyone is sleeping, I would like to hawk that bandwagon and push it off the proverbial cliff.