2011 NBA Playoffs: 10 Ways to Tell the Pretenders from the Homers in Fandom

With the 2011 NBA Playoffs underway, it's time to review the rules of fandom.

However, before deciding what rules apply to you, you have to determine what kind of fan you actually are. Answer these 10 questions, and you'll know whether you're a bandwagon fan, a regular fan, a homer or a stalker.  

After you take the fan test, based on your results, there's some advice to help your fan experience so you can enjoy the games a little bit more. 

On Television

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Former NBA players Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller, now both analyst for TNT, sit courtside during NBA All-Star Saturday night presented by State Farm at Staples Center on February 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NO

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you flip the channel between the game and whatever episode of CSI is on to see what the score is. 

You know you're a regular fan if you watch the game from start to finish. 

You know you're a homer if you record the game—both telecasts—on your DVR and then watch them both back from start to finish. 

You know you're a stalker if you can't watch the game on TV because you punched your fist through it when there was that horrible, horrible call.  

At the Game

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SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 13: Fans of the Sacramento Kings hold up signs against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 13, 2011 at Power Balence Pavilion in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or u

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you have never been to a game in person. 

You know you're a regular fan if you get tickets every season. 

You know you're a homer if you get season tickets.

You know you're a stalker if you can't go to the game because the team put a restraining order against you. 

The Team

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CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 18: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls prepares to shoot a free-throw against the Indiana Pacers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 18, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you only know the names of the star players. 

You know you're a regular fan if you know the names of all the players.

You know you're a homer if you know the names of all the players, their jersey numbers, their height, their weight, their PER, their PPG, APG and TRPG, as well as any and all other important statistical information. 

You know you're a stalker if you know their social security numbers. 

Apparel

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ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 05: Daniel Green #4 of the San Antonio Spurs wears a shirt promoting the NBA's recycling campaign during warmups before facing the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on April 5, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ackn

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you have the t-shirt you bought from Walgreens for $2.99 to show your support.   

You know you're a regular fan if you have an official team jersey.   

You know you're a homer if you have the complete official uniform.  

You know you're a stalker if you have your body covered in tats. 

Merchandise

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 20: Fans hold up old souvenir figures of Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn during unveiling ceremonies of a staute of Hearn before the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game Two of the Western Conference

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you have a bumper sticker on the back of your car.   

You know you're a regular fan if you own a bobble-head. 

You know you're a homer if you have a room in your house decorated exclusively with merchandise of your favorite team, a recliner and a flatty for watching the games. 

You know you're a stalker if you don't have anything else. 

Radio

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you listen to sports radio. 

You know you're a regular fan if you've made the "long-time listener, first-time caller" call.  

You know you're a homer if you are on a first-name basis with the radio host. 

You know you're a stalker if you aren't allowed to call anymore.  

Online

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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: In this photo illustration a laptop computer displays a page from the London Olympics 2012 Scedule on February 15, 2011 in London, England. A full schedule of events for the London 2012 Olympic Games was released today, wit

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you read articles on Bleacher Report.

You know you're a regular fan if you comment on articles on Bleacher Report.

You know you're a homer if you are a featured columnist on Bleacher Report for your favorite team. 

You know you're a stalker if you got your account revoked by Bleacher Report.

Fantasy

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you cheer for your fantasy team's interests over your real team's interests.

You know you're a regular fan if you cheer for your real team's interest over your fantasy team's interest.  

You know you're a homer if you draft a team entirely composed of players only from your favorite team because you really believe it's going to be a winner. 

You know you're a stalker if no one wants to play with you anymore. 

Marriage

You know you're a bandwagon fan if your wife doesn't know your "favorite" team.

You know you're a regular fan if your wife knows not to bother you during the games.  

You know you're a homer if your wife has gotten or is getting sucked into being a fan.  

You know you're a stalker if your wife left you.

Emotions

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BANGALORE, INDIA - FEBRUARY 27: Fans get excited before the start of the match during the 2011 ICC World Cup Group B match between India and England at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Bangalore, India. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

You know you're a bandwagon fan if you're the only one who knows you're watching the game.

You know you're a regular fan if your wife knows when you're watching the game. 

You know you're a homer if your neighbors know when you're watching the game. 

You know you're a stalker if your local police know when you're watching the game. 

A Little Advice

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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: (AFP OUT) (L to R) White House advisors David Axelrod, David Plouffe and Valerie Jarrett walk through the Colonnade of the Rose Garden of the White House on January 25, 2011 in Washington, DC. Later this evening U.S. Presid

If you're a bandwagon fan, you need to learn a little bit more. Until you're willing to pay the price to know the team and be interested in them during the regular season, you're not allowed to call them "we." Put in one full season of watching the games and see how much better it gets. Then get to a live game, it truly is amazing! 

If you're a regular fan, you're probably a relatively normal, well-adjusted person with a proper perspective. That's really getting in the way of you enjoying the game. Do one over-the-top thing. Paint your front door your team's colors or even just your face for one home game. Thrust yourself into the full joy of fandom! 

If you're a homer, you are in the sweet spot. Just make sure you don't go too far. Schedule time to spend with your wife and try having conversations that include topics other than basketball. You don't want to be stalker guy.  

If you're a stalker, I don't really have any advice because you frighten me.