Alan Bass on defining the true fan.

Here is an interesting article that I found over on the Bleacher Report. For the most part I really like what Mr. Bass has to say, except, "cheering at a beautiful goal scored, even if it is scored against his home team". Personally, I will hold off cheering for an opposition team when they score a goal against the Sioux.

Only A True Hockey Fan...

If there is one thing that I hate, it is when someone claims that they are a true hockey fan, but really aren’t.

A person who cheers only when their team scores is not a true hockey fan. A Penguins fan who only respects a goal that Crosby scores is not a hockey fan—he’s a Penguins fan.

A Capitals fan who says that any hit against Ovechkin is a dirty hit is not a hockey fan—he’s a Capitals fan.

And so, in spite of all this, I decided to make a list of how you know whether or not you are a true hockey fan, or just a bandwagon fan who wants a championship in his city.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see the Flyers win the Stanley Cup. But I also respect any team that does, and will cheer them on during that victory lap with the Holy Grail.

Only a true hockey fan will pay ridiculous amounts of money, equal to a week’s pay, simply to take his son or daughter to their first game.

Only a true hockey fan will cheer at a beautiful goal scored, even if it is scored against his home team.

Only a true hockey fan will accept the fact that his team lost to a better team.

Only a true hockey fan will look at the replay of his own team, and say, “Oh yeah, he did deserve that penalty.”

Only a true hockey fan will accept the fact that Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby can tear the crap out of their team regularly.

Only a true hockey fan will sit down after a loss, and not make excuses, such as “the refs threw that game,” or “Crosby was diving.”

Only a true hockey fan realizes that no matter how many regular-season points you have, if you are beaten in a seven-game playoff series, you are not the best team in the league.

Only a true hockey fan will give props to a team that beat them in the playoffs, because only the best team wins the Stanley Cup. I’m looking at you, Pittsburgh fans.

***Only a true hockey fan realizes that any hockey game is worth watching—whether NHL, International, Junior, Minor league, or bantam.***

Only a true hockey fan will have memorabilia of any good hockey player, and not just that of his home team.

Only a true hockey fan will continue to support the league in a bad time, such as a lockout.

Only a true hockey fan will continue to support his team, even in a losing season.

Only a true hockey fan will be a hockey fan forever. If you one day decide hockey isn’t so great, you never were, are, or will be a true hockey fan.

Only a true hockey fan will laugh at a player tripping over himself, no matter what play it breaks up.

Only a true hockey fan will love the Stanley Cup, no matter how often it has eluded his team.

Only a true hockey fan will show and feel respect for the Stanley Cup-winning team.

Only a true hockey fan realizes that the Stanley Cup winner is truly the best team. The Super Bowl champion can get lucky for three games. The Stanley Cup champion can not get lucky for 16 games. To win four playoff series, you have to be good.

Only a true hockey fan will accept the opinion of every other hockey fan, as long as that opinion is intelligent and realistic.

Only a true hockey fan wakes up every morning thinking about hockey, and goes to sleep every night dreaming about it.

Only a true hockey fan sees hockey as a religion, not just a sport.

Only a true hockey fan will look at someone who says “it’s just a game”, turn around, and walk away smiling and thinking, “If only they knew…”