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Bandwagon jumpers should be horsewhipped
Or: Do you remember Otis Nixon?
I am about to embark on an annual journey Friday. This quest takes me to a place with a stained white roof, red pole supports and the home of the second-worst stadium in baseball (Montreal's Olympic Stadium being the worst). This place is the Metrodome, the home of our beloved Minnesota Twins. Every year I make the trek to the Twins home opener. Yet, this year the trip to Minneapolis seems a lot different.
For the first time since 1992, the home opener is sold out. That's right, a Twins home opener completely filled with fans! However, one question remains: Where were all these fans before the Twins breakout season last year? Have they just magically reappeared after 10 years of cellar-dwelling in the American League? Have they all popped up again because the franchise was threatened to be banished away by Evil Bud?
Twins fans appeared out of nowhere in 2001 when the team jumped out to a 56-32 record. It was cool again to be seen wearing a Twins jersey or cap.
It was almost like we were in 1991 all over again. Still the question remains: Where were all of you supposed Twins fans through 1993-2000?
Home openers were only half-filled at the Plastic Palace during this time period. People scoffed at going to Twins games because of their lack of a decent winning percentage. Only the true fans went to games. You're only a true fan of the Twins if you know what happened during this time in their history?
The names of Alex Cole, Roberto Kelly, Dave Hollins, Matt Walbeck and Rich Robertson still stick in my mind. Can any of you bandwagon jumpers tell me who these guys are? Scott Aldred, Kevin Maas, Jerald Clark, Greg Colbrunn and Jose Parra still bring tears to my eyes. Greg Swindell, Greg Hansell, Jim DeShaies, Dave McCarty, Pat Mahomes and Bob Tewksbury all rekindle my love for the Twins.
Are you beginning to recognize any of the players I have just mentioned? If you don't recognize four of those players you should be ashamed of yourself. They all played during this period for the Twins. The fact is, if you don't know most of these players, you're a bandwagon jumper.
You aren't a Minnesota Twins fan, you're just a passer-by.
Don't claim to be a Twins fan if you don't know their true history. And this starts with the worst of times, not the best. 1993-2000 was the worst of times. Now that the team is back in contention, don't spoil it for the rest of the real Twins fans by faking like you know everything about them. Just go back to pretending that you think you worship the Vikings.
So, on my annual journey to the opener I will be looking for you bandwagoners. I can see right through you. I'll know you're fake from a mile away with your new Doug Mientkiewicz jersey and fancy T.C. cap. Meanwhile, I'll be thinking of Jeff Reboulet, Frankie Rodriguez, Scott Klingenbeck and Sean Bergman, while you'll be thinking about when the game will end.
Andy Rennecke can be reached at: [email protected]
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