As a sports zealot, nothing aggravates me more than the ubiquitous “fair-weather fan.”

     While I stay loyal to a team, all year every year, these people are permitted to root for the same team, yet only when they are doing well?

     This is a capital sports crime, that’s what it is.

     There is absolutely nothing that annoys me more than scrolling down my Facebook news feed right after the New England Patriots score a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

     “Touchdown Patriots,” one bandwagon-rider writes.

     “Brady to Welker! Go Pats,” posts another.

     I know for a fact these people don’t care about sports. They want to feel socially accepted by promoting the recent Patriots score. Their inane status update is providing them a masquerade that they actually know and care about what they’re talking about.

     I’ve watched every single game of the season, and here they are acting like omniscient sports gurus.

     They’re not.

     The fact of the matter is that these sports charlatans are revealed when the star player goes down with injury and/or the team starts losing.

     If someone doesn’t like sports, that’s fine. Not everyone enjoys the same things. The larger issue here is that people shouldn’t feel the need to pretend to be someone they’re not. We are all individuals with individual interests, so let’s rejoice in that.

     If you would rather beat the traffic out of a crowded sports arena than see a perfect game pitched, enjoy your ride home.

    If you would rather get home to feed your cats than see a shootout thriller on the ice, go feed your cats.

    If you would rather seek refuge in your nice heated car than watch a potential game-winning drive on the frozen gridiron in the frosty winter months, all power to you.

     Fenway Park by far has one the most expensive and exclusive tickets in the world, so don’t sit there like a Pink Hat waiting for “Sweet Caroline”, crying “I wanna sing the song,” rather than enjoying America’s favorite pastime. Clear the seat for a real sports fan.

     These people just want to feel involved in something other people are involved in. If you don’t like sports, don’t pretend to be interested.

     Being a real sports fan requires passion and dedication. If one does not have that, they are simply not a sports fan.