10 Worst Sports Fans in North America
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VOICE OVER: Ryan Wild
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
Get ready for a wild ride through North America's most notorious sports fan bases! We're diving into the world of professional sports fandom, exploring the teams with reputations that make other fans cringe. From entitled Lakers fans to bandwagon Patriots supporters, this countdown will have you laughing and shaking your head! Our list includes the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Penguins, Portland Timbers, Miami Heat, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Eagles, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees, and New England Patriots! Which sports fans do you think go too far? Share in the comments.
Worst Sports Fans in North America
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be discussing some of the professional sports fan bases with the worst reputations. This means that collegiate sports will be saved for another day.
There is not, at the time of this writing anyway, any NFL franchise that can legitimately claim to be the “official” team of America. Yet, fans of the Dallas Cowboys never seem to get this memo, eternally referring to this team as sort of an ambassador for the game. Maybe it ties into stereotypical imagery of the American west, of the wild frontier and archetypal machismo? Regardless, it isn’t as if the Cowboys suck, since the team did make it to the wild card back in 2023. It’s more of an attitude that’s attached to the team’s fandom that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many other fans of the NFL.
There’s no denying that the Pittsburgh Penguins possess a storied and winning history within the NHL. Yet, it’s also true that no team is on top forever, and the Penguins haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2022. The team had previously qualified for an impressive sixteen consecutive seasons, yet Penguins fans have been known to be historically fickle when things don’t happen to be going their way. Perhaps it’s too much of a good thing, getting used to all of that winning, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that fans should abandon their team in times of need. Trying to tell that to a Penguins fan will probably just result in an echo, however. Y’know, because they’re never there when you need them.
Sometimes, a team just can’t escape the stereotypes that surround their home city. MLS fans who oppose the Portland Timbers absolutely love to needle this Oregonian team about their state’s penchant for…well let’s just use an umbrella of “hipster stuff” to describe it. Elsewhere, the actual nuts and bolts of the Timbers do legitimately offer up a team where fans show up to cheer and watch them play. Ownership and management of the Timbers have been notably bold and aggressive in the press, regardless of whether or not the team can actually back it up. It ultimately comes down to how much you’re into craft beers, lattes and carbon-offset promises at your football games that will decide how annoying you find the Portland Timbers.
Fans of the Miami Heat, and we use that word in its loosest possible connotation, possess the ignorable distinction of being a part of NBA history. The 2013 NBA playoffs saw the Heat trailing behind the San Antonio Spurs with just under thirty seconds left on the clock. Miami fans are notorious for showing up late and leaving early, and they did indeed do so on this night. The only thing was that Miami rallied and tied things up, resulting in overtime. The Heat would go on to win both that game and the finals, yet fans at the time left the arena thinking it was over. Still others tried to make their way back IN after they realized what had happened…to no avail.
Nobody wants a tainted victory. The 2017 World Series win by the Houston Astros was tarnished by a sign stealing scandal, effectively adding a forever asterisk to that championship. Granted, Houston did win things on their own merit in 2022, but that kind of bad publicity never truly goes away. As a result, fans of this team joined the ranks of New England Patriots supporters (more on that later) and others who continue to defend their team’s cheating ways. Here’s hoping that a few more successful seasons will put more distance between Astros fans and their team’s dishonor.
It’s perhaps the easiest bit of commentary in this video, deriding Pennsylvania sports fans about their bad behavior. We’re not only talking about the Steelers over in the NFL, but also the Philadelphia Eagles, who practically relish their poor-sport status. Monstrous, beyond-the-pale activity like those of Ryan Caldwell mar Philadelphia’s labeling as the “City of Brotherly Love.” Yet, just like the “Florida Man” stereotype, it’s also partially the media coverage of instances like this that perhaps instill others with the courage to also behave in this way. Perhaps, just perhaps…if we ignore them, it will go away?
It’s probably true that everybody loves an underdog. And many fans of the NHL would probably be pretty stoked if the Toronto Maple Leafs won their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Leafs supporters would definitely be over the moon, since they routinely seem to be disappointed, year after year. It’s been one LONG drought, however, and other fans have noticed just how much Toronto hangs upon each year with a focus that’s almost distractingly obsessive. Maybe if that day comes sooner than later, Toronto will finally calm down a bit, but we’ll honestly believe it when we see it.
It’s a toss-up as to which California basketball team possesses the worst fandom in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors are up there, but we honestly just gotta go with a more old school target: the Los Angeles Lakers. Their historic rivalry with the Boston Celtics is absolutely the stuff of legend, but it’s also this legacy that makes their fans feel….well a bit entitled. Yes, L.A. may be “title town,” but the Lakers don’t always win, and their fans occasionally come across as more fair-weather than faithful. There’s also the “celebrity watch” status of their court sidelines, making home games feel less like sport and more like entertainment. No offense, WWE.
They’re a VERY easy team to hate, while also possessing a fandom that’s equally infamous for their support of this “Evil Empire.” Unlimited funding has put the Yankees in a place where winning feels commonplace, yet their fans are also NOT known for being supportive when the going gets tough. Instead, Yankees supporters are usually looking for something or someone to blame when a season doesn’t go their way. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are still languishing for a World Series win, an afterthought to the Big Apple’s obsession with pinstripes.
Take your pick, North America: The Boston Red Sox, Celtics or the New England Patriots? All three have their supporters, but if Deflategate has taught the world anything, it’s that New England fans are easy to hate. Patriots fans are notoriously fickle, and quick to diss their once-winning team for their current NFL slump. Celtics and Red Sox fans, in the meantime, struggle to distance themselves from Boston’s cultural legacy of hostility and outright racist behavior towards visiting teams. Yes, the Pats had Tom Brady, but that was then, this is now…and fans need to learn how to accept loser status once again.
We’ve had a bit of fun poking at various fandoms here, but real talk: what’s the BEST part about being a team player? Lift us up with something positive in the comments!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be discussing some of the professional sports fan bases with the worst reputations. This means that collegiate sports will be saved for another day.
Dallas Cowboys
NFLThere is not, at the time of this writing anyway, any NFL franchise that can legitimately claim to be the “official” team of America. Yet, fans of the Dallas Cowboys never seem to get this memo, eternally referring to this team as sort of an ambassador for the game. Maybe it ties into stereotypical imagery of the American west, of the wild frontier and archetypal machismo? Regardless, it isn’t as if the Cowboys suck, since the team did make it to the wild card back in 2023. It’s more of an attitude that’s attached to the team’s fandom that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many other fans of the NFL.
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHLThere’s no denying that the Pittsburgh Penguins possess a storied and winning history within the NHL. Yet, it’s also true that no team is on top forever, and the Penguins haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2022. The team had previously qualified for an impressive sixteen consecutive seasons, yet Penguins fans have been known to be historically fickle when things don’t happen to be going their way. Perhaps it’s too much of a good thing, getting used to all of that winning, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that fans should abandon their team in times of need. Trying to tell that to a Penguins fan will probably just result in an echo, however. Y’know, because they’re never there when you need them.
Portland Timbers
MLSSometimes, a team just can’t escape the stereotypes that surround their home city. MLS fans who oppose the Portland Timbers absolutely love to needle this Oregonian team about their state’s penchant for…well let’s just use an umbrella of “hipster stuff” to describe it. Elsewhere, the actual nuts and bolts of the Timbers do legitimately offer up a team where fans show up to cheer and watch them play. Ownership and management of the Timbers have been notably bold and aggressive in the press, regardless of whether or not the team can actually back it up. It ultimately comes down to how much you’re into craft beers, lattes and carbon-offset promises at your football games that will decide how annoying you find the Portland Timbers.
Miami Heat
NBAFans of the Miami Heat, and we use that word in its loosest possible connotation, possess the ignorable distinction of being a part of NBA history. The 2013 NBA playoffs saw the Heat trailing behind the San Antonio Spurs with just under thirty seconds left on the clock. Miami fans are notorious for showing up late and leaving early, and they did indeed do so on this night. The only thing was that Miami rallied and tied things up, resulting in overtime. The Heat would go on to win both that game and the finals, yet fans at the time left the arena thinking it was over. Still others tried to make their way back IN after they realized what had happened…to no avail.
Houston Astros
MLBNobody wants a tainted victory. The 2017 World Series win by the Houston Astros was tarnished by a sign stealing scandal, effectively adding a forever asterisk to that championship. Granted, Houston did win things on their own merit in 2022, but that kind of bad publicity never truly goes away. As a result, fans of this team joined the ranks of New England Patriots supporters (more on that later) and others who continue to defend their team’s cheating ways. Here’s hoping that a few more successful seasons will put more distance between Astros fans and their team’s dishonor.
Philadelphia Eagles
NFLIt’s perhaps the easiest bit of commentary in this video, deriding Pennsylvania sports fans about their bad behavior. We’re not only talking about the Steelers over in the NFL, but also the Philadelphia Eagles, who practically relish their poor-sport status. Monstrous, beyond-the-pale activity like those of Ryan Caldwell mar Philadelphia’s labeling as the “City of Brotherly Love.” Yet, just like the “Florida Man” stereotype, it’s also partially the media coverage of instances like this that perhaps instill others with the courage to also behave in this way. Perhaps, just perhaps…if we ignore them, it will go away?
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHLIt’s probably true that everybody loves an underdog. And many fans of the NHL would probably be pretty stoked if the Toronto Maple Leafs won their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Leafs supporters would definitely be over the moon, since they routinely seem to be disappointed, year after year. It’s been one LONG drought, however, and other fans have noticed just how much Toronto hangs upon each year with a focus that’s almost distractingly obsessive. Maybe if that day comes sooner than later, Toronto will finally calm down a bit, but we’ll honestly believe it when we see it.
Los Angeles Lakers
NBAIt’s a toss-up as to which California basketball team possesses the worst fandom in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors are up there, but we honestly just gotta go with a more old school target: the Los Angeles Lakers. Their historic rivalry with the Boston Celtics is absolutely the stuff of legend, but it’s also this legacy that makes their fans feel….well a bit entitled. Yes, L.A. may be “title town,” but the Lakers don’t always win, and their fans occasionally come across as more fair-weather than faithful. There’s also the “celebrity watch” status of their court sidelines, making home games feel less like sport and more like entertainment. No offense, WWE.
New York Yankees
MLBThey’re a VERY easy team to hate, while also possessing a fandom that’s equally infamous for their support of this “Evil Empire.” Unlimited funding has put the Yankees in a place where winning feels commonplace, yet their fans are also NOT known for being supportive when the going gets tough. Instead, Yankees supporters are usually looking for something or someone to blame when a season doesn’t go their way. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are still languishing for a World Series win, an afterthought to the Big Apple’s obsession with pinstripes.
New England Patriots
NFLTake your pick, North America: The Boston Red Sox, Celtics or the New England Patriots? All three have their supporters, but if Deflategate has taught the world anything, it’s that New England fans are easy to hate. Patriots fans are notoriously fickle, and quick to diss their once-winning team for their current NFL slump. Celtics and Red Sox fans, in the meantime, struggle to distance themselves from Boston’s cultural legacy of hostility and outright racist behavior towards visiting teams. Yes, the Pats had Tom Brady, but that was then, this is now…and fans need to learn how to accept loser status once again.
We’ve had a bit of fun poking at various fandoms here, but real talk: what’s the BEST part about being a team player? Lift us up with something positive in the comments!
