In the world of sports, I am easily annoyed by countless occurrences that take place on and off the field of play.

I get upset if one of my favorite players strikes out. I yell at my television if an official makes a bad call. I will break things in my apartment if my team cannot convert free throws. And I will alienate myself from friends if my team loses to their team. However, it’s something outside the game that troubles me the most, and that’s fair-weather fans!

They are everywhere. You see them around campus, at the gym and at your table for Thanksgiving dinner. They drive you insane as they cheer wildly after a victory, and feel no pain following a loss. They were absent through the years of frustration, but consider themselves die-hard fans now.

I have a major problem with all the fans that have jumped on the Sacramento Kings bandwagon. They are no better than the Dodger fans that adopted the Angels during the postseason, or anyone outside of New England who wore Patriots gear after last year’s Super Bowl.

If you were one of the few wearing a Mitch Richmond jersey during the ’97-’98 season, when the Kings record was 27-55, you feel my frustration.

It’s as if you were building a house for years, and just when it was complete, some guy shows up and claims the master bedroom.

You can argue the premise. When a team does well, a city rallies around them and the team builds a fan base. Each year, the Kings seem to surpass expectations by performing better than they did the previous season.

Along with the increasing win totals, come increased fan bases. Smarter fans? No.

Better fans? Not a chance.

The Kings fan base is made up of your occasional die-hard, but for the most part Kings fans are just casual fans. They are more interested in the social scene than they are in the actual team.

They are just as engrossed standing in line for Vlade Divac beanie babies as they are interested in watching a game. Sure, Kings fans get loud at Arco, but do they even realize what they are cheering about? Some do. Many don’t.

If you are a true Kings fan, don’t be offended by this article. It is merely an observation of your frustration. You deserve the right to go watch your Kings play, not the new guy who just jumped on the bandwagon. The fair weather fan creates a false impression of what a true fan is all about. Generally the fair-weather fan is ignorant about the team, and gives the rest of the nation the sense that Kings fans don’t understand the team. There is only room for 17,317 fans at Arco Arena; let the real fans take a seat.

Here are few simple rules to follow for being a loyal fan:

1. No hopping on and off your team. I can’t stand the people who are yelling “WE RULE!” one second, and telling their friends a few days later, “I told you we suck…”

2. If the Kings win a championship, don’t just walk away smiling. Wear your Kings apparel proud for an extended period of time. (Note: This is not an excuse to walk around acting like an arrogant, patronizing jerk.)

I better see those jerseys and hats still being worn after a below .500 season.

3.“I was a Warriors fan when I lived in the Bay Area, but when I moved to Sacramento for school I became a Kings fan.” Not acceptable! Sorry, this just doesn’t work. Once you form a favorite team, you are stuck with them for life, for better or worse.

4.If your local team moves to another city, you have the right to change teams. Call it legitimate team divorce.

Follow these rules and you will be fine. Remember, you shouldn’t be devoted to your team because of their excellence. You should be devoted to them because they are your team.

Questions or comments? E-mail Jimmy Spencer at [email protected]