What happens to fans when their team is down in the dumps, losing and a far cry from the playoffs?

It's been very clear what happens to most fans at stadiums around the country during their favorite teams' losing seasons. Sports fans deserve a lot of credit for being loyal and faithful, even during the worst times.

When the Green Bay Packers were in the midst of a horrendous start to the season and the NY Jets came into town to visit for a little football game, the fans showed more loyalty then anyone could have ever imagined. The Jets had put up 31 points in the first half, creaming the Packers and turning Lambeau Field into their own practice field. But sitting their in minus 19 degree weather, we witnessed something that every sports fan should see. As the Packers came out of the locker room for the second half, the fans began cheering and rooting for their beloved "God" like quarterback, to throw one touchdown pass. If Favre had done so, he was inching closer to beating Dan Marino's record for most TD's thrown. No one in Green Bay that day cared at all about the massacre on the field, all they cared about was watching their favorite guy make history. It was a beautiful sight to see, sports fans just caring and just being able to find something positive to cheer for when things during the season were so negative.

Last night at Citi Field, the Mets were on their way to another loss and the fans had obviously become accustomed to seeing that this season. But as the 8Th inning began, Billy Wagner emerged from the bullpen to pitch and he received a very warm, standing ovation from the crowd, who only a year ago was yelling for his head as he was blowing save after save. Wagner was just activated from the disabled list and had not pitched yet this season, so seeing him was something new for fans. It could be called desperation or it could be called loyalty, whatever it was, it was positive energy. Citi Field lit up as if it were a playoff game and Wagner was out there to hold a one run lead. If you weren't aware of the actual score or had been in a hole all season, you might have thought that were true, just by hearing the cheers from the stands.

Although, these are only two examples of how fans stay true to their teams, surely there are others out there. Even during the Detroit Lions season last year, fans were finding something to cheer for. Because what else is there? Once fans know its over and they usually do before the players do, they re-group and turn their attention to something else. Maybe a record of some sort, a spoiler game, a new rookie making his debut, or just something that will evoke some happy emotions when things seemed so bleak. Sports fans can be happy knowing that they are real and are honest to themselves when it comes to their favorite teams. If this only trickled into real life, our world might be utopia.....