What it means to me to be a "Walmart Wolverine"

Submitted by Plegerize on

(Note: This has been bothering me for some time; spending my time in college I  find myself coming across this more and more.)

I was at a friend’s costume party in East Lansing about a month ago, surrounded by Sparties and the like, when a fellow UofM fan walked in wearing Michigan memorabilia. I naturally walked over and told her I was also a UofM fan much to the other Spartans’ chagrin.

This became an issue throughout the night, however, when we would talk smack and go back and forth with the other Sparties. Arguing with them was an easy task-- as it always is because they really have nothing on us except for one victory in over 7 years-- but then they pulled out a wildcard of sorts. Something so diabolical yet really stupid that it boils my blood and grinds my gears every time I hear a fan of another team use it: I was only a “Walmart Wolverine”.

Now I happen to be a Central Michigan University student (and the UofM fan-girl was a State student) but I was born and LIVED in Ann Arbor my entire 20 years of existence. I have more history in that town than most students of the actual school have. I could’ve gone to Michigan for my undergrad; I graduated with highest honors from high school and know plenty of people from my graduating class who did choose to go to Michigan, but because I am paying for my own schooling, I could not afford their tuition.

I bleed maize and blue, I have always had a passion for Michigan sports and it pains me that I cannot go to school there. That being said, for someone to have the nerve to come up to me and question my fan hood just because I don’t go to the school is just straight out bullshit.

It is by far the dumbest argument I have ever had to face: “You don’t go to school there, you’re not a student, so therefore you cannot be a fan!”

Fuck you!* Have you ever worked for the Detroit Tigers? You haven’t? Well you aren’t associated with them, therefore you can’t be a fan. I just can’t imagine what these morons say to other State fans (or other fans of other schools) who didn’t go to their school. Walmart Spartan? I mean the logical argument works for all teams spanning across all fans.

Didn’t play soccer or live in Europe? Can’t be a soccer fan.

Never been to a hockey game? Can’t be a hockey fan.

Did you ever play for the Detroit Pistons? No? Well can’t be a fan of them either.

Of course some people might try to say that the fallacy in my argument with other sports, such as professional sports, is that you can be a fan of the said team because you live in the region.

But then they just proved their own argument wrong that I can’t be a Michigan fan because I lived in Ann Arbor my entire life, thereby associating myself with the local team.

I apologize that I am not a Michigan student nor on my way to becoming an Alumnus to the school. I apologize that I lived near the campus my entire life and chose to follow them instead of some other school that I have no local/familiar ties to. I’m just straight up sorry that your best argument to try to deface my fan hood has no logic to it. But say what you have to say, I will always root for the maize and blue, even if it means being a “Walmart Wolverine”.

 

*I apologize for the profanity. It is there for emphasis and nothing more.

Comments

BlueDucky

November 20th, 2009 at 1:42 PM ^

Im really sorry u arent able to go to mich. that stings, i too am aspiring to go there. i am changing careers and hope to finish nursing school there. Its so sad that tuition is so high.
I love ann arbor but most likel will be lucky to get into and afford u of m flint. keep your chin up, maybe someday when you are more established you can get a higher degree there. thats what im hoping for. i dont quite know the meaning of walmart wolverine, if thats where you buy your mich t-shirts... so the f what!!!? i have some form there and some from mden, and I love them all.

kylewds18

November 20th, 2009 at 11:32 PM ^

I have always considered a "walmart wolverine" to be like a "band-wagon sooner." The difference in this case being that the Sooner's use a term that is recognized more in the sports world than walmart.

Most people I have seen or heard use the term over the years have tried to imply that I was only a fan because the team was winning. They accused me of being susceptible to turn on my wolverines if they ever had a bad season. These accusations increased when I chose to move to OK, rather than stay in state and attend UM.

After last season, many of those same people have stopped the insults. After realizing that after a bad season, I was still ready to systematically point out to them how the wolverines are better in every single way than their team.

So, if you consider a "walmart wolverine" to be a band-wagon fan, then I would have to agree that the term is disgraceful. But for any other reason, as many have pointed out already, there is nothing to be ashamed of, as long as your fan-dom is loyal, true, and forever lasting.

jbgreen

November 27th, 2009 at 1:56 PM ^

You can be a fan of any school/team you want. I grew up in Ann Arbor as well (10 yrs), went to State and am a die-hard Spartan. Some of my childhood friends call me a traitor....but they are complete idiots and are roasted every time they do. MSU played a major part in my life and the people there did an enormous amount for me; I make very good money (not that money is everythign) and have a great life in general so people shouldn't be surprised that I side with the place that helped mold me. Ann Arbor played a big part in my life but U of M gave me nothing...

That being said, you made a statement in your post: "Arguing with them was an easy task-- as it always is because they really have nothing on us except for one victory in over 7 years" Now, I understand that you posted this before our fball game this year, but give me a break. MSU has won national championships in both basketball and hockey this decade, your last 'ship was football in '97. Your basketball program is not comparable to ours, even with the great job Belien has done so far...we've been to 5 final fours in the last 11 years and are a national powerhouse.

As for football, you guys are college football's most winningest program - kudos. That is a fact. You guys were also a joke last year (and turned out to be this year, as well). Expect to hear about this from MSU fans - it's part of any rivalry......As for us, we have been down and out for a while, but maybe you didn't know we boast six national championships....it's not like we're a perennial joke.

My point is, your statement is absurd. I give credit where it is due but to say that we have nothing on you? Dude, it's been two years since you have beaten us in a revenue generating sport....

I am not talking smack, this is a Michigan blog (and a damn good one). I'm just saying, given some of your comments I am not surprised why you get called a Walmart Wolverine.

jbgreen

November 27th, 2009 at 1:57 PM ^

You can be a fan of any school/team you want. I grew up in Ann Arbor as well (10 yrs), went to State and am a die-hard Spartan. Some of my childhood friends call me a traitor....but they are complete idiots and are roasted every time they do. MSU played a major part in my life and the people there did an enormous amount for me; I make very good money (not that money is everythign) and have a great life in general so people shouldn't be surprised that I side with the place that helped mold me. Ann Arbor played a big part in my life but U of M gave me nothing...

That being said, you made a statement in your post: "Arguing with them was an easy task-- as it always is because they really have nothing on us except for one victory in over 7 years" Now, I understand that you posted this before our fball game this year, but give me a break. MSU has won national championships in both basketball and hockey this decade, your last 'ship was football in '97. Your basketball program is not comparable to ours, even with the great job Belien has done so far...we've been to 5 final fours in the last 11 years and are a national powerhouse.

As for football, you guys are college football's most winningest program - kudos. That is a fact. You guys were also a joke last year (and turned out to be this year, as well). Expect to hear about this from MSU fans - it's part of any rivalry......As for us, we have been down and out for a while, but maybe you didn't know we boast six national championships....it's not like we're a perennial joke.

My point is, your statement is absurd. I give credit where it is due but to say that we have nothing on you? Dude, it's been two years since you have beaten us in a revenue generating sport....

I am not talking smack, this is a Michigan blog (and a damn good one). I'm just saying, given some of your comments I am not surprised why you get called a Walmart Wolverine.