Glancing at the scoreboard, your heart falls as you see your team has been shut out once again.  Dejected, you turn back to homework, finding the game too depressing.  Broken hearted, you go about your life, realizing the terrible truth: your team sucks.

 When it comes to sports, some teams will inevitably do poorly, often to the point of ridicule by the rest of the league.  Comments such as “they lost on their bye week,” abound, and fans face considerable teasing about their team’s struggles.  However, despite this, there are many fans who endure these conditions, dealing with the fact that their team is terrible.  There are various reasons for their decision to do so, sticking with a team despite its troubled status.

 “I’ve supported the Washington Wizards since 2007, when Gilbert Arenas was still the team’s star,” said senior Matt Mologne, “I’ve stuck with them because I’ve supported them for so long, I have faith in their management and organization, and I believe in their young talent,”

Of course, time spent following a team and optimism are not always factors for some.

 “For six years I’ve been a Cleveland Browns fan, mainly because I’m from Cleveland,” said junior Sleton Steinbrenner.

 Family tradition is yet another reason for sticking with a struggling franchise.

 “I’ve been a Buffalo Bills fan for my whole life.  My dad grew up with the team, so I have as well,” said sophomore Lucas Dillistin. “We’re both fans.  It’s a family tradition.”

 Of course, with unwavering support for a bad team comes criticism of the team and harassment of the fanbase.

 “[Basketball analyst] Charles Barkley calls the Wizards the ‘stupid idiots in Washington’ and ‘the biggest joke in sports history,’” said Mologne.

 Such criticism has proven hurtful to some fans.

 “I get a bit upset, since literally everyone tells me how bad they are,” said Steinbrenner. Fortunately for other fans, the presence of so many bad teams has deflected some criticism from certain teams.

 “We don’t get as much teasing as other teams, even though we haven’t made the playoffs in 13 years,” said Dillistin.

 While the past and present have been spent dealing with the fact that they follow a struggling team, fans have varying opinions about the future of their struggling teams.

 “I’m not too hopeful right now,” said Steinbrenner, “They have a lot to improve, and they’ve been bad since I was born.”  Others are more optimistic.

 “They’ve struggled for six years, but I hope they pick up a superstar to complement their young talent. Hopefully John Wall will have a breakout year,” said Mologne.  Yet others see more light further down the road, which may lead to a great future, and a change.

 “We have a good, young team.  We’re going to have a turnaround,” said Dillistin.