Image via Complex Original
Yes, we know Drake spends more time outside locker rooms than Draya and Melo combined. And that his hopscotching allegiances span so many soccer clubs, NCAA, NBA, and NFL teams that you could pretty much photoshop any embarrassingly toothy headshot of him onto a body in any random jersey and come up with a moment that’s actually happened in real life. Drizzy’s starry-eyed gaze + hot team of the moment = dude’s sports allegiance in a meme.
But before we deride the Toronto native for his bandwagon-hopping, you gotta take a minute to acknowledge there are some (really shaky, sorta tenuous) natural ties to his rooting interests. His appearances at Kentucky games—in full regalia—make sense; he’s been a John Calipari fan, the coach helmed the team at Memphis...Drake’s dad’s hometown. And Cal reportedly attended Drake’s high school graduation. Sure, he’s buddies with LeBron but an ambassador for his hometown Raptors. Conflict, yes. But unless the Eastern Conference playoffs go wildly awry there shouldn’t be a problem.
Drake takes hits for switching loyalties but those insults fail to take into account that maybe, just maybe, it’s not a matter of Drake glomming onto successful athletes but those same athletes begging to hang out with him. Athletes are groupies, too.
Consider that Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel got OVO tatted on his wrist before they even met. Johnny Football manifested their newly snug bro-dom. In a past life, I interviewed Andrew Wiggins before the start of this season, and the prospective NBA draft pick cited Drake as one of his five favorite rappers. That’s not exactly a reach considering that Wiggins is from Vaughan, the Toronto suburb, where Drake went to high school.
We can never know the full story behind the “supertight” friendships that Drake has struck with many, many athletes. In the end, there isn’t a real justification for a rapper’s lack of loyalty and maybe there doesn’t need to be. What’s certain is Drake’s love for winners and, really, what’s wrong with riding with the victors? As The Boy famously rapped on Draft Day: “Fuck that other side bitch, we stay winning.” In Drake’s world, his allegiance isn’t to the laundry athletes are wearing, it’s to the scoreboard.
Written by Elena Bergeron (@ElenaBergeron)
To check out A History of Drake Bandwagon Fandom, click through and read the rest of this story.
Drake Throws Out the First Pitch at an Indians Game
Date: 7/22/2011
It has to be one of the coolest things ever to throw out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game, and we have to give Drake props for getting his pitch over the plate too. However, looking down at the shirt you're wearing and then proclaiming that right now you're an Indians fan isn't exactly going to endear you to the tribe.
Drake's "Headlines" Video Features the Rogers Centre
Date: 10/2/2011
Speaking of endearing himself to home fans, Jays fans must've been delighted when they peeped the premier of the "Headlines" video and found their own Rogers Centre featured on the track. Root, root, root for the home team...
Dropping by the Manchester United Training Facility
Date: 1/25/2011
Quite possibly the first evidence of Drake's affinity with soccer, clearly October's Very Own is a fan of the Red Devils. But...
Drake is a Massive Didier Drogba Fan
Date: 3/28/2012
He may have been kicking it with Rio Ferdinand and United a few months earlier, but Drake has nothing but love for Didier Drogba. Nobody say shit.
Chilling at a Manchester City Game
Date: 3/31/2012
Rio Ferdinand? Na, never heard of him. Just a few days after announcing his amazement at meeting Didier Drogba, Drake took in a Manchester City match at the Etihad, donning a giant City jacket in the stands.
Drake and Tom Cleverley are in Awe of One Another
Date: 4/3/2012
Don't worry, United fans. Drake was back with the red half of Manchester when he linked up with Tom Cleverley for a photo opportunity a few days after watching that City match.
Celebrating a Champions League Win With Drogba and Chelsea
Date: 4/5/2012
What, you feeling jealous, Chelsea? No worries. Drizzy took in Chelsea's match against Benfica in the Champions League, and then promptly took to the Stamford Bridge pitch for a quick interview and kick about with Drogba and co.
Drake and the Ox Just Kicking it
Date: 4/6/2012
You knew it was only a matter of time, Gunners. The next player and team Drake chose to show his love for, on social media of course, was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arsenal. Just making the Premier League rounds.
Add Jerome Boateng and Bayern Munich to Drake's Soccer Story
Date: 4/18/2012
Germany, Germany, wait, I love you too, baby. Drizzy shows some more international flair by repping Jerome Boateng and the defending European champs, Bayern Munich.
You Got My Back, Super Mario?
Date: 4/19/2013
Just a day later though, and he was literally putting Balotelli on his back, and front. Would you cop this shirt right now?
Get Off His Back, He Loves Them All
Date: 4/24/2012
In a month in which Drake confessed and showed his love for numerous soccer teams and players, he finally took to Twitter to defend his twisted fandom. Dude's got a lot of friends in really high places.
Repping Italy For Euro 2012
Date: 7/1/2012
How did you spend Euro 2012? Drake took over the Little Italy section of Toronto, donning an Italy kit of course, and rooted on the Gli Azzurri with fellow fans.
Can we Throw Ivory Coast into the Mix? You Betcha
Date: 7/12/2012
Already a known Didier Drogba fan, it was only appropriate that just days after repping Italy for Euro 2012, Drake posted a pick with his boy while holding up an Ivory Coast jersey. Italy, Ivory Coast, at least they both, um, start with an "I"?
Toronto FC in the House
Date: 8/22/2012
Making a strong case for being featured on the @WankersFullKit Twitter account, Drake took to BMO Field to show his skills and rep his hometown squad, Toronto FC. It was clearly the right thing to do following his European tour.
Stateside Love For Tim Cahill and the Red Bulls
Date: 5/21/2013
If only Drizzy's MLS love ended with Toronto FC, but what on earth would lead you to believe that? Drake got a chance to meet up with Tim Cahill of the New York Red Bulls last year, and it looks like they both made the most of it.
Because Who Isn't a Barcelona Supporter?
Date: 5/24/2013
We're honestly surprised it took this long for Drake to throw on a jersey for arguably the most bandwagon-followed team on the planet. Better late than never, right? Drake was seen here in a Barcelona kit after touching down in Toronto, having spent the last week kicking it in Spain.
Of Course Drake is a Toronto Maple Leafs Fan
Date: 5/12/2013
You think Drizzy will get the Justin Bieber treatment from the hockey community? Drake not only performed at the 2012 NHL All-Star game, but he took to Twitter to proclaim his support for the Maple Leafs last Spring. It was only a matter of time before they historically lost this series to the Bruins, and Drake was seen quickly throwing away all his Leafs gear. Maybe.
Wherever Balotelli Goes, Drake Follows
Date: 6/6/2013
Mario Balotelli's on AC Milan now? I got that. Is there no limit to the fandom madness?
Partying With the Heat After Their Finals Win
Date: 6/20/2013
He may have been denied access to their locker room immediately following their game 7 win, but Drake is not easily deterred when it comes to showing love and getting daps from teams that just won shit. Drake would have his moment with LeBron and the Heat one way or another.
Showing Love For His Hometown Raptors
Date: 9/30/2013
In a move so Drake it's not even funny, Toronto's own recently became the global ambassador for his hometown Raptors. That means a whole bunch of changes for the organization, and of course, a "Drake Night."
Drake Repping the Niners
Date: 12/19/2011
Drake showing his love for one of the most winningest franchises in NFL history, nothing strange about that...
But Then Drake Makes a Visit to the Seahawks
Date: 12/7/2013
Wait, now he's making house calls and taking pics with the division rival Seahawks? Colin Kaepernick might have a thing or two to say about this.
Drake, OVO, and Johnny Football
Date: 2/2/2014
Well, it's been a long and odd partnership between Drake and Johnny Football. Obviously Drizzy would rep a shirt with Manziel's face on it at a Super Bowl after party at 1 Oak.
Drake Was First on the VCU Bandwagon
Date: 2011
You know him as forever being a Kentucky fan, but you didn't really believe that, did you? Yup, back in 2011 Drake was showing us all how it's done as far as how to be a bandwagon fan. VCU until, well, Kentucky made the Final Four, babay!
Drake's "Always" Been a Kentucky fan
Date: 4/5/2014
Think coach Cal and Kentucky are having second thoughts about letting Drake into their locker room? Should've followed that Heat game plan and made him meet ya'll after you won it all. Oh, well, at least Calipari and Drizzy can ride out of Jerry's world together on a golf cart. Until Drake hops off, off course.