Wizards fans cheer for chicken sandwiches despite loss

When you're a fan of the Washington Wizards, you take any reason to celebrate within your reach.

With Saturday's 83-76 loss to the Utah Jazz, the Wizards dropped to 0-8 for the second straight season. But the fans who stuck around for the fourth quarter in Washington found solace -- perhaps too much -- in a fast-food giveaway.

Washington Post Wizards beat writer Michael Lee captured the scene:

The only time the crowd got excited was when Marvin Williams missed two free throws in the fourth quarter, meaning that fans were rewarded with free sandwiches from Chick-fil-A. Fans hugged and celebrated, not even noticing that the Wizards were unable to corral the rebound.

Even the players took notice of the fans' euphoria. Jazz power forward Paul Millsap told Joseph White of The Associated Press, "They didn't get a win; at least they got some sandwiches."

Cheering during a loss might seem like bad form, but it's hard to blame Wizards fans. Anyone who watches a team trot out a starting lineup of A.J. Price, Jordan Crawford, Trevor Ariza, Jan Veseley and Emeka Okafor has license to react to a game however they want.

Someday soon Wizards fans will actually get to cheer a win instead of lunch. Until then, I leave them with the words of "Community" character Jeff Winger: "To victory -- it feels unfamiliar, but it tastes like chicken."