I often marvel at how ignorant certain people can be about their favorite sports teams. It amazes me how many different people can give you many different opinions on what the word "fan" means. I am a sports fan (why else would I write a sports blog here?), and in my bio, I say I stand behind most of my local teams. However, I don't allow that to make me oblivious to flaws that may appear. For instance, this blog has been vocal about how the Detroit Pistons have had moments were they appear complacent. At least I have been consistent about my position. On another site where I talk basketball (not your site, Hoffman), however, that got me some terrible smack from another Pistons 'fan'. Hence what inspired this post; to show what a true fan is NOT.
This fool (who shall remain nameless) called me a dumbBLEEP for expressing such views, then said I'd look foolish about "questioning their harts" (if you want me to take you seriously when you smack me, speak proper English) when they swept the Orlando Magic (I hadn't checked that site in a couple of days, so I got it late). As many of you know, the Magic won game three, so knowing that made me actually smile and, for a brief moment, hope that Orlando would spring an upset. After thinking about it for awhile, though, I realized this BLEEPer undermines his 'argument' much the same way PETA does their own; by blindly ignoring the facts in the name of supporting their team. And these types of fans do disservices to the teams they claim to support.
I think many people start off as that kind of fan. I did. Granted, I was not yet a teenager, and kids usually don't know better. But I was once that BLEEPer. I screamed at the TV when the Pistons made mistakes (this being the mid-90s, that happened often). I even went as far as, in 1994, at my first live game, pretending to do 'commentary' for the Pistons/Lakers season opener (the fans were impressed, though)! I loved the Pistons, but was blind to how bad they were. Fortunately, I got older, and became more objective, without losing the passion to root for my team. Some 'fans' don't do that, though, and it's these guys (or girls) who make the rest of us look bad. Even though this next part wasn't spoken from a fan's perspective, what would this guy think of this classic quote if I said it?:
" We played like a bunch of women tonight... We've got some great players on this team, but we don't have the players with the hearts sometimes that we need... And if we don't put our hearts where they belong, we're in trouble"- Larry Bird, after the Celtics lost 137-104 to the Lakers in game 3 of the 1984 NBA Finals
If I had said that about the Pistons, this guy would probably have said I committed a heinous act, and demand my head! But does saying something like this make me less of a fan? In this BLEEP's mind, hell yeah! That makes me a dumbBLEEP! But what makes me cring is this guy's contention that "they played hard, with their harts". Again, I can't respect your smack if you speak like a 3-year old (a tremendous insult... to 3-year olds). And they haven't played with 'their harts' all playoff; they had two lapses against an inferior 76ers team, and since then (before Billups was hurt) had played much better. So don't give me that bull! It's people like you who create this laissez-faire atmosphere that makes the Pistons complacent in the first place!
In conclusion, stupid thoughts from stupid people doesn't make you more of a fan of a team than I am. Being a fan doesn't mean just throwing your support behind them 110%; it means cheering them on and supporting them, while being realistic about what your team is really made of. I like to blog here at Fox because, even though many bloggers admit they prefer one team, they don't allow that to create an unbreakable bias that would make talking about sports painful. I know many of my favorite blogs prefer the Lakers, and that doesn't mean they don't give me good feedback on my blog, and vice versa. Bottom line: if there is a universal definition of a fan, this fool mentioned above certainly doesn't qualify. What a dumbBLEEP!
What do you think? What is the definition of a fan, to you? And do people like this fool above hurt the reputation of fans everywhere? Just drop me a line. Until then, bless all the true fans of sports out there!
I like to think I write with the utmost objectivity, although isn't that really impossible to do?
I've even noticed the guys on Sportscenter injecting their own personal opinions over the past few years.
I mean, back in the day, we NEVER knew the allegiance of certain broadcasters, now we all know who went to what schools and who cheers for which teams.
But back to your point, don't lose any sleep over the name-calling that goes on in this blogosphere. I never do.
There are many different kinds of fans and levels of loyalty. Some are blind homers and some are intelligent and mature. And let's face it, there are "fans" on sports boards who are not really fans at all, they just like to stir things up.
Someone on the ESPN Hornets board called the Spurs fans out because someone on the Spurs board dared to speculate on what would happen with the team next year if they lose this series. Like that meant the Spurs fans were disloyal. I just put it down to inexperience.
But really, why do you care what this guy says? He is just another poster on a sports blog. He has his opinion and you have yours. Neither carry any more weight than the other.
I will caution you about one thing though. People on a sports board are not usually very worried about their spelling and grammar. And often they may be good spellers, just lousy typists.
My policy on that is if I can read it and understand it, who cares about a few misspelled words? I taught school for 30 years and I still make mistakes. Now if it is complete and utter garbage that makes no sense, I may call someone out, but for a few spelling or grammar errors, no, it makes you look like a jerk and then people start searching through your writing to find your mistakes, which I guarantee you will make.
Every 'expert' at Foxsports, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN has a favorite team.
They wouldn't have gotten involved in sports to the degree they have if they didn't.
Henry Abbott of ESPN is the best NBA blogger on the web. His favorite team is the Portland Trailblazers. He's one of the few who make that fact known. I wish more guys would come out and state their allegiance to their teams.
My favorite team is the Lakers, everyone knows that because I put it in my bio but I try to remain unbiased.
I've taken a little criticism lately for writing about Bryant and the Lakers when in reality, they deserve credit for what they've accomplished recently. It wouldn't matter if I was a fan of theirs or not, I would still write about them.
When Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, and the Portland Trailblazers are taking over the NBA in five yearss, I'll be writing about them instead.
I've picked against my team the past two postseasons and I think that is where the line should be drawn between a true fan and ignorance.
It's the individuals who are incapable of seeing their team's flaws or have a tough time with people criticizing them who are "ignorant."
Downs,
I have to second what each person above me has said. In my opinion as well a true fan not only has his/her fav. team and or player but also loves that sport no mater who is playing. For instance I am a die hard Saints fan. God knows I've been through a heck of a lot with this franchise over the years. However I am an NFL fan period and love to watch all the games and hope for just a great competitive game. That's what true fans do in my mind.
To be clear, Spurcse, I wasn't trying to insult anybody who isn't great on the keyboard; I often make mistakes typing, and it's O.K. to do so. But this guy's ramblings made no sense, and that type of writing isn't very good. But you're right, and I'm sorry.
Hoffman, very true about who is ignorant. I'd put my guy in the "people who have a tough time with criticism" column.
Nique, I know I rambled, but it was my way to vent a little. And DeDoNothing is a perfect way to describe them, indeed!
Gambitxxx, you're right; I love the NBA and NFL, no matter whose playing. And by the way, hope for a speedy recovery!
I agree with most of those before me. I believe that a true fan roots with thier team not only during the good seasons, but follows them during the bad years, which is very hard to do. True fans are also able to accept thier teams failures and be able to see flaws in thier team without making constant excuses. If you are able to support your team through good and bad, and be objective and not ignorant for failures, you are a true fan.
He's a big star. I am his big fan. I saw him dating on a FREE & HOT celebrity&millionaire dating site called '' ~~~####~~~ ''. Seems he is hooking up with a hottie. The girl is from California. Very soft and sexy.
Downs'
An unabashed fan of a team is all about supporting them through thick and thin. But then you've got what many of you Americans like to call bandwagon jumpers.
It's the same the whole world over ! It happens in Britain with soccer and several other sports that encompass the sports diaspora .
Very good post, I completely agree, particularly with regard to the maturity of the fan's impact on their objectivity.
I was recently called out by another blogger as a negative, "immature and childish", "so-called Laker fan", because I "accused the Lakers" of receiving favorable officiating (after the game where they got 27 more free throw attempts than the Jazz).
The entire blog was based on the opinion that if you are critical of a team's players (or even the officiating o####ame), then you are not a real fan. This person went so far as to claim I made statements that I didn't make, totally untrue, to support the blog theme. Then, a reasonable exchange of a hal####ozen comments about my position vs theirs was for the most part deleted, regardless of it's non-profane, reasonable content.
So props to you, there are many here who "have a tough time with criticism", as well as a tough time with facts and the truth!
If you can't beat 'em, just delete 'em...
Last edited by nba is the worst on May 11th at 11:14 AM.
I've enjoyed my short time here. My browsers used to open to the SJ Mercury and the NY Times, but I left MSN as the home page on my new laptop. Okay, it's because I'm lazy (being a fatty does NOT take hard work...seven-course dinner joke applies here).
From listening to all of you (yes, I hear your voices when I read), most of you are good people...people that I would, if I met you in bar, buy you a drink so that I could hear more of what you had to say.
Now, I ain't no saint, and I did PURPOSELY take the bait on one blog, because it was clear I could practice egalitarian-level insults which would push someone to a point of being non-responsive due to their obvious lack of depth in OUR language (commonly know as passing the BLEEP-you transition state), but it was to make the point that my grandfather used to make: When you argue with a fool, who can tell the difference.
It's clear that survival in modern society forces us to be more mobile and that anything we can hold on to to peg to our sanity, like our home teams, is deliverance, but we must keep perspective.
So, Downy, when a BLEEP calls you a dumbBLEEP, you should declare victory. You've kept your words, your nature, and your sanity in a good place.
Rev - good point. The first case of knowing who a broadcaster really wanted to win...and broadcasting the obvious...for me anyway...was the 1987 World Series. Minnesota Twins vs. St. Louis Cardinals. Tim McCarver should have shown up everynight in a Cardinal uniform to broadcast the series because his favoritism was incredibly obvious. I always expected the announcers to be neutral in the broadcast regardless of where their sympathies were. He changed all of that, for me anyway, and now it is more the accepted practice of wearing ones colors on their sleeve.
Downs, I, the same as you, thought being a good fan of your team(s) was seeing the good and the bad. However, whenever I criticize my vols or the coach I get bombarded with negative comments. It's okay, though. Keep up your good work and keep up your good faith in your teams. Thanks for a good blog. I think rev and gcoach make excellent comments also.
I am David Downs, and I'm a sports nut who loves basketball and football and am open to good discussion about any sports subject. I am a Detroit sports fan, but I not a homer. Expect frequent vents on subjects that irritate me, and also expect the utmost respect for anybody's opinion, even if they disagree with me. Because, after all, that's what these blogs are all about, aren't they?
