As we were watching some guy nicknamed "Boobie" end the Pistons season, a little debate started between a few buddies and myself. Okay, the little debate turned out into all out argument because we were all ticked the Pistons came up short.
We started to discuss the Detroit sports scene. The question that was aked and then argued about was this. Would you rather your favorite team have a good to great regular season, wind up in the playoffs and lose OR would you rather your team come not even close to the playoffs and have to watch them bomb thru the whole season?
We got to watch the Tigers have a magical run last year, but then end up getting shocked in the World Series by the Cardinals. In the last 2 weeks, both the Red Wings and Pistons have lost in the conference finals.
One of my buddies said he would rather the teams not even get this far because it sucks to watch them come up short of the championship. He then goes on to say " At least the Lions have no expectations."
Now the argument really started. I said it was fun to watch the Wings and Pistons have some expectations and the chance for a championship. You don't have that with the Lions! Pretty much zero expectations with the Lions, and a championship? Hell would have to freeze over if the Lions won the Super Bowl.
So my question to you is this. Would you rather your favorite team have an incredible run like the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings but come up short of a championship OR would you rather the team not get that far and not raise any hope or excitement?
I think it's an easy answer. I want my teams to do well and have that chance. At least they got that far and gave you SOME hope. True it hurts in the end to watch them come up short, but isn't it more painful to watch a team that gives you no hope?
Great question Hoit. I would say get to the playoff's and lose. I'd hate to have no hope. Thank goodness the Steelers are going to win the Bowl next year. I'm looking foward to number six...ha ha ha.
Any sports fan that is worth the sack that carries his beans will have to agree. We want our teams to be competative. We want our teams to go on the field, court, ice and as fans, we want to know that they can win that game. I'm proud of our Red Wings after the predicitons in pre-season that said they would be lucky to make the playoffs. I'm proud of our Pistons who failed to adjust to the Cavs. I'm proud of our Tigers who surpassed EVERYONE's expectations last year. I'm proud of our Lions...ohhhh, wait...I DREAM of the day that I can be proud of our Lions.
I'm a Houston Rockets fan. In the last few years they have lost in the 1st round of the playoffs. It totally stinks for me that they lost. But I would rather them make it to the playoffs than not.
Hey HOIT,
I think about this same stuff all the time. Honestly though, while it is frustrating, your buddy (and the rest of you) should be happy that they got this far... and plus that they won the title somewhat recently (the Pistons that is).
It is worse when you get teased with a high payroll, only to flop... or off to a hot regular season start, to tank. Let's put this in perspective...look at my teams man...
Orioles - nine straight losing seasons... trying real hard for ten
Redskins - last Super Bowl, a long time back against Bills... tons of payroll, can't get far.
Capitals - Have stunk recently...
Magic - not doing much either, and now just lost Donovan likely (never liked NBA as a kid, 'til I moved to Central FL at age 9, close to when Magic were born - hence why I like them)
Penn State - been owned by Ohio State and Michigan for the most part in recent years.
Anyway, be happy your team is getting far and doing well... the titles will come.
On your question, I hate when my team's season is over, I would always want them to be in the playoffs, at least just to see them play a few more games before having to wait until next year.
hoit-I've discussed this very question many times. I think a lot of it depends on what the expectations were and just how far the team goes.
A perfect example: the 2005-06 Phoenix Suns. With starters Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, and Amare Stoudemire gone or injured (Amare would eventually play in three mid-season games before shutting it down), many predicted doom and gloom for the Suns. Of course, they went all the way to the western finals, where they found themselves tied 2-2 with Dallas. And just about the time I thought that maybe, just maybe--they were closed out in the series. If someone had said before the season that they would do as well as they did, I would've taken it. I wouldn't have believed them, though. But then when they get so close, you want more, and are disappointed no matter how much they over-achieved. But at they had a shot, which is more than I can say for the Arizona Cardinals every year but one since they moved here 20 years ago.
I would much prefer my teams to have a chance to win. Even though the closer a team gets to the championship without winning it seems to only increase the level of disappointment when the season finally ends, the excitement of the success bringing the team closer to the title is worth it.
When a team has no chance, I think it will always temper even the most modest of victories that team may get.
Having said that, I think the expectation that a team is supposed to win also kind of takes some of the fun out of it. I think the best case scenario is when a team has an unlikely run to title contention.
Think about how much fun it must have been to be a Rutgers football fan last year when the talk of a national title opportunity started up. Even though they fell short, I can't believe that their fans would have preferred the misery of their previous decades of bad teams.
Born and raised in the great state of MEE-CHI-GAN. Had a one year stint in Indianapolis where I grew to love all things Hoosier and watched the Colts bring home a Super Bowl trophy. My primary teams remain the Tigers, Pistons, Lions, Red Wings, and Wolverines and I wouldn't trade any of them. Still follow NASCAR, but it's not the same without the black number 3. My favorite sport by far is college basketball. I'll watch pretty much any game between November-Febr uary and March is the pinnacle of it all with the MADNESS. It can't be beat.
