SnowyRange
Well-known member
Some of the other threads are circling around the issue of when/how you get to criticize players or teams, and whether we're too negative. Somebody said, about our boards compared to other fan boards:
I have no idea what the percentages are, here or anywhere else -- though I think it would be interesting to look at that over a period of years on any robust fan board -- but to my eye we're no different from the fans anywhere else.
I think if we're honest, part of the fun of being a real fan, of school teams, pro teams, individuals, is having something you constantly poke and prod at, where you're high on it, then low on it, full of advice for the obviously inept GM/AD, in disbelief how badly a player is doing, thrilled by a player who looks god-like for a while, etc., etc.
The point is that's the nature of fans: we get unreasonably thrilled about a team, and we get unreasonably critical. It makes sense. Otherwise, what would be the fun of it, always just saying, "Hm. Time will tell."
For some time-wasting reason I once went back and skimmed some newspaper-sponsored live blog of a football game. I don't remember the game, but say it was a team with rabid fans, like Florida, playing in a bowl game against a team that was pretty good, but not a big name school. Florida having a poor year. Florida underdog.
The blog starts before the game, moderated by a Florida sports reporter, with Florida fans posting as things progress. Florida loses. And somebody at the end -- can't remember if it's a sportswriter or fan -- posts what he says are the stages of fandom in game like that. I thought it was perfect, and describes in microcosm being a fan. It went something like this:
Before the game:
1. We're actually really good.
2. The other team is not very good, when you look at it closely.
3. We don't get any respect nationally, which drives me nuts.
Game starts:
1. Nice! They said we didn't have any speed, ha!
2. Come on. That wasn't a penalty.
3. Why do we keep running that play?
4. We need a new OC.
5. The refs are against us.
6. Oh, my god.
7. Silence.
8. We suck.
After the game:
1. Is it time to fire the coach?
2. We definitely need a new AD.
Sound familiar? I think fans are the same the world around...and we shouldn't be so hard on each other.
I have no idea what the percentages are, here or anywhere else -- though I think it would be interesting to look at that over a period of years on any robust fan board -- but to my eye we're no different from the fans anywhere else.
I think if we're honest, part of the fun of being a real fan, of school teams, pro teams, individuals, is having something you constantly poke and prod at, where you're high on it, then low on it, full of advice for the obviously inept GM/AD, in disbelief how badly a player is doing, thrilled by a player who looks god-like for a while, etc., etc.
The point is that's the nature of fans: we get unreasonably thrilled about a team, and we get unreasonably critical. It makes sense. Otherwise, what would be the fun of it, always just saying, "Hm. Time will tell."
For some time-wasting reason I once went back and skimmed some newspaper-sponsored live blog of a football game. I don't remember the game, but say it was a team with rabid fans, like Florida, playing in a bowl game against a team that was pretty good, but not a big name school. Florida having a poor year. Florida underdog.
The blog starts before the game, moderated by a Florida sports reporter, with Florida fans posting as things progress. Florida loses. And somebody at the end -- can't remember if it's a sportswriter or fan -- posts what he says are the stages of fandom in game like that. I thought it was perfect, and describes in microcosm being a fan. It went something like this:
Before the game:
1. We're actually really good.
2. The other team is not very good, when you look at it closely.
3. We don't get any respect nationally, which drives me nuts.
Game starts:
1. Nice! They said we didn't have any speed, ha!
2. Come on. That wasn't a penalty.
3. Why do we keep running that play?
4. We need a new OC.
5. The refs are against us.
6. Oh, my god.
7. Silence.
8. We suck.
After the game:
1. Is it time to fire the coach?
2. We definitely need a new AD.
Sound familiar? I think fans are the same the world around...and we shouldn't be so hard on each other.
I blame it all on the beaver guy, monkey guy and packerpoke... wait wrong board.
