Slayer Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I was having this conversation this morning with a classmate, and this age old sports question came up Which kind of team is it harder to be a fan of... The always sucks kind of team: i.e. Arizona Cardinals, Bengals, White Sox, Cubs (pre-this year), etc.? Or the so-close-yet-so-far kind of team: i.e. Vikings, Red Sox, U-Kansas basketball, etc.?
Gert T Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 As a Bengals fan let me say, winning something is better than winning nothing. I'm also a Cardinals fan in baseball, so although they have been very frustrating it is nice to play important baseball in September and October than watching the Bengals win 2 games in a row in December while sitting at 3-10.
Art Sandusky Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I've noticed fans of "we suck every year" teams are much nicer, if that helps.
razazteca Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 A team that cannot go .500 in 10 years deserves no support.
Matt Young Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I've experienced things from all sides. I'm mostly a fan of local teams. In basketball, I've always liked the Bulls, although Minnesota's my favorite team. Ever since '98-99, I've had to watch the Bulls suffer through 5 losing seasons after witnessing their championship glory years, and that's very frustrating. Although the T'Wolves have been good, they've lost in the first round every single year, and it's heartbreaking. In baseball, the White Sox underachieve every year. The Cardinals are good sometimes, but they have never made it past the NLCS since I've been watching. I'm kind of a Cubs fan by proxy since my entire dad's side of the family are diehard Cubbie fanatics, and seeing them blow it against the Marlins took a lot out of me. The only sport where my teams usually always do well is football. The Packers are my favorite, followed by the Titans. Honestly, I do think it's better to at least enjoy your team(s) having a winning season and/or making the playoffs rather than seeing them fail every year. At least then you have some hope.
kkktookmybabyaway Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I'd say the "so close" just because each time your team gets in the playoffs you think this might be "the season." For example, back in the late '90s when Gary Anderson, who hadn't missed a kick all season, trotted out late in the game vs. the Falcons, I'm sure many Vikings were thinking just that. At least with teams like the Cards you know every season won't "be the one" and you can just tailgate, get drunk and laugh at your team's performance...
Slayer Posted November 10, 2003 Author Report Posted November 10, 2003 I've noticed fans of "we suck every year" teams are much nicer, if that helps. Bitterness is king For example, back in the late '90s when Gary Anderson, who hadn't missed a kick all season, trotted out late in the game vs. the Falcons, I'm sure many Vikings were thinking just that. ...you just had to bring that one up didn't you? I was at least expecting some Pirates self-loathing <g>
Guest Just J Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 As an Alabama fan, footbal and basketball, I have lived through all of the above including a National Title in '92. But if you really love the team I don't think it matters either way.
Guest Redhawk Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 I'd much rather see my team go to the playoffs and lose than never get there. Once you miss the playoffs for a few years and get caught in that "rebuilding" trap, it can last for nearly a decade or more. We've seen this with the Cincy Bengals, Golden State Warriors and Pittsburgh Pirates to name a few. My favorite teams are the Browns, Pacers and Georgetown basketball. Watching the Pacers get to the Finals and lose in 2000 was WAY more enjoyable than watching the Browns go 1-15 when they came back as an expansion team. I'll pose this question: What's better, the team you hate sucking every year, or getting real close and losing the big game?
Guest Anglesault Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 As a fan who has experienced much heartbreak since 2000, I must say that coming close and failing miserably is harder to stomach than just plain failing. I'll pose this question: What's better, the team you hate sucking every year, or getting real close and losing the big game? Varies. I hate the idea of the Mets even making the play offs, but watching Bahston get their hopes up evey year only to self destruct is orgasmic. Or something.
Guest Choken One Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Only just Making the Playoffs three years in a row would be "heartbreaking" for you overexpecant fucking Yankee marks... C'mon over to the Riverside here...We'll show you fucking heartbreak. Then again Sucky teams make it easier to watch and you don't allow for personal connections...Sure, I remember the glory days of Cincy (87-90) where the reds and Bengals were good...Miss it? Yeah of course but you get used to being failures.
Guest Anglesault Posted November 10, 2003 Report Posted November 10, 2003 Only just Making the Playoffs three years in a row would be "heartbreaking" for you overexpecant fucking Yankee marks... I still don't see the "happy" in making it to the play offs and failing. Failing is failing. Maing it far just gets your hopes up. C'mon over to the Riverside here I'd rather not.
treble Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Only just Making the Playoffs three years in a row would be "heartbreaking" for you overexpecant fucking Yankee marks... I still don't see the "happy" in making it to the play offs and failing. Failing is failing. Maing it far just gets your hopes up. I think it depends. As a Blue Jays fan and not seeing them in the post-season in over a decade now, I'd be thrilled just to see them in the playoffs, even if they ended up getting swept in the division series as opposed to them winning 80-85 games a year and never making it at all.
Guest Anglesault Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Only just Making the Playoffs three years in a row would be "heartbreaking" for you overexpecant fucking Yankee marks... I still don't see the "happy" in making it to the play offs and failing. Failing is failing. Maing it far just gets your hopes up. I think it depends. As a Blue Jays fan and not seeing them in the post-season in over a decade now, I'd be thrilled just to see them in the playoffs, even if they ended up getting swept in the division series as . I just don't get it.
Tawren Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Always sucks. I cheer the Flames every year, but they always fail.
the pinjockey Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 As a fan who has experienced much heartbreak since 2000, I must say that coming close and failing miserably is harder to stomach than just plain failing. BWAHAHAHAHA I'm sorry, but I just can't summon up enough pity to feel bad for a Yankee fan. And I would much rather have a team that comes close then fails, as opposed to the Arizona Cardinals. At least give me a little hope the team will succeed.
HarleyQuinn Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 I think it's the whole pride issue where their team "at least made it to the playoffs/championship game/title game" whatever. I'd rather be on the "so close yet so far" side since at least there's always that chance they could win and the fact that personally, I feel it's made me more of a diehard fan since I follow my teams closer and there's more expectation which leads to worse heartbreaks/greater joys(Pats losing the 96' Super Bowl but winning the 2001 one comes to mind).
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Only just Making the Playoffs three years in a row would be "heartbreaking" for you overexpecant fucking Yankee marks... I still don't see the "happy" in making it to the play offs and failing. Failing is failing. Maing it far just gets your hopes up. I think it depends. As a Blue Jays fan and not seeing them in the post-season in over a decade now, I'd be thrilled just to see them in the playoffs, even if they ended up getting swept in the division series as . I just don't get it. Well, making the playoffs and failing is better than drinking mass amounts of alcohol in October, staring at your tv and muttering "fucking Marlins" over and over again.
Kahran Ramsus Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 As someone from Ottawa, I am used to disappointment come playoff time, but I would much rather have that then a terrible team that is the BUTT of jokes.
Kahran Ramsus Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 I still don't see the "happy" in making it to the play offs and failing. Failing is failing. Maing it far just gets your hopes up. Would you rather see Kurt Angle jobbing to Brock Lesnar in the main event or jobbing to Test in the midcard?
Cuban Linx Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 The Portland Trailblazers so-close-yet-so-far seasons have gotten to be rather frustrating, they've been making the playoffs and losing in consecutive years for longer than i've been alive. After 21 or so straight years of playoff defeat i fail to get much joy from them just being 'good' and making the postseason.
EVIL~! alkeiper Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 The Blazers would fall into the second category if not for NBA's open invitation playoffs.
Guest Redhawk Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Of course when your team is outright bad, there's always the hope of the draft. The Cleveland Cavs sucked last year, and it paid off with LeBron James. The Magic sucked in the early 1990s and it paid off with Shaquille O'Neal, then Penny Hardaway the next year. The Falcons sucked and got Mike Vick, the Colts sucked and got Peyton Manning, and so on. This doesn't really apply to baseball, although Mark Prior was able to go to the Cubs because they sucked and got a high draft pick. However, there is the risk that even though your team sucks and gets a high draft pick, that either....1) The pick isn't high enough or 2) the front office keeps making the wrong pick. Case in point 1: When the Sonics miss the playoffs, they always barely miss the playoffs, meaning their draft pick is always around 13 or 14. You can't get a franchise player that low, and often times you end up with someone who isn't even with the team in a few years. Case in point 2: The Bengals continually sucked, always got one of the top 5 draft picks, and still blew it on Dan Wilkinson, David Klingler, Ki-Jana Carter, Akili Smith, etc. All "saviors" who failed.
alfdogg Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Obviously seeing my team get there is better, but if I'm going to have to see them get it stolen from them by shabby officiating (ala the Pacers in '94 and '99), I'd rather see them just get a good lottery pick.
kkktookmybabyaway Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 For example, back in the late '90s when Gary Anderson, who hadn't missed a kick all season, trotted out late in the game vs. the Falcons, I'm sure many Vikings were thinking just that. ...you just had to bring that one up didn't you? I was at least expecting some Pirates self-loathing <g> That was the first incident that came to mind. Don't forget, Gary was a longtime Steeler. I felt bad for him afterward, which is a rarity when it comes to me...
Damaramu Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 I'll pose a 3rd sports fan. The fan of the "always wins" team. Because it's kind of like everyone either looks at you like you've jumped on the bandwagon for the team is losing or hates you because your team is good. Yes it's sad being #1.
Guest Anglesault Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 Only just Making the Playoffs three years in a row would be "heartbreaking" for you overexpecant fucking Yankee marks... I still don't see the "happy" in making it to the play offs and failing. Failing is failing. Maing it far just gets your hopes up. I think it depends. As a Blue Jays fan and not seeing them in the post-season in over a decade now, I'd be thrilled just to see them in the playoffs, even if they ended up getting swept in the division series as . I just don't get it. Well, making the playoffs and failing is better than drinking mass amounts of alcohol in October, staring at your tv and muttering "fucking Marlins" over and over again. The Yankees made the play offs (bumbled their way through and embarassed me in the Series) and I still was drinking mass amounts of alcohol in October, staring at my tv and muttering "fucking Marlins" over and over again.
Guest Anglesault Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 As a fan who has experienced much heartbreak since 2000, I must say that coming close and failing miserably is harder to stomach than just plain failing. BWAHAHAHAHA I'm sorry, but I just can't summon up enough pity to feel bad for a Yankee fan. And I would much rather have a team that comes close then fails, as opposed to the Arizona Cardinals. At least give me a little hope the team will succeed. Hey, we're kinsmen here. Unless you're a Marlin fan, we both had to watch our teams fail this year.
Vern Gagne Posted November 11, 2003 Report Posted November 11, 2003 The Astros 0-7 in the postseason. It sucks that they not only lose, but they can't even go to a 5th game.
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