tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post2249052347849545502..comments2023-10-31T06:31:41.395-04:00Comments on Bottom of the Barrel: Your Daily Dose of CrazyBengoodfellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-39516959069091051092011-11-14T14:56:33.503-05:002011-11-14T14:56:33.503-05:00Eric, this felt like it was somewhat out of left f...Eric, this felt like it was somewhat out of left field, especially for a franchise that has one of the nicest, most non-threatening fan bases in the NFL. I would agree there are quite a few fans who are fans of the Panthers and another team, which irritates the shit out of me, but as a Redskins fan I don't get how that would bother him. If anything the fans aren't bandwagon enough, as any game against the Steelers/Packers/Redskins/Cowboys will attest to. <br /><br />I think he's bitter because the weekend he wrote this the Panthers managed to beat the Redskins. He is probably angry at that. I probably could have gotten behind the theory in some parts if it were presented differently...specifically his bizarre age-limit. <br /><br />Jonathan, I agree with you about it flying in the face of the fan base theory. I am a Braves fan and have been since I was six years old, but I still don't want Charlotte to get a MLB team because I know a part of me will eventually start to form a soft spot for them. I would still be a huge Braves fan. Maybe I wouldn't have a soft spot for the new Charlotte team. I despise the Bobcats, so there's that. Still, it is natural to form a bond with the local team. <br /><br />What this guy doesn't get is there weren't many NFL teams in this area before the Panthers came along. There was the Falcons and then the Redskins. So it was easy for fans of the NFL to choose the Panthers because there was no local team to really cheer for. If anything he should be mad at Redskins fans who became Panthers fans. They are the ones who show a lack of loyalty. <br /><br />I agree with you, I think it is natural to start cheering for the local team for a lot of people. There was no established team and many casual fans of the NFL finally had a team to cheer for.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-84841442644360765272011-11-14T14:03:27.365-05:002011-11-14T14:03:27.365-05:00The whole theory seems to fly directly in the face...The whole theory seems to fly directly in the face of the idea of a "fan base," and what it both means to be a fan and how a person becomes a fan of a particular team.<br /><br />Certainly anyone can choose what teams they want to follow, but we normally find it odd or irrational if a person picks a team that isn't in their region for no other reason than "well I just decided I like them." <br /><br />Normally, attachment to a team arises from that team being "in your area," enabling fans to become emotionally/financially invested in the team because, "it's ours." <br /><br />Being in a particular region ought to naturally build some connection with the sports teams in that area. I was born and raised fifteen minutes from the old Texas Stadium in Irving. I literally went to College within eye-sight of that stadium. My earliest memories of football were the Cowboys beating Buffalo in two Superbowls. <br /><br />After graduating, I've been living and working in self-imposed exile in the Washington D.C. area for the last three years. My attachment to the Cowboys, has, if anything increased as it helps form a link to my roots of origin. <br /><br />But even with that, I'm less of a Redskins hater than I once was. I'll never flip allegiances and I'll always want Dallas to beat the stuffing out of Washington no matter what, but I have some sympathy for the Redskins (maybe because Washington is the ultimate "there but for the grace of God" team). Being in the same geographic locale or having some identifying personal connection (my Grandfather was from Ohio and a Bengals fan, so I have a soft-spot for them) is one of the big reasons people start rooting for a team. <br /><br />I actually think it's more laudable to choose to start rooting for an expansion team in your area, because of that geographic connection and sense of community.Jonathan Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04725488350093423753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-67084410341895390302011-11-14T11:46:34.315-05:002011-11-14T11:46:34.315-05:00I don't get why he's so bitter about the P...I don't get why he's so bitter about the Panthers. It's not like Carolina's done anything it give it a shallow, band wagon type fanbase. You'd think that a team that's kept it's fans in spite of a history of mediocrity would inspire praise rather than derision.Ericbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-88386281578315889482011-11-14T10:33:37.970-05:002011-11-14T10:33:37.970-05:00Matt, everyone has a story like that with the team...Matt, everyone has a story like that with the teams they chose at one point or another. For some reason this guy just assumes a person lives in one city for his/her entire life and then immediately chooses their favorite sports teams. I chose my favorite NBA/College basketball/baseball teams at a pretty young age, but I was older before I got into football. <br /><br />I guess I would be one of those untrustworthy, lack of character football fans he is talking about. <br /><br />I'm not even sure why this got printed. It's so stupid and not even worthy of a thought. It is a bitter Redskins fan taking a shot at a fan base he seems to believe stole Redskins fans from the fan base. The only way he has to get back is somehow expect 2nd or 3rd grade kids to immediately choose their favorite team. <br /><br />What a terrible theory.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-20516327816105053312011-11-14T08:36:08.579-05:002011-11-14T08:36:08.579-05:00my story would be yet another situation that this ...my story would be yet another situation that this idiot probably never considered. <br /><br />i grew up in New Orleans, became a Saints fan at the age of 5. we moved from New Orleans to Pennsylvania when i was 12. i remained a loyal Saints fan all through high school and college. i lived in Philly during college, and have remained in Philly since (total of 20 years). after living with local media coverage, talk radio, etc. for many years, it just became more fun to follow the Eagles. for several years the Eagles were my interest, while the Saints were my passion. eventually, that switched for me. going to games, watching them every week, discussing them with my friends - the whole experience of following the local team was much more enjoyable. so i converted. <br /><br />with baseball, i never had a team to root for growing up in New Orleans. same once we moved to PA. it wasn't until i came to Philly that i became a Phillies fan, and it took a few years of going to games, reading news articles, etc. <br /><br />the lack of perspective, as been pointed out, is obsene with this guy. he probably came up with the idea while stoned. he just should have forgotten about it like the rest of us do with our high off our ass genius ideas.conshy matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02256920118100856001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-76022168909848980092011-11-13T22:02:55.201-05:002011-11-13T22:02:55.201-05:00Rich, I didn't watch the NFL too much until th...Rich, I didn't watch the NFL too much until the early 90's. I watched the Oilers a lot, but I wouldn't say I was a fan more than I just liked to play with them on Super Tecmo Bowl. Most children 8 years or younger can't choose every single sports team they will follow for the rest of their lives. At least I don't think so. <br /><br />Basically, if your team moves then you have to cheer for the other team that moved. If you were a Baltimore Colts fan then you should just quit watching football. <br /><br />What this guy is saying is it takes almost 20 years for any "true" fans of a team to be present in the city. If you were born and are of drinking age then you are just wishy washy since you clearly chose your favorite team in every sport immediately upon exit from the womb. <br /><br />J.S., you are clearly a terrible person. You have to choose a favorite team in every sport. You are 19 years late on that. I'm not even sure why you watch sports and don't you dare try to follow one specific team because you would then lack loyalty and character.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-57312786659890008422011-11-13T21:38:54.842-05:002011-11-13T21:38:54.842-05:00I'm 27 and I don't have a favourite team i...I'm 27 and I don't have a favourite team in anything (and I follow like six other sports closely) except Australian Rugby...am I a bad person according to this theory?J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07739810404427202914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-45326914154959479702011-11-13T18:59:48.265-05:002011-11-13T18:59:48.265-05:001 -- They were the fan of another team and then ju...<b>1 -- They were the fan of another team and then just abandoned them when the Panthers came along. </b><br /><br />When I was 8 I was a fan of the Packers, Bears, Giants and Eagles and growing up in Chicago I was actually a bigger Bears fan than I was a Giants fan.<br /><br />Once I moved to Texas at 10 (1996), I began to follow the Giants more. It's not that rare.<br /><br />Most 8 year olds don't have the mental capacity to know what being a fan of a team really means.<br /><br /><b>Imagine: You’re 40, the Panthers come along, and you ditch your favorite team. Blasphemy. That really shows a lack of trustworthiness, loyalty, character. </b><br /><br />Or, unless you're a fan of another team in their division... you follow both your old team and your new team!<br /><br /><b>At a minimum, they are wishy-washy.</b><br /><br />But this was the best case scenario if they ditched their old team too, right?<br /><br />So basically any team that is new to the league or moves can never have a loyal fanbase.<br /><br />What about the NHL and their massive expansion in the sixties and seventies? Guess none of those teams should have had fans either.<br /><br />Seriously the league went from 6 teams to almost 20 in a 10 year period, what happens then?<br /><br />Or what about people who were fans of a team that moved and then were replaced?<br /><br />If you were a Baltimore Colts fan, what happened when they moved to Indy? Do you still follow the Colts? Then what happens when the Ravens came into the league?richnoreply@blogger.com