I love sports - in my own too-girly to have ever played them myself kind of way. I love football and wrestling and baseball and any sport when it gets to “playoff” time. I love the drama and tragedy and excitement. I love a good comeback. I love the good guys who fight the good fight.
I cannot understand for the life of me what the hell is wrong with sports’ fans these days.
No - I’m not talking about the rampant unsportsmanlike conduct. I mean, yes, that’s disappointing and ridiculous and certainly the case could be made that it’s just another sign of the decay of our society’s moral fiber. Yada yada yada.
But more than that, what I truly struggle to understand in sports these days is the lack of support for the underdog.
I just can’t believe that people continue to cheer for teams like the Yankees (which, neener neener neener!) - or the Dallas Cowboys.
Doesn’t anyone watch Disney movies anymore? Don’t you people know that there are Good Guys and Bad Guys and that the Good Guys are the ones with more heart than talent, more guts than money, more pure determination than the over-polished Bad Guys?
That’s how I watch sports. That’s how I have picked my favorite teams - and the teams I love to hate - for years.
It should be no surprise then that I am a fan of the Cubs, the Bears, the Packers (shuddup!) and Peyton Manning (which is almost like cheering for the Colts. almost). It should also be obvious then why I loathe the Yankees (of this era), the Cowboys, the Vikings, USC and everyone/thing to come from there, Barry Bonds and Eli Manning.
The Good Guys do NOT ride in on a big white horse with a big stupid hat, amidst fireworks and pyrotechnics. The Good Guys are not mean. The Good Guys are not cry babies, bitching and moaning about where they play and how much respect they are entitled to.
No. The Good Guys show up for the love of the game. The Good Guys survive on their tradition and heart. The Good Guys overcome obstacles and defeat with grace and courage. The Good Guys are mocked, not bought - and yet they persevere.
Fans these days seem more swayed by stats and “preseason predictions” than character and heart. And for me, that takes away from what sports are supposed to be about: the struggle between Right & Wrong, Good & Evil, David & Goliath.
Whatever happened to “everyone loves an Underdog”?
/soapbox rant of an amateur
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I have always been a huge fan of the underdog. Although, I’m really not into sports at all… but I completely get what you are talking about. :mrgreen:
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I am a 100% underdog supporter. I am a Cardinal fan (by the way they play tonight on Monday Night Football in their new stadium)and can’t stand the big name teams i.e. Cowboys, Raiders, Yankees etc. I can really get into little league games because kids play for the fun of it and put their hart into the game. Professional sports are about ego and sometimes the high payed players stop caring once they make it. It’s all about the money.
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I fall into the underdog supporting category, my team hte Washington Redskins. Million dollar team with zero results.
Go Skins!
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OKay I love sports I am a huge fan. I don’t support a team based on if they are the under dog or not, BUT, I have learned how hard it is to root for your favorite teams and have them be the 3 worst teams this year in the NFL, Raiders, Texans, Packers…Cry for me!
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Rams fan here, since Vince Ferragamo days. Huskers because I was born there - so 100 years give or take. Yankees since I was about 8 years old, so 92 years?? I stick with the team…good & bad.
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I shouldn’t say that I think you should keep switching teams because they are or aren’t the underdog.
For instance, if you’ve been a Yankees fan for life… well… that’s excusable.
But when people are first “choosing”, or for instance two “non fav” teams are playing and they choose the guy with the glitz and glam… I don’t get that!!
Or when people like a player just because of his stats, even though he is an ASS (um, yeah, that means YOU if you like TO) - that is just WRONG!
And I have been a Bears/Packers fan my entire life (an odd combination, I know) - so I cry for no one! LOL
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What are these “sports” of which you speak?
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Damnit, we’re the underdogs so cheer for us for fucks sake!!
Go Bengals!!!
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D: I LOATHE Carson Palmer. Hate. Hate. Hate him.
so.. um… NO!!!! :twisted:
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The only way that I would watch sports on tv (besides hockey) would be if I was dating an athlete.
Which, really, is sounding pretty good to me right now. Plus, I look adorable in my Vick jersey.
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My brother is a Bears fan, Mom’s Packers…I just sit back, watch, laugh…
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I feel a bond with you in your hatred of the Yankees.
And as a Red Sox fan, I know what you are going through with the Cubbies. Maybe with Sweet Lou in charge your luck will change.
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Palmer is hot Britt so loathe away!! :p ;)
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i’m trying to think of something meaningful to contribute, but I just can’t do it…lol I NEVER watch sports!
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I can understand rooting for Peyton Manning because he’s a good football player. But rooting for the Indianapolis Colts, a team that was stolen from the City of Baltimore by the owner Bob Irsay by trucking them out of town after midnight, along with all of their championship trophys. If there has ever been a clear cut case of right and wrong, there it is. I hope the Colts never win a playoff game while Irsay is alive.
CEO: Wow!! I didn’t know that. Damn, that is just WRONG!!
As far as Peyton… I tried not to like him, I really did. But dang, there’s just something about him that’s so LIKEABLE!
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