Neuie Perspective is not a soapbox kind of blog at all. In fact, I try very hard to let all those of you who have played the game and probably have a deeper understand of it make the tough points because I will generally concede it. One thing I do know, however, is how to be a fan. I was raised to be fiercely loyal to a fault and maybe it's not right that I expect my personal version of fandom from others, but I do from time to time. We cheer for the greatest franchise in sports and are all on the same side here, but we seem to have very different opinions on what went on last night. To everyone defending the booing that went on: you're totally within your rights to do so, but I'm totally within mine to get pissed over it too. You can't have one without the other. When the man behind me claimed 23 SECONDS INTO THE FIRST that we had already fallen apart and were already "playing to lose," I'm allowed to get peeved. When I have to listen to a jackhole scream "YOU SUCK" at the team again and again while wearing a jersey signed by several of the players he's berating, I'm allowed to judge. And I did. And I have no problem with that whatsoever. Judge me if you want, tell me in the comments how wrong am I- really, go ahead. If booing to jumpstart your team is ok and leaving en masse is ok, why isn't staying until the end and applauding them even after a less the stellar effort? All I'm trying to say is that our arena shouldn't look like we're in Glendale.
In the elevator at Greektown, all the fans in red and white asked me how I fared at the casino after I left the game early, just guessing that everyone did the same thing they did... react to the game however you want, but realize we aren't all reacting the same.
No that I've got that out of my system, anyone still reading, please enjoy some pictures from warmups.
Cleary looks like he's getting ready to do a fist pump during the national anthem...
There was a nice ceremony for Tuzzi before the game too.
Finally, Justin Abdelkader's birthday is today, Happy Birthday Abs!
Cleary looks like he's getting ready to do a fist pump during the national anthem...
There was a nice ceremony for Tuzzi before the game too.
Finally, Justin Abdelkader's birthday is today, Happy Birthday Abs!
I can see your point on the booing, I would imagine that the guy who's invested that much feels he's earned the right to tell the players what he thinks. I on the other hand think you should save the booing for when it's deserved. I think back to what a fan was doing while the Sabres were losing for most of the first half of the season, THAT deserves a negative response.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, I really appreciate hearing another opinion on the matter. Perhaps the guy did feel he deserved to voice his thoughts after investing in tickets and a jersey. I save up most of my spare earnings from work for tickets to games and am saving up right now for my next jersey so I totally understand that. I can't say I've invested as much time as the man in question either, as I'm about 20 years younger than he is. What I think about most as a fan is how disheartening it must feel to look up and see the stands empty. I've never played the game beyond floor hockey at school or street hockey with my brothers, so I have no idea what the players would feel and might be completely wrong in my thinking, but without one of them telling me I am, it will be very hard to change my mind.
ReplyDeleteEven in the Dead Wing era, my parents always stressed supporting your team no matter what and staying to the end no matter how badly things are going. That certainly shaped the way I see things as a fan and I'm not sure it was for the better, but I like to think it was. I'm not saying I'm a perfect fan, far from it- just that I don't understand booing, cheering, then booing again.