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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Posnanski: Fans who boo loudest suffer least

Teams with zero 8+ losing streaks since 2002

– Boston
– Yankees
– Philadelphia (yeah, Philadelphia)

Yep. How about that? Zero losing streaks for those fans since 2002. None. Nada. Zilch. I don’t even know how you live like that as a fan. It’s too easy.*

*I remember a few years ago, I used to play this computer game called “Civilization” where you were trying to start a civilization in ancient times, and you had to fight off raging hordes and build villages and learn new technologies and all of that … it was a pretty fun game in a geeky sort of way. But what I remember most is that there was this cheat mode on it where you could automatically own all the new technologies and you could have as much money as you wanted … so, basically in cheat mode these raging hordes would come at you with clubs and spears, and you could smite them with military helicopters and guided missiles and atomic bombs. That’s what I think it’s like to be a Red Sox and Yankees fan.

Had to read Joe’s thoughts after the Jays dismantled the Royals last week…

Shock Posted: May 28, 2008 at 12:26 AM | 21 comment(s)
Related News: Boston, Kansas City, NY Yankees, Philadelphia, Media, Game Recaps

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1. CFiJ Posted: May 28, 2008 at 01:00 AM (#2796510)

The Cubs have had four losing streaks since 2002, which is a touch above average, but I think that fits too; haven’t Cubs fans, in many ways, come to accept losing more than fans in Philadelphia, Boston, New York and the South Side? It’s a bleacher party, right?

I'm not usually the type to say this, but f*** you, Joe. (Though normally I love your work.)

(And Todd Hundley, LaTroy Hawkins and Jacque Jones might also disagree with you.)

2. SouthSideRyan(CASEY'S GONE!!) Posted: May 28, 2008 at 02:18 AM (#2796576)

You can add Dusty Baker to that list after his return to Wrigley.

And Jim Edmonds is on deck.

3. Never Thought of Listach as a Sexual Reference Posted: May 28, 2008 at 04:16 AM (#2796590)

Were they really telling Cubs fans that booing Soriano was grounds for ejection? I was just at Wrigley yesterday, in the bleachers, and that was the rumor, but I didn't see much besides a big drunk guy from Baltimore and a ridiculous number of pretty girls.

Actually, I see the drunk guy from Baltimore a lot. He's at every baseball game I go to... the pretty girls not so much.

4. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 28, 2008 at 10:25 AM (#2796697)

Were they really telling Cubs fans that booing Soriano was grounds for ejection?

Chris De Luca, today: "The team strongly denied a report that a Cubs official 'offered protection for Soriano' on Monday by threatening fans in the left-field bleachers with ejection for 'any profane or inappropriate comments made toward Soriano.' Several fans were asked by the Sun-Times on Monday about the rumor. None of the fans approached admitted knowledge of any such threats."

5. Never Thought of Listach as a Sexual Reference Posted: May 28, 2008 at 01:46 PM (#2796893)

Thanks! seemed bogus...

6. Joe Bivens, Ditch Digger Posted: May 28, 2008 at 01:56 PM (#2796908)

I'm pretty sure using profanity is grounds for ejection at Fenway.

7. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: May 28, 2008 at 02:45 PM (#2796976)

I'm pretty sure using profanity is grounds for ejection at Fenway.

Is "You suck!" profanity?

8. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's! Posted: May 28, 2008 at 02:49 PM (#2796979)

Is "You suck!" profanity?

I got in trouble in 6th grade for saying this. My teacher wasn't so hip and I think she took me literally.

edit: That last sentence looks bad, but I think I'll leave it as is. Consider it found art!

9. Joe Bivens, Ditch Digger Posted: May 28, 2008 at 02:49 PM (#2796981)

Borderline, I'd say. Was it said within earshot of an usher? Or, did anyone complain?

10. villageidiom Posted: May 28, 2008 at 02:50 PM (#2796982)

Is "You suck!" profanity?

Not if the player does, in fact, suck.

11. bunyon Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:09 PM (#2797002)

It may be grounds for ejection at Fenway but, in my experience, it's never used. I've been to Fenway three times and at each game there was someone within earshot yelling at the outfielders that they were f---ing fags. The word that rhymes was with docklucker was also frequently heard.

I really didn't enjoy my visits to Fenway, sad to say.

12. Petunia Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:10 PM (#2797003)

I know he says it's just a "bloggy thought" but I think it's probable he's got the causality backwards. If a team is good over a period of several years (therefore being much less likely to have extended losing streaks over that period), you end up with more "intense" fans that are less prepared to accept losing.

13. Master of the small sample size Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:17 PM (#2797010)

Not if the player does, in fact, suck.

In that case, it's not even libel!

14. Edmundo, survivor of 7 right-sourcings Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:20 PM (#2797013)

Is "You suck!" profanity?
It would have gotten me a spanking in the late 50s and early 60s. It is still mildly offensive to my ears and I will only use the word "suck" for effect when any other means of expression fail; my kids would laugh at me having declared that. Now declaring someone is "teh suck" does not offend at all.

15. cardsfanboy Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:25 PM (#2797025)

I know he says it's just a "bloggy thought" but I think it's probable he's got the causality backwards. If a team is good over a period of several years (therefore being much less likely to have extended losing streaks over that period), you end up with more "intense" fans that are less prepared to accept losing.

then why is Philadelphia on that list?
and good teams for several years, like the Cardinals or Twins don't really have the same intensity of fans as the East Coast teams. Heck outside of maybe Oakland and San Francisco the intensity is not the same as any of the east coast teams.

16. Joe Bivens, Ditch Digger Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:47 PM (#2797049)

I don't like Fenway as much as the next person, but I have been to many games and don't recall much profanity. The last 3 times I went were within the past couple of years, with my niece, and I didn't hear anything that I would have not wanted her to hear.

17. bunyon Posted: May 28, 2008 at 03:52 PM (#2797054)

That's cool. I didn't exactly have great seats on any trip.

And it wasn't everone, but there was always an annoying group of young men.

18. scotto Posted: May 28, 2008 at 04:03 PM (#2797070)

I'm planning on taking my five year old there this summer, and I seriously wonder what sort of vocabulary enrichment he'll get. Of course, there's a lot of profanity tossed around in the park next to his house, but still.

19. Dizzypaco Posted: May 28, 2008 at 04:11 PM (#2797079)

That's cool. I didn't exactly have great seats on any trip.

And it wasn't everone, but there was always an annoying group of young men.

Most of Fenway, you'll never hear that stuff - its not just the great seats. There's a section of the bleachers that can be a problem, but otherwise, things are almost always fine. I've seen the same pattern at other ballparks; its not just Fenway.

20. Petunia Posted: May 28, 2008 at 05:06 PM (#2797150)

then why is Philadelphia on that list?

Because they have had zero 8+ losing streaks since 2002...

21. cardsfanboy Posted: May 28, 2008 at 05:16 PM (#2797162)

Because they have had zero 8+ losing streaks since 2002...

I understand that, but my comment wasn't to the being on the list, but to the previous poster that I quoted which said that it's possible perennial good teams fans don't take losing well, so that is why they are intense. Philly has never been a team that is constantly good, so my question was to his argument about constantly good teams fans are intense. Cardinal, Twins and Braves have a history of good teams (something that Philly definately doesn't have) and who's fans aren't as intense.

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Posnanski: Fans who boo loudest suffer least

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