I hate Boston sports fans

[EarthBall]

I am not starting a thread just to vent or be negative. There is a method to my madness. My main goal is to help prevent the Celtics from becoming the Red Sox or Patriots. Unfortunately, I may be hopeless here.

Boston used to be the city of lovable losers. It was mostly the suffering and torture that the Red Sox and Patriots put their fans through that helped define the town. Then the Pats and Sox started winning consistently. Every year that we didn't win a championship, there was whining, Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ing and moaning. Every loss was a tragedy. Forget the fact that we may have won last season or the year before. That was the past and we now demand that the present is filled with parades and champagne. Throw in the Red Sox payroll and Belichick and the teams became the new Evil Empires. 

Now it's happening with the Celtics. We couldn't just be happy with the 17th banner. Every loss comes with the same Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.ing that accompanies losses to the Yankees or Colts. We are following every single game played by the Lakers and Cavs, obsessing over home court advantage. Every day there are threads hating on Kobe and LeBron. We complain about not getting Joe Smith or resigning Posey like selfish brats.

One thing I love about Celtics fans is their passion. I really believe that the fans' intensity and knowledge of the game make this town great. But I really hope that we resist becoming like the Sox or Pats in their conceited and arrogant manners.

I'm not sure how we can prevent this. For me, I always think back to winning last year. After every win and loss this season, I think back to KG's primal scream or PP's tears of joy and remember that we already won. Another banner is icing on the cake.     

[Big Ticket]

The core of your complaints seems to be the issue of entitlement.  As a long time Minnesotan sports fan (read as: used to lots of losing or "potential"), I can agree with you that when fans behave with an aura of entitlement to/about their teams, it is extremely annoying and off-putting.  I don't get that feeling at all with regards to the Celtics fans here though, they simply have high expectations and love to talk about anything and everything Celtics.

[Chris]

While I have a lot of problems with some of the Boston sports fans, I don't completely agree with this. 

I actually think the majority of Boston sports fans are pretty good.  The problem is, there is a very loud group who are insufferable, conceited, bandwagon jumpers.  These aren't the core fans, and they aren't even the "pink hats".  They are the guys who only care about the teams when they are winning, at which point they are their biggest fans.  They also tend to be the guys who call into talk radio, and go to the games with the goal of making an impression, whether it is by starting the wave by themselves, or proving to everyone around them that they know the most about Boston sports.  They are the guys who are at a random concert, and feel the need to start a "Yankees Suck" chant.  They don't really care about the team, they just want some attention for being the biggest fan.

I think the majority of Boston Sports fans are relatively level-headed, knowledgeable, and loyal.  Unfortunately, these are not the fans that often end up representing us.

[EarthBall]

The core of your complaints seems to be the issue of entitlement.  As a long time Minnesotan sports fan (read as: used to lots of losing or "potential"), I can agree with you that when fans behave with an aura of entitlement to/about their teams, it is extremely annoying and off-putting.  I don't get that feeling at all with regards to the Celtics fans here though, they simply have high expectations and love to talk about anything and everything Celtics.

There's nothing wrong with high expectations. But it is how you handle yourself when the expectations aren't met. I thought that I might be a bit premature with this thread. I was planning on waiting until the playoffs, but I tried to be proactive. We'll see how my thoughts are received.

[EarthBall]

I think the majority of Boston Sports fans are relatively level-headed, knowledgeable, and loyal.  Unfortunately, these are not the fans that often end up representing us.

Of course, I was generalizing (maybe I should have been more clear about that...). But how then do we stand up and represent the team? Can we be louder in a good way? I see it as a lose-lose.

[ma11l]

Well I'm sure the Seahawks and Mariners are looking for some good fans.

I see all your negatives coming simply from our passion for the teams and the games they play.  It's a sports town, a professional sports town.  When you walk around the city you can feel if our teams are doing well or struggling.  Boston takes on a whole personality as the teams go.  We're united, passionate, and very, very knowledgeable. 

This is why while I hate New York teams I can respect the fans.  They are exactly like us in every way.  Another professional sports town who lives and dies with their teams.  I also have repsect for the crazy college towns.

The only fans I really don't respect are professional LA fans.  Lakers fan are the bottom of the totem pole for me.  Showing up late, leaving early, not caring if they go to see a W or an L. 

[Chris]

I think the majority of Boston Sports fans are relatively level-headed, knowledgeable, and loyal.  Unfortunately, these are not the fans that often end up representing us.

Of course, I was generalizing (maybe I should have been more clear about that...). But how then do we stand up and represent the team? Can we be louder in a good way? I see it as a lose-lose.

It's just the way it is.  I don't think its that much of a Boston thing.  Anytime a city has that much success, it leads to those fans coming out of the woodwork.  You just have to ignore it.  They will be gone when the wins stop rolling in.

[crownsy]

I think the majority of Boston Sports fans are relatively level-headed, knowledgeable, and loyal.  Unfortunately, these are not the fans that often end up representing us.

Of course, I was generalizing (maybe I should have been more clear about that...). But how then do we stand up and represent the team? Can we be louder in a good way? I see it as a lose-lose.

It's just the way it is.  I don't think its that much of a Boston thing.  Anytime a city has that much success, it leads to those fans coming out of the woodwork.  You just have to ignore it.  They will be gone when the wins stop rolling in.

yea, this is what happens when a team, or in this case a city, is succesful at sports, no way around it. It's just like NY in the 90's.

I for one could care less what other fan bases think of boston. This golden run won't last forever, and some new city will take over. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts and not worry that some crazies give people i could give a care less about sportsrage.

[QuinielaBox]

Well I'm sure the Seahawks and Mariners are looking for some good fans.

The only fans I really don't respect are professional LA fans.  Lakers fan are the bottom of the totem pole for me.  Showing up late, leaving early, not caring if they go to see a W or an L. 

Two points to add here. The Seattle fans want to see their teams compete. I mean between the Huskies going 0-12, Sonics becoming the Soonix, Mariners triple-digit losses, and Seahawks only win of the season of note against the Jets, that is simply a run that cannot be matched by any city. Better times are ahead for Seattle sports fans.

The Laker Fans are nothing more than to be seen with the stars and to join the Boston sucks bandwagon. As far as I am concerned, losing the Los Angelos basin to the Pacific Ocean or redrawing the Mexican border around Fresno would be an improvement. They even stole 9 NBA championships and the nickname from Minneapolis.

[JSD]

I think the majority of Boston Sports fans are relatively level-headed, knowledgeable, and loyal.  Unfortunately, these are not the fans that often end up representing us.

Of course, I was generalizing (maybe I should have been more clear about that...). But how then do we stand up and represent the team? Can we be louder in a good way? I see it as a lose-lose.

It's just the way it is.  I don't think its that much of a Boston thing.  Anytime a city has that much success, it leads to those fans coming out of the woodwork.  You just have to ignore it.  They will be gone when the wins stop rolling in.

yea, this is what happens when a team, or in this case a city, is succesful at sports, no way around it. It's just like NY in the 90's.

I for one could care less what other fan bases think of boston. This golden run won't last forever, and some new city will take over. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts and not worry that some crazies give people i could give a care less about sportsrage.

Yeah Tp Crownsy. To think, I will miss threads like this... The idea that someone can even imply Boston fans are arrogant is great...

I'm 25 now, I've been a fan of the 3 major sports all my life and I was 18 when I witnessed my first championship. I've now witnessed 6 titles and I've tried to bask in the glory of every single one of them... 

What a special and unique time.

[2short]

I think you are coming to the party a bit late.
 I think of Boston as the Celtics winning or competing every year, same with red sox and bruins.  Only in "recent" memory have the patriots been at or near the top.  While I understand the dislike for the bandwagon fans, I actually watched more games rondos rookie year then last year when we won. (mainly scheduling)  
I feel a large % of celtics fans are extremely intelligent when it comes to the sport and team.  I don't feel we are conceited at all, nor the patriots?  As far as the red sox we basically had a good group of guys except manny & pedro and I don't think pedro would be that bad.
 I think if you see some soccer fans you'd be in for a shock if you consider celtics fans the way you do.

[Tai]

While I have a lot of problems with some of the Boston sports fans, I don't completely agree with this. 

I actually think the majority of Boston sports fans are pretty good.  The problem is, there is a very loud group who are insufferable, conceited, bandwagon jumpers.  These aren't the core fans, and they aren't even the "pink hats".  They are the guys who only care about the teams when they are winning, at which point they are their biggest fans.  They also tend to be the guys who call into talk radio, and go to the games with the goal of making an impression, whether it is by starting the wave by themselves, or proving to everyone around them that they know the most about Boston sports.  They are the guys who are at a random concert, and feel the need to start a "Yankees Suck" chant.  They don't really care about the team, they just want some attention for being the biggest fan.

I think the majority of Boston Sports fans are relatively level-headed, knowledgeable, and loyal.  Unfortunately, these are not the fans that often end up representing us.

I agree completely.

These are the people every winning franchise has sometime in their operating periods. This is a problem that's not just Boston-exclusive.  How do you think Yankee fans were from 2000-2002? Heck, how do you think they were in '04 and '07 with they're "Hey we still have more rings, Boston lololol".

I remember in '04 when some Yankee fan wore a shirt saying how long it'd take for the Red Sox to equate the Yankees' number of World Series rings. You've seen it before, whether you're a Red Sox fan or not, provided you haven't been in hiding away in a cave the last four years.

Since 2001, 6 titles have been won between the Patriots, Celtics, and Red Sox. if some people brag here and there, how's it anymore of a big deal than back when UCLA Basketball were winning back to back title games, in practically flawless seasons, no less? Now THAT will surge up "entitlement".

[Big Ticket]

We're united, passionate, and very, very knowledgeable. 

I can tell you, that as an outsider, the "very, very knowledgeable" part is far off of the perception of "Boston fans".  The general connotation that goes with Boston fans is that they are fair weather and don't know jack about what goes on outside of their own Boston sports universe.  Not my opinion, just the sentiment I know from most people... I think the same things can be said of almost any team's fans. 

Again, the people here are an exception... most regulars on this board are 1. Boston fans and 1a. Basketball fans. 

[thedawg]

Dude, you are just explaining the word "supporter" here.  I also happen to be a Liverpool supporter and as one I simply HATE M** U** (so much that I dont write the name!) which adds more spice to the sport of football really.

PS:  Let´s hope Inter Milan beats them tonight!

[winsomme]

For me, I always think back to winning last year. After every win and loss this season, I think back to KG's primal scream or PP's tears of joy and remember that we already won. Another banner is icing on the cake.     

There is a race against the clock with this triumvirate. It's amazing that they won a Title in their first season together. and i agree that we should all be ecstatic about that.

but by winning that Title they have a chance to go down as one of the all-time great combos and  one Title just doesn't cut it in that respect. They need to get that second one to get in the conversation with 80's C, Shaq and Kobe's Lakers, TD's Spurs, etc....

Back to back Titles would be incredible and would cement them amongst the greats.

I agree that we can be a little excessive in our criticisms, but personally i think it stems from realizing just how close GPA are to other worldly sports status...