Because it was a Monday night and I had nothing to do but watch a football game featuring two teams about which I couldn’t care less, I engaged in the worthless world of social media watching. This thread concerned the equally worthless world of the Pittsburgh Pirates, aka My Pirates Who Suck.
The chatter revolved around what constitutes being a “good fan.’’ This Side embraced the Thick and Thin definition. That side supported the Bandwagoners, whose loyalty needs to be earned.
Where are you on this?
I’m riding solo on the Bandwagon Train. Every time. I’ll take arguments from Loyalists. But I’ll never change my mind. Loyalty is earned, not bestowed. Any other way of looking at it guarantees that the team you love will not be pressured into producing a watchable product.
Imagine if the rest of the world operated the way pro sports do. It might not be the greatest chili in the word – in fact as a foodstuff it can be terrible – but it’s my terrible. My family has eaten it forever.
My vehicles have always been (insert your favorite vehicle here). For two decades running, my vehicles have been rated as somewhere between Unreliable and Dead. So?
I’m a (fill-in the-blank) Man. My dad drove a fill-in-the blank, same as his dad before him. If it was good enough for them. . .
I’m a lifelong Democrat. I don’t care that they spend too much of my money. My grandfather was a New Deal Democrat. He had a picture of FDR on his living room wall. He’d never vote Republican. I might have held my nose when I voted for Jimmy Carter. But I voted for him. And so on. There is no sensible reason for thinking sentimentally. Unquestioning loyalty is a nice way of enabling. You don’t get what you expect or deserve. You get what you’re willing to put up with, and that applies to every loyalty you choose, be it ball teams or canned beans.
Teams prey on your loyalty more than they honor it. They count on your Thick and Thin-ness to give them a pass. Your loyalty to them reduces their accountability to you.
Why would any fan be good with that?
Buying a ticket is the same as casting a ballot. It says, we support you, keep losing. Again, who does that?
You want our dollars? Earn them. Heck, we’re already paying for your ballpark. We’re already subsidizing your retirement. The playpen we’re paying for only enhances your portfolio. I might be wrong, but I don’t see the Reds or Bengals taking out home equity lines of credit to improve their products. I see the public writing checks and the teams cashing them.
Thankyouveddymuch. Here’s your bobblehead.
The Reds could have been a lot better this year if they’d spent more money last year. They could be better next year if they spend money this year. We like to believe the Reds are a community treasure, a cherished heirloom. Maybe they are. Do the Reds and Bengals see it that way? Or are we the vehicle they use to drive their money train?
Loyalist or Bandwagon-eer? Easy choice for me.
Now, then. . .
PERSONAL NOTE, BECAUSE WE’RE FAMILY HERE AT TML. . . My son’s getting married in Brooklyn on Saturday, to the woman he has been with for something like 15 years. Kelly Daugherty and Ruby Singh have been One so long, they already seem married. All that’s missing is the presents and some china.
Long, pleasant story short: Kelly opened up the world to Ruby. Ruby damned near saved his life. (Not literally. She didn’t Heimlich him after an especially awkward swallow of a cheeseburger. I’m speaking metaphorically.)
Kelly’s always been a smart kid. Ambition wasn’t exactly a strength. Ruby made her way through Ohio State and grad school via academic scholarships. Her work ethic and conscientiousness made a big dent in Kelly’s occasional slacker-ness. (In other words, all the stuff we’d been preaching to him made perfect sense when Ruby started sending Kelly the same message.)
The celebration is being held at a bar in Brooklyn. Kelly’s wearing sneakers. Awesome.
You’re welcome to attend. It is, like I said, in a bar. In Brooklyn. All you have to do is find it.
BASEBALL’S LIGHTNING ROUND BEGINS. . . Can’t script it any better than Yanks-Sawks. Or Cards-Dodgers. For fans believing big money is essential and, by extension a lineup of stars, I give you the Juniors Tatis and Guerrero. And Ohtani, Harper, Trout, DeGrom etc etc. They’ll be watching from their man caves.
Instant predictions: Yankees and Dodgers.
ALDS: Rays and White Sox; NLDS: Giants, Brewers.
ALCS: Rays
NLCS: Giants
WS: Rays
TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Our Father Chuck, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy boogie.
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