It’s that time of year again! The time of year when you have a pretty good idea of whether or not your team will make the playoffs.
The fascinating part about this time of year is the reaction you’ll get from some of the fans of the teams that are out of the playoff race, and sometimes, fans of teams fighting for a spot or a team that’s hanging on to the seventh or eighth seed.
Some fans reaction to the way their team is playing at this time of year is…to boo the team!
Pardon me if I’m missing the point, but what exactly do the fans that are booing their team hope to accomplish by doing this? Do they think the players on the ice will hear this and refuse to cash their five-digit paycheck for the week? Sure, that sounds like it would be the ideal result, but it ain’t happenin’.
These fans will go out and spend $200+ on a jersey to show “support” for their team. They will spend that same amount on a ticket and food/drinks at a game, to show their “support” in person. When they can’t make the game, they will sit home on their couch for three hours and “support” their team. If the team doesn’t play well, they boo.
Are you sure you want to do this?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for voicing your displeasure with the way your team is playing, when it’s warranted. I’ve been very frustrated, at times, with the way my team has played, especially on the power-play. Have I ever booed? Never. I’ve yelled, used some saucy language (shocking, I know), and sometimes gone to extremes and stormed off to grab another adult beverage…while play is still going on! But I’ve never booed.
I’ve been a fan of my team for a long time. It’s my team. If I’m at a game and a hear another so-called “supporter” of my team booing them, I take it personally. They are not there to support, they’re there to be entertained, and the team is not doing their job, according to this brand of fan.
The fans who boo will give you a list of reasons why it’s okay to boo the team:
- I pay good money to watch these games;
- The team is showing no heart;
- These players are making millions of dollars;
- I have a right to boo if I don’t like what I’m seeing;
- It’s frustrating and they need to know how I feel
There are others, but no matter what I list, they’re all dumb reasons.
The team, and individual players, don’t owe you anything. There is no guarantee anywhere that says the team will win, or even play well, for you. You choose to watch these games, either at home or in person. Perhaps you should start booing yourself for making poor decisions or choosing a bad team to “support.”
You chose to buy that jersey. You chose to watch the game. You continue to be a fan of this team. Do you really think booing is going to make things better?
Perhaps a better strategy would be actually not watch the game. Not buy team merchandise. Not watch the games. Maybe then the team, and players, would truly get the point…that you’re not happy with their play.
I know that sounds pretty drastic, but maybe it would work better than booing a product that you choose to support.
Or maybe it’s me? Maybe the people that boo their team also boo other things, like:
- They boo their wife, as she’s giving birth, for not pushing harder.
- They boo their first born, at their high school graduation, for not graduating in the top half of the class.
- They boo at their best friends wedding, because the food isn’t up to their standards.
- They boo the movie they just watched for not ending the way they wanted it too.
If that’s the case, then by all means, continue to boo the team you “support.” And please, boo this post!
Carlos Figueiredo can usually be found explaining the greatness of Marty Brodeur and David Clarkson over at Speaking of the Devils. If you’re up for upper-division Twitter, he can be found at @SpeakoftheDevs.
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