Toggle sidebar

Opinion article "Kings Fans Should Be More Gracious"

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mediocracy is a form of government. A confirmed example is in Toronto, presided over by Dave Nonis.
 
Ron said:
.
.
Kings fans should be more gracious
.
.
Piss poor writing, utter garbage, typical blog-conclusion with a tiny sample size.
.
.
gf63a.jpg
Click to expand...

Even worse comment, given that plenty of examples abound, as we've discussed elsewhere.
 
Jason Lewis said:
^^^^^^


It's amazing how it happens all the time in all sports yet people still act as if it is a special case for one team or one sport.

Small sample sizes of fans give the entire fanbase a bad name. When I went to Philly this year I found them to be nothing more than super passionate fans. I wasn't heckled or anything. AND the Kings won. So, yea. I never put too much stock in one fan or two fans being idiots and/or being bandwagoners.
Click to expand...

I see this crap at every Kings game, and it's all over social media. You can't miss it.
 
Jason Lewis said:
^^^^^^


It's amazing how it happens all the time in all sports yet people still act as if it is a special case for one team or one sport.

Small sample sizes of fans give the entire fanbase a bad name. When I went to Philly this year I found them to be nothing more than super passionate fans. I wasn't heckled or anything. AND the Kings won. So, yea. I never put too much stock in one fan or two fans being idiots and/or being bandwagoners.
Click to expand...

BTW: this happens in every NHL city, not just LA.
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
I see this crap at every Kings game, and it's all over social media. You can't miss it.
Click to expand...

So what?

Have you seen what a large number of people say on Twitter these days? It's vulgar, pathetic, asinine, immature, juvenile, stupidest **** I've EVER seen how people address each other and 99% of these people (children?) would NEVER talk to another person to their face in this manner.

I discount ALL social media blasts such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. in regard to this issue.

Now, let's discuss about what happens at games. I walk the concourses just like you do between periods. I've NEVER witnessed this behavior, as we discussed yesterday. I take your word for it that you have, you say you see it all the time.

Besides the fact that we have varying experiences in this matter, I will say this. Drunk Kings fans make me want to pummel them into the next county. I hate the boorish behavior, and I can see drunk Kings fans perhaps getting involved in the particular behavior you are seeing (although as I said I have never witnessed it).

I remember a Sharks fan once said it loud enough in the concourse to merit my attention. I told him that I've been on the bandwagon before his father was born, and that shut him up. But that's it. One time. And I've been going to every game for the past four seasons.

So what I would like to ask you is for some specifics. What is being said? Who is saying it? Is it rival team's fans? Or our own? And the biggest question: are they drunk when they are saying it?

One thing I will concede: it does seem to me that Kings fans aren't as gracious (as a whole) as they once were. If you are confusing "lack of graciousness" with "generational boorish behavior" then we may be talking about the same thing.
 
Ron said:
Inside Sports TV ‏@TheInsideSports now
@RonM11 Had I given 20 examples, it would be a "Rant". Sorry if you missed the spirit of what I was trying to say; that's probably my fault

Whatever.

Engaging this guy in a twitter conversation is probably a waste of time anyway. How do I explain all the inaccuracies of the article in the space of 140 characters? Like Buddy said above, I also had observed that inaccuracy about the "first generation" but it would take like 10 twitter posts to explain to the guy why his IQ has apparently not reached 3 digits.

Just don't have the time and patience. If he is going to admit fault at trying to convey his article's "spirit" then the hell with it. Waste of time.
Click to expand...
It would take over 1000 tweets... But there's a reason Twitter starts with the word TWIT!!!
 
Ron said:
I saw what you did there. :)

I think you would absolutely eclipse me as a Twitter troll. :laugh:

Meanwhile, there is no way I'm going to argue with a guy that says he witnesses it "all the time." I am always walking the concourses between periods, just have never, ever seen this behavior.

Now, if we are talking about abhorrent behavior by fans of other teams, well...
Click to expand...

agreed we sit in 318 and while taunting other teams fans is common place never seen turning on our own, must be those bandwagoners doing it :sarcasm
 
I was at the game vs San Jose where we routed them and Jones was minutes from a shutout when the Sharks finally scored. A San Jose fan stood up and cheered and we jabbed at him to which he said "It's a moral victory". After that we were all waiting in line for the bathroom and a bunch of Kings fans jokingly bashed the Sharks while he bashed us back. Then we all gave the guy a group hug. Everyone knew it was all in good fun.

Maybe this isn't the exact sort of thing the writer is talking about but as far as sports fans as a whole go, the Kings have one of the classiest fan bases in pro sports, imo. There are some bad apples in every bunch.

What are we supposed to do, start serving pancakes after victories?
 
King'sPawn said:
Then the article should say hockey fans should be more gracious, instead of saying only one fanbase does it.
Click to expand...

I don't remember reading anything that specified that ONLY one fan base does it. The article did focus on Kings fans, but didn't say that it was exclusive to them. That's something you assumed.
 
Ron said:
So what?

Have you seen what a large number of people say on Twitter these days? It's vulgar, pathetic, asinine, immature, juvenile, stupidest **** I've EVER seen how people address each other and 99% of these people (children?) would NEVER talk to another person to their face in this manner.

I discount ALL social media blasts such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. in regard to this issue.

Now, let's discuss about what happens at games. I walk the concourses just like you do between periods. I've NEVER witnessed this behavior, as we discussed yesterday. I take your word for it that you have, you say you see it all the time.

Besides the fact that we have varying experiences in this matter, I will say this. Drunk Kings fans make me want to pummel them into the next county. I hate the boorish behavior, and I can see drunk Kings fans perhaps getting involved in the particular behavior you are seeing (although as I said I have never witnessed it).

I remember a Sharks fan once said it loud enough in the concourse to merit my attention. I told him that I've been on the bandwagon before his father was born, and that shut him up. But that's it. One time. And I've been going to every game for the past four seasons.

So what I would like to ask you is for some specifics. What is being said? Who is saying it? Is it rival team's fans? Or our own? And the biggest question: are they drunk when they are saying it?

One thing I will concede: it does seem to me that Kings fans aren't as gracious (as a whole) as they once were. If you are confusing "lack of graciousness" with "generational boorish behavior" then we may be talking about the same thing.
Click to expand...

You may discount them, but many don't.

I'm not going to go searching for examples when anyone can find them on their own very easily. Fans of all teams are guilty.
 
Chain said:
I was at the game vs San Jose where we routed them and Jones was minutes from a shutout when the Sharks finally scored. A San Jose fan stood up and cheered and we jabbed at him to which he said "It's a moral victory". After that we were all waiting in line for the bathroom and a bunch of Kings fans jokingly bashed the Sharks while he bashed us back. Then we all gave the guy a group hug. Everyone knew it was all in good fun.

Maybe this isn't the exact sort of thing the writer is talking about but as far as sports fans as a whole go, the Kings have one of the classiest fan bases in pro sports, imo. There are some bad apples in every bunch.

What are we supposed to do, start serving pancakes after victories?
Click to expand...

That's not what the story was about...
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
I don't remember reading anything that specified that ONLY one fan base does it. The article did focus on Kings fans, but didn't say that it was exclusive to them. That's something you assumed.
Click to expand...

That was the implication, however, especially given the article title.

Let's dissect the entire article one paragraph at a time.

"The Los Angeles Kings are finally an NHL powerhouse. After many years of mediocrity, the team stands alone atop the mountain. The last three seasons have yielded three straight trips to the Conference final, and two championships. The players are excited about the future, as the team looks to be on the cusp of a dynasty. The long-suffering Los Angeles Kings fans no longer have to spend time explaining their allegiance to a losing team, and trying to put into context, all the great moments the team has had, despite never having won the Cup. It sounds like an ideal situation, but there is a dark side."

It's like the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Yankees never had those moments, especially when both teams are seen as marquee franchises in their respective leagues.

As for the Los Angeles Lakers, the City of Angels had to witness every single NBA Finals trip that ended in losses throughout the 1960s, while once the Lakers finally won in 1972, guess what was the media reaction? "LOS ANGELES KINGS RIPPED OFF THE LAKERS' COLORS!" :shakehead :facepalm: Never mind the fact the late Jack Kent Cooke owned both the Kings and Lakers, while being the founder for the prior, let alone the fact he ordered purple and gold as the colors of both teams.

As for the Yankees, they received lots of scorn for having Babe Ruth, despite how the now-San Francisco Giants were the more established ball club. Guess how John McGraw responded about his jealousy of the Yankees? Eviction, to the point the Yankees moved to The Bronx and the rest is history.

"As one looks at various social media outlets, the buzzword which keeps coming up, is "bandwagon fans." It is understandable that fans of other teams may use the term out of jealousy, but it is disturbing just how often it is used by Kings fans themselves, in reference to other Kings fans. The pinnacle of the righteous nature of these nonsensical comments, was in something posted last week. A random Kings fan who was unfamiliar with one of the longtime Kings writers, tried to dismiss the writer as a "recent fan", because of his perspective on the team. I personally know the writer, and he has followed Kings hockey since the 1970s. I was much more disappointed rather than shocked by the statement."

This is a constant effect of "out of sight, out of mind" that has been haunting the Los Angeles Kings since its inception.

I guarantee you if you conducted a poll in the streets of Los Angeles County alone which was more remembered between the Mavericks' sweep of the Lakers and Joe Thornton's overtime goal winner back in 2011, the Lakers' sweep will be mentioned more.

"For so many years, Kings fans have always been amongst the most accepting fans around. Noisy and passionate when attending games, but willing to take the time to explain the game to newer fans, or would-be fans. That quality is quickly disappearing, and being replaced by a most unsavory arrogance. I remember those who began attending games during the Wayne Gretzky era. Longtime fans knew that these folks were only attending games because it was now chic, but the most important aspects were that the building was full, and the popularity of the game was growing. Therefore, go ahead and accept them, explain the game if need be, and make them fans for life. Those were the feelings back then. Such is not the case anymore."

Yes, that quality still exists, to the point I still receive lessons from fellow Los Angeles Kings fans my senior. In fact, the first ever Los Angeles Kings home game I attended in my life was this past March 1, 2014, versus the Carolina Hurricanes. I talked to my fellow row mates and they even took the time to explain to me how lines work.

Like that quality is exclusive to the Los Angeles Kings fans. Even new-to-America Yankee fans have that arrogance, and I am going to admit that I was one of those "new-to-America Yankee fan" when I first arrived here...in America back in 2000.

As for the Gretzky era specifically, guess what else was happening then? Raiders and Rams games, both receiving mandated TV blackouts from the NFL. Not to mention Showtime Mania was all the rage in L.A. long before The Trade, let alone the fact the Dodgers won the 1988 World Series.

Truth be told, while the Raiders were preparing to return to Oakland and Georgia Frontiere were uprooting the then-Los Angeles Rams and finalizing her plans into bringing it home to her native St. Louis, guess what Bruce McNall realized at the time? He was arguably the first-ever Los Angeles Kings owner in franchise history that elevated the Kings from #4 to #3 in the L.A. sports scene, especially in light of what was happening to both the Raiders and the Rams.

"In reading another social media post, a longtime fan proudly recounted a recent moment where he actually accused another Kings fan, face to face, of being a bandwagon fan. He asked the new fan, "what is Martinez' first name?" The fan replied, "Alex", thus sending the longtime fan into a documented hissyfit. What truly is the point to such an attack ? This is completely unacceptable. Everyone gets interested in a team at a certain point. Is it really fair, or even necessary to completely disregard a fellow Kings fan, unless said fan has 10-20 years of documented team loyalty ? Of course not."

Again, this is another effect of "out of sight, out of mind" that has been plaguing the franchise since it inception. Never mind the fact even the NBC announcers were mispronouncing Alec's name. :shakehead

"The ironic part is, many of the fans who are so worried about bandwagon fans, were not themselves fans, until the Gretzky era. In essence, they themselves were nothing more than bandwagon fans as well. I guess they figure they paid their dues, and now have the right to walk around giving high and mighty scowls of derision toward those they deem "unworthy." Well, it takes one to know one."

Do I count as a "bandwagon fan" even if I was living, let alone growing up in a developing country in the 1990s, especially the first time I ever heard of the sport of ice hockey was via Pro Stars, of all shows? Never mind the fact when said country is pretty much a basketball country of all places.

This kind of elitism reminds me too much of the American music game fanbase pre-2010, with the IIDX fans, being on the high horse, picking on DanceDanceRevolution players and fans of other music games. :rant: I personally got sick and tired of that kind of elitism to the point I outed a prominent elitist, to the point that prominent music game company unfollowed him on Twitter and severed all ties with him. Yes, these are kinds of elitists that feel "high and almighty" while driving out the "noobs", who are the very future of the fanbase.

And guess what happened to the American music game scene? DEAD, all thanks to those :rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::rant: elitists, because they drove away fans. What's even worse is that in Japan alone, beatmania IIDX now has to depend on Metal Gear Solid worldwide profits just to fund an extremely niche game like IIDX.

"Just a little history. The first generation of Kings fans were built during a 1976 divisional round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Boston was heavily favored, but the Kings extended the series to the full 5 games before dropping the deciding game 3-0. Butch Goring became an overtime/overnight hero and forever etched into Kings lore. Goaltender Rogie Vachon stopped an unfathomable amount of shots, on his way to becoming a Kings legend. Yes, I suppose all whom became fans during that time, would be considered "bandwagoners", by those whom had been atrtendind games since the team's inception in 1967.

The next generation of Kings fans, were built during the Wayne Gretzky era. Gretz brought hope every season, and then there was the 1993 run to the Cup final. Prior to the Gretzky era, Kings playoff tickets were readily available the morning of the game. The next generation of Kings fans, is being built right now."

Believe me, winning attracts fans; that's how I became a fan of the Yankees and Lakers, even before I arrived here...in America. :naughty::D

"The Kings have the best team in the league, and that is bound to draw attention from casual sports fans. Every diehard fan has a starting point. The important thing is, even if one just became a fan within recent years, they are still around 20 years from now, like many of those bandwagon fans from the Gretzky era. It is best to embrace them, accept them, and hope for the best. This is an opportunity to build a huge fan base for the team, hopefully the fans won't spoil it with pettiness."

Going back to the music game example, it's up to us not to end up like that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom