What makes a good fanbase?

[lattedatte]

Or better yet what constitutes a good fan?

Being from Pittsburgh this is often discussed on local sports radio since we have two polar opposite pro teams, the Steelers and the Bucos.

There has been a lot of venom spewed on this board lately, not only at the team but at one another. So what attributes should we posess in order to be a "good" fan or fanbase?

 

[ChiND]

Not sure if this is venom, but frustration vented from one's passion for the game. Throw in beer and outloud thinking becomes dangerous. We will always question, but need to understand that maybe some of the questions are better served for the chat room and not on the threads.

Getting back to the point, a good fanbase should have passion for the team, the game and be loyal through good and bad.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

This should get interesting....

I don't have a solid answer. I guess a good fan tries to focus on the positive while acknowledging the negative. Good fans know that success is built over time. They appreciate victories, no matter how small and don't lose hope in the face of failure, no matter how big.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Lifelong fans who watch every game they can.. and if they actually go to a game, they stand on 3rd downs, etc.

 

[jiggafini19]

Everyone has bad apples. Think of the people on this board that have been banned or you keep on your ignore list because they're total jerks.

They're ND fans, but for whatever reasons their attitudes have rubbed you the wrong way.

I know a few ND fans and alums that are jerks, just like I have level headed family members on my mom's side who are Ohio State fans that have never spit on anyone, burned anything or have an obnoxious bone in their bodies.

 

[TexasDomer]

I think CW said it well at the USC pep rally last year. We need to have respect for each other, for our traditions, our university, and, yes, our opponents.

A good fanbase loves the team through victory and defeat. It gives the team a competitive advantage wherever it's playing, at home or on the road. It isn't blind to the team's faults, but it isn't blind to the team's virtues, either, recognizing that every team has upside and downside potential.

It represents the team with class and honor. It is passionate but polite. Competitors say the fans are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, but respectful. They root for their team to win, but give credit where it is due when they don't.

 

[lattedatte]

All good ones guys.

Attributes I feel one should possess:

Loyalty, enthusiasm, passion, respect for the game...

Attributes I feel one shouldn't possess.

Complacency, this is the big one, if you see something you don't like you should do whatever you think is appropriate to change it. Reference cub fans or pirate fans. Why should a fan continue to spend money going to games if your team doesn't do everything in its power to win. This is way more prevalent for the pirates. Some may say that calls into question your loyalty, I say do not confuse loyalty with blind faith. I personally didn't go to a Pirate game the whole year, turning down about 15 free tix games, becuase I didn't want to spend the parking or concession revenues. I want new management, so i'm doing whatever I can to do that.

Fickle - Pitt fans... sold out every game the year they were supposed to go to the NC. This year they struggle to get 30,000. That is disgusting.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm sure there is pleanty more to this but the main point I can add is to have your heart broken by your team and stick with them... also, the less shit you talk to other fanbases the better fan you are... I guess being judged at your highest and lowest points... class and consistentcy

 

[pappy]

I agree with loyalty, enthusiasm, passion, respect for the game. I also believe being a good fan is standing behind your team, or at least to a point. Example. I haven't watched a Pacer game since Reggie Miller's jersey hanging last year. Why? I'm embarrassed for the city, the team, and the fans. The Colts give the city a good name, and the Pacers trash it. I've stood behind the Irish football team, the Hoosier basketball team, the Cubbies, the Colts and the Pacers for as long as I can remember. A good fan also doesn't trash another team. Every game has a winner, and every game has a loser. Sometimes we forget that. Just my take on it.