My Bulldog buddy mocked a Carlton contributor who’d declared (last week!)…
“That’s it. I’m finished with barracking for Carlton. I don’t have to put up with this rubbish.”
“Ha”, barked the Bully. “We’d’ve been sunk decades ago with that attitude. So much for showing real support.”
The suggestion was made that the Blueboy should just jump on the Hawks’ wagon, keeping a fav side in each state as concession – with the option, of course, of “returning” if winning ways ever shone down again on Royal Parade.
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The question that then beckons though is why, indeed, should he or we bother?
His “team” plays games at MCG/Docklands just like all of the others. The cosseted and compensated players live wherever they want and tweet to their followers. It makes no difference that the side is based in the Melways or the Maldives.
As a sports fan, why should he not just enjoy the game? Watch what and when he likes? Or take the cue from the ads and barrack through his “kick”, punting and dreamteaming to maintain a vested interest if that is what drives his spectating. The players are not there for the jumper. They won’t be at the Social Club (no one is). They (and Leading Teams) will develop their own “culture”.
We usually take the concept of “our team” for granted. But, honestly, is there really any need at all to “stick fat”?
We ‘stick fat’ because the idea of barracking for any other team is unimaginable.
Occasionally we talk about our favourite ‘second’ team more out of politeness than anything. But we don’t have to think about it too long before we come up with a reason why we can’t stand every other team but ours.
Too many premierships, wealthy clubs with wealthy backers buying up all the best players years ago or just remembering one particular player from a club that destroyed your boys every time they played.
All things in life are sweeter for having to work hard and persevere for success. Bandwagoning on already successful clubs is like modern celebrity. People famous for being famous. Not having strived to achieve something difficult and worthwhile.
Reminds me of JFK’s 1962 speech committing the US to having a man on the moon by the end of the decade:
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
It’s all about the jumper – until another club gets a better jumper than ours I’m stickin phat with the Blueboys!! As Seinfeld said I’m cheering for my jumper against your teams jumper… and if someone (Gibbs) wears another jumper (that red/yellow/blue piece of poop) then boo him!!
The second team issue is an interesting one Neil. At a Giants Members pre-game function last year, Kevin Sheedy asked the room how many people there supported a team other than the Giants. About 90% put their hand up. When asked to keep their hand up if they were members of another club, about half the hands were still up. (For the record, I was not one of either group)
There are plenty of members who will show up in Orange to seven games at Spotless, but wear their other team’s colours when they play at the eighth game. There will be a point for some of these supporters when the Giants will become the first team and not just the local substitute, but for others the Giants will always be a much loved second team that they know just as well as their other team either on the other side of the city or interstate.
Interesting comments PB – given you ditched the Saints for the Eagles!
….who have hardly had to work hard and persevere for success.
There is no such thing as a mistress in the AFL.
The true supporter has one love only. He may feel fond/sorry/sentimental for another club.
The true supporter doesn’t ditch their team in years of hardship or an interstate move or for whatever reason.
The true supporter perseveres.
If you want another choice, get a mistress. I am told that is easier than cheating on your team…