I still follow the Flames just as much through the good times as well as the bad times. Following the FOI forum gets to be a bit tedious at times, however. It isn't about the 'negative' posts - let's face it, Flames are not looking like a good team right now, and posts that reflect that are warranted. I am definitely fine with insights as to why they 'suck' - I can learn a thing or two. What posts I find really tedious are the ones that just continue to spin out unwarranted vitrol, or what I would constitute like a personal attack on members of the team or management.
For instance, I am not a big fan of Feaster. I don't think he has done a great job, but I don't think he has done a terrible job either - at least in the long run I believe. I don't like Feaster as much as I liked Darryl. However, I find it extremely low-brow and annoying when I see Feaster's name like "Feasted, Feast, etc", or any other 'fat-jokes' related attempts at humor.
Also, the constant misinformation that continues to be spun annoys me. It just breeds unwarranted anger towards the team - players and management alike. For instance, the whole "the owners are trying to save money, that is why Kotalik was shipped out with a 2nd" - really? Because Feaster has come out and said that the owners didn't have a problem putting Kotalik in the minors, and they even told Feaster to include Hagman and Stajan as well.
Too many conspiracy theories being preached as fact.
Stuff about how Calgary is horrible at drafting and development and has been since the 90's, and that they should do something about it. I don't have any problems with the first half - Calgary has been horrible at that historically. However, how about checking about the 2nd half? Calgary has VASTLY expanded its' drafting and development program - so it has changed. Is it better? Time will tell. It is not something that breeds instant rewards. And P.S. - this expansion started under Darryl Sutter. He didn't 'suck' at drafting - the organization sucked at it. When he became GM, there was (I believe) 1 full time scout (Button) and 2 part-time scouts. He started hiring more scouts, and the product was an increasingly better drafting success rate than the first few years (not saying 'great' drafting - just better).
I really don't mind when people throw up negative posts about the Flames. When you are in love with your sports team, you get emotional - good and bad. Doesn't mean you are any less of a fan. I just personally don't like the low-brow attacks or the spewing of misinformation.
For me, I think you can tell who the real fans are from the band-wagoners in two ways:
1) They are the ones that stick around and bother watching the games when the team is lousy.
2) They are the ones that have a tear in their eye when the team wins.
I am betting more than half of the extremely negative posters here would have that 'real fan' tear in their eye... or perhaps I am just a sissy. Who knows
