Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
The one thing I always say about Edmonton fans, and clearly this is a generalization and not a rule, is a higher level of class. They don't like the Flames, they heartedly cheer against them, but they seem a lot more like the Calgary fan base than those from Vancouver.
Canuck fans are almost intolerable, while I've found you can sit beside an Oiler fan and they get it.
They know ups and downs, winning seasons, rebuilds, and the like.
Different animals.
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Agreed. I said this for years when I first joined, and got taken to task by some of the old guard on it the first few times I said it. Maybe even you Bingo? I know Jiri did once. Basically the same ol' 'well every fan base has it's jerks and idiots, it's largely the same everywhere'.
Edmonton fans are more knowledgeable and more bearable. I often wonder if it's because they have had success and know what it takes to get there. Whereas Vancouver, not only has never won the cup, but actually has one of the worst records in the league when looking at all time records. So not only do they not know success, they have a huge frickin chip on their shoulder about it.
The Edomonton kool-aid is getting pretty funny though. But I think a large part of that is the organizations, and more importantly, the media's inability to be honest. All organization overrates their prospects of course, we're no different, and every organization feels good going into a new season. But the level of kool-aid dreams up there right now is getting to be a little weird.
I actually kinda liked the team and the fans in the late 90's. When they would play hard and accomplish more than the sum of their parts. Hopefully, that's what we're in store with the Flames right now, as evidenced by last year. But, when they'd sneak in the eighth spot as they did a few times, and take out the first place team, as they did once, maybe twice, I was happy for them and their fans. It was pre-cap and you just wanted any Canadian team to do well. Maybe not go all the way, but at least have a good battle.
Maybe 'like' is a strong word. Respect is the perfect word. And that's I guess the point. There is more respect back and forth between our two clubs fanbases than those knuckle draggers on the coast. And I respected their knowledge back then too. They weren't getting swept up in kool-aid dreams as they do now. They were just enjoying their teams accomplishments, not masturbating to three first overall pics in a row.