How do you cheer for/follow the Flames; Have you changed?

[jayswin]

I posted this in the gear grinding thread, but then thought it would be a legitmate topic for the FOI forum. I'm interested in how people follow the Flames; as in how much effort do you put into worrying/caring about the direction of the Flames? And has it differed over the years for you?

I would also like to preface this by saying this isn't a shot at those that post negativly, as if anything I admire their ability to come on here and express displeasure year after year. They're true Flames fans, as it would be easy enough to say "screw this team, they suck, I'm out".

I have officially changed my way of following the Flames, and it feels great.

I read the FOI forum and it's full of vitrol and hatred for the Flames and managment. Every day people log on and express frustration, and make sarcastic comments about the organization and players, and explain how the Flames are pathetic and going nowhere. They watch the games, and post a message per minute after losses, but only a few fans stick around to post anything after a win.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they don't have a right to be that way, and I don't think they're bad fans like some people say. But it just isn't for me anymore. Three or four years ago I would be all over every move and constantly critisizing the team and getting worked up over everything that happened, and worrying about the future of the team and all that.


All it leads to (especially these days) is getting more frustration out of following the Flames than enjoyment. And to me, that defeats the purpose of watching sports, Frustration is for work and real life problems, sports are supposed to be an escape from that.

The moves and decisions the Flames make are out of my control, personally. So many come onto this message board getting bent out of shape and expressing frustration every day at the Flames, year after year, calling for firings, belittling players and managment and just generally posting vitrol towards the team.

I've now made my role as a fan to simply turn on the game and cheer for a win.

Flames franchise heading in wrong direction? Okay, that sucks, but no time for that now, the games starting, hopefully they win.

Flames should have traded away good players for potential future good players but didn't because they want to win now? Cool, that directly benifits me right now, because there's three Flames games on this week.

We have no plan for a goalie after Kipper leaves? Alright, hopefully they come up with a plan, and if they don't I guess we won't be a good as if they do, but right now Kipper's still playing, hopefully he gets a shutout tonight.

"Who cares if the Flames make the playoffs, they won't be good enough to make any noise, Flames management is so stupid!!!". Oh well, playoff hockey is awesome, and better when the Flames are there. They have a worse chance at advancing than the team they're playing against, but hopefully they pull off an upset.

I don't feel I'm any less of a fan, as I still watch every game and hope they win every time I turn on the TV, but the trades/direction of the team/question marks this past few years have become such an annoyance, to the point of majorly taking away from my enjoyment of following the Flames, and the reason I started following the Flames was for enjoyment. So this new way of following the team has brought back that enjoment.

[jayswin]

Holy crap, what a wall of text. Understandable if most don't bother reading that. I probably wouldn't.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I've said it a bunch of times, in games threads in the past, that several years ago I moved away from being the emotional too much invested fan. Part of that could easily be chalked up to moving out of my early-mid 20's too though. The minute I'm not having "fun" is the minute I step away. Hockey is a sport, the NHL is designed for entertainment purposes, if it's not that anymore I'm not interested.

When I was a teen I would yell "yes!" loudly and pump my fists in the air. Now? Now when watching a game I'm more likely to notice a fan doing something weird in the crowd after the goal. Look in some of the game threads, I'm say "alright" but at home I'm not cheering at all, just enjoying it for the moment. I'm more apt to point out how weird it is that guy is wearing all pink or which now boy Bev has brought to the game, that saucy minx.

I shake my head at the way some just get so insane over a loss or the frustration some feel at a game. I've taken flack before for being a homer, some guy got upset with me because "MMF is such a homer he even likes Kerr!" was a funny quote, but at the end of the day I just try to enjoy hockey for what it is, fun.

Inbetween girlfriends last summer I was briefly seeing a girl who got upset when I told her "hockey is just a game". I kinda laughed and said.. well it is... when she replied "No, hockey is a way of life" I ended it shortly after what was an, average at best, handy jay. Sure it didn't help she was a Canucks fan but man, take a step back.

If the Flames don't "blow it up" at this deadline I'll be upset but.. they can always do it next year too. It's fine, I enjoy the wins, laugh off the losses.

Holy crap, what a wall of text. Understandable if you skip over flameswin post and only read mine. I wouldn't read his either, mine is better and more handsome.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I've said it a bunch of times, in games threads in the past, that several years ago I moved away from being the emotional too much invested fan. Part of that could easily be chalked up to moving out of my early-mid 20's too though. The minute I'm not having "fun" is the minute I step away. Hockey is a sport, the NHL is designed for entertainment purposes, if it's not that anymore I'm not interested.

When I was a teen I would yell "yes!" loudly and pump my fists in the air. Now? Now when watching a game I'm more likely to notice a fan doing something weird in the crowd after the goal. Look in some of the game threads, I'm say "alright" but at home I'm not cheering at all, just enjoying it for the moment. I'm more apt to point out how weird it is that guy is wearing all pink or which now boy Bev has brought to the game, that saucy minx.

I shake my head at the way some just get so insane over a loss or the frustration some feel at a game. I've taken flack before for being a homer, some guy got upset with me because "MMF is such a homer he even likes Kerr!" was a funny quote, but at the end of the day I just try to enjoy hockey for what it is, fun.

Inbetween girlfriends last summer I was briefly seeing a girl who got upset when I told her "hockey is just a game". I kinda laughed and said.. well it is... when she replied "No, hockey is a way of life" I ended it shortly after what was an, average at best, handy jay. Sure it didn't help she was a Canucks fan but man, take a step back.

If the Flames don't "blow it up" at this deadline I'll be upset but.. they can always do it next year too. It's fine, I enjoy the wins, laugh off the losses.

Holy crap, what a wall of text. Understandable if you skip over flameswin post and only read mine. I wouldn't read his either, mine is better and more handsome.

Hmm, I'm late twenties now too, maybe it is a bit of an age thing. I remember literally punching a hole in wall in my parents basement one night after a particular crucial loss when I was younger. "Maybe it's time for you to move out". I honestly didn't even think I punched it that hard, but sure enough, there was a nice fist sized hole in the drywall.

I mean, I only punched a wall once, but it was certainly an example of how bad I took losses back then. Granted the wins were equally awesome in the other direction.

[GirlySports]

Same. I still get pumped. I still get upset and disappointed and I don't think to much about the future. I want the Flames to win each game day by day and watch the standings to see if the Oilers and Canucks lost or not.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Hmm, I'm late twenties now too, maybe it is a bit of an age thing. I remember literally punching a hole in wall in my parents basement one night after a particular crucial loss when I was younger. "Maybe it's time for you to move out". I honestly didn't even think I punched it that hard, but sure enough, there was a nice fist sized hole in the drywall.

I mean, I only punched a wall once, but it was certainly an example of how bad I took losses back then. Granted the wins were equally awesome in the other direction.

Whoa, spaz.

I used to wear a Flames hat all the time, when one wore out, my next hat was a Flames one. I haven't bought a jersey in years. Though like most I still have that damn family member that every Christmas still gets me something with a Flames logo on it. I got a Flames scarf and some wall prints this year. Yeah, those will go great in my dorm room.

I don't mean to rail against superfans, I just don't get it anymore. I also don't get ultra negative ones either, where is the fun in that.

[sun]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

When I was a teen I would yell "yes!" loudly and pump my fists in the air. Now? Now when watching a game I'm more likely to notice a fan doing something weird in the crowd after the goal. Look in some of the game threads, I'm say "alright" but at home I'm not cheering at all, just enjoying it for the moment. I'm more apt to point out how weird it is that guy is wearing all pink or which now boy Bev has brought to the game, that saucy minx.

Well, to be fair, that guy was hilarious.

[CMPunk]

I think after my Dad left the organization, I lost my vested interest in the team. If the team wins, great. If they lose, I'm not going to lay awake at night over it. I'd probably have even less interest in the team if it wasn't for my addiction to CP.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I read the FOI forum and it's full of vitrol and hatred for the Flames and managment. Every day people log on and express frustration, and make sarcastic comments about the organization and players, and explain how the Flames are pathetic and going nowhere. They watch the games, and post a message per minute after losses, but only a few fans stick around to post anything after a win.

I view most of vitrol and hatred as posters venting thier frustrations. Some of it I find to be constructive critcism of the players and Flames management and where they think this team is headed. Like anything in life it's alot easier to find fault in someone or something than it is to give out praise for a job well done.

All it leads to (especially these days) is getting more frustration out of following the Flames than enjoyment. And to me, that defeats the purpose of watching sports, Frustration is for work and real life problems, sports are supposed to be an escape from that.

Sometimes that frustration can be mistaken for passion for the game. Your most passionate fans can be quite bi polar at times. Angry when they loose and sky high when they win. In fact i've been that kind of fan for as long as i've been a fan of the Flames. The day I become mellow in my moods about the sport is most likely the day I stop watching.

[Matty81]

After the Phaneuf trade and then the Kotalik pickup I lost hope that this generation of players and the organizations asset base were good enough to win the cup. Got a bit back into it when Feaster came in. Once I realized he was full of it/status quo interest tailed off again. Now I still follow them but usually pvr the games and flip through them. Almost prefer them to lose but still can't cheer for that.

I enjoyed the "young guns" more because even though they were horrible, felt like they were learning and trending up. The air of decline and inept management around the current team, probably the least interested I've ever been in a Flames team since I was in elementary 20 odd years ago.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Matty81

After the Phaneuf trade and then the Kotalik pickup I lost hope that this generation of players and the organizations asset base were good enough to win the cup. Got a bit back into it when Feaster came in. Once I realized he was full of it/status quo interest tailed off again. Now I still follow them but usually pvr the games and flip through them. Almost prefer them to lose but still can't cheer for that.

I enjoyed the "young guns" more because even though they were horrible, felt like they were learning and trending up. The air of decline and inept management around the current team, probably the least interested I've ever been in a Flames team since I was in elementary 20 odd years ago.

I think you totally missed the point of flameswin's post.

As for the young guns team, that "feeling" was nothing more then you being young and having a fools hope, Peregrin Took.

[Dion]

Ohhh and I long for the days of the 80's Flames where we had more talent and hard working teams. It wasn't hard back then to be a fan of the Flames. The team of the past few years is a real test of ones loyalty and comittment.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I think you totally missed the point of flameswin's post.

As for the young guns team, that "feeling" was nothing more then you being young and having a fools hope, Peregrin Took.

Haha yes looking back on the likes of Jeff Shantz and Clarke Wilm that is a fair comment.

Also, busted not reading flameswin's post.

Hard for me to differentiate my changing fandom as I age from the diminishing fortunes of the team. I will say that moving to BC has resulted in less hockey talk about the Flames at work. Even though Vancouver is 4 hours away everybody from our CEO on down seem to be Canucks fans at work.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I enjoyed the "young guns" more because even though they were horrible, felt like they were learning and trending up. The air of decline and inept management around the current team, probably the least interested I've ever been in a Flames team since I was in elementary 20 odd years ago.

There was no actual trending up with the young guns. Individual players may have got better, but any player that became worth money, was traded, because draft picks and blue chip prospects were cheaper than good players.

Make no mistake, during the late ninties/early 2000's, we couldn't seriously compete in the NHL with our payroll.

[Nasty]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I think you totally missed the point of flameswin's post.

As for the young guns team, that "feeling" was nothing more then you being young and having a fools hope, Peregrin Took.

I dont think the point was missed... accurate recollection of his experiences as the times changed around the organization

[saskflames69]

Knowing that the team is this bad, I really do not care. If they win, hoop-de-doo. If they lose, big f'in whoop. As long as they win the occasional game but suck enough to draft top 5, I'll keep cheering.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by flameswin

There was no actual trending up with the young guns. Individual players may have got better, but any player that became worth money, was traded, because draft picks and blue chip prospects were cheaper than good players.

Make no mistake, during the late ninties/early 2000's, we couldn't seriously compete in the NHL with our payroll.

As illustrated by the Oilers, results need not improve for the fanbase to feel optimism and a sense of building something. Those few years when we still had Fleury, Morris and Iginla were learning every night and two 6th overall picks were in the system (I thought Tkaczuk was going to be a stud), the team was tough, young and full of effort in my mind with lots of promise.

Of course then Fata bombed, Tkaczuk got injured, Morris held out and I thought was never the same afterwards, we wasted first rounders on Saprykin and Krahn and Fleury got traded.

[Nasty]

As for my trends as a flames fan. I was always quite an avid flames fan during the young guns era because that is the era where i was old enough to understand what i was watching. Always been an invested flames fan and the euphoria of 03/04 lives with me today. I was so invested that I was brought to tears when we lost the cup. Ever since I probably never missed watching a game on tv or at least following each highlight when i couldnt watch it. I witnessed my first playoff game in 08 or 09 i believe when we played chicago in the first round. The past 4 years I have been a season ticket holder solely for the hopes of getting to see another playoff game and being guaranteed to have that opportunity if and when it comes. I have yet to see a flames playoff game since and im as frustrated as anyone else. On the contrary I would much rather this management team do whatever it takes to try and progress this team to a playoff berth than ever blowing it up. After 4 years of no playoffs I am not ready to go through another 7 years of rebuilding before we get to become a playoff team again. I may not care to know the score after every game this season however I still cheer for this team as hard as I ever did because it is my team afterall.

[timbit]

Just surprising the management has not realized much sooner how far away this team was/is from being a cup contender. Really sad but still my favorite team.

[Calgary4LIfe]

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