We are all watching the Flames this season, but the question is - why?

[Peanut]

#6. Saw part of the Chicago game and that's all I've watched.

[Henry Fool]

I watch out of habit and to see if there's something new in the team's outlook. Don't have much faith that they'll achieve success. I'd rather be optimistic because it makes the games more interesting but my optimism ended last season.

[PowerPlayoffs06]

#6 this season, if I'm being honest.

[FanIn80]

#9. Because I recognize that a season can only be evaluated as an entire body of work. Therefore, I don't run around high-fiving the entire planet when we win a single game, nor do I question why I watch the games when we lose one.

[Heavy Jack]

The same reason we do every night Pinky!! To try to take over the NHL!!!

[OzSome]

I am a fan of the Calgary Flames that's why. They've been playing well lately except last night's against the Canucks. I am not making any excuses but we are only missing 2 Top 9 forwards and 1 star goaltender but who cares, right?

The Flames were also playing well in the first period until the Canucks decided the only way they score on Irving is to have someone parked in front of the net blcoking the goalie or getting rebound. It doesn't help that the freaking twins decided to play too.

[Poe969]

#8 Just waiting for the change to come and I'm more excited about that change than I am about anything the Flames can do right now

[craig.caulks]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I would also suggest that most die hard fans do watch other teams and do cheer for some of those other teams. So your analogy doesn't really fit.

Die hard fans cheering for other teams. Not much dying hard going on there.

I just said it's a bit weird that no matter how poorly our teams can treat us, we are often there with our money in hand. I endured the 80's as a Canucks fans and kept coming back for more. You know when you hear the story of an abused spouse that kept coming back? That's us.

Maybe we are just all victims of a great marketing ploy. Baaaaaa.

[moon]

Originally Posted by craig.caulks

It's a bit strange when you think about it. If your favourite restaurant starting serving garbage food you'd stop going. If your wife/gf was a constant disappointment you'd move on. But for some stupid reason we commit our souls to professional sports teams no matter how poorly they treat us.

But that assumes that even when playing poorly that fans can't get enjoyment out of watching and following their teams play. If the restaurant serves me a crap meal there really isn't anything else positive that I get from going there.

With a sports team you still will get wins, still get exciting games, have the enjoyment watching young guys develop, young guys get drafted, watching great individual plays/players etc.

Even during the "young guns" era I still had a great time watching and going to games. So even though the Flames were giving me a crap product I still enjoyed watching it.

[moon]

As for original question for me its #1 (and I guess #3 but that seems to be included if you answer number #1).

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Dr. Pepper

We all have our reasons for watching Flames hockey, but I'm interested in WHY for this season. Possibilities include:

1. Die-hard Fan - Can't look away even if I wanted to.
2. I think that anything is possible, including the Flames winning The Cup this year.
3. I just like hockey in general, so I might as well watch The Flames as they are my home town team.
4. I'm a troll/fan of another team - hoping for my fill of Schadenfreude provided by the Flames this year.
5. I'm following the development of the younger players like Irving, Backlund, Horak and Baertschi, etc.
6. I'm actually NOT watching them. I just come here to see if there's any interesting posts.
7. Interested to see if Hartley can teach some of the old dogs on the team new tricks with a new system.

For me - it's #5.

1,5 and 7. As far as Trolls i will never understand how fans from other teams can waste their spare time on other teams forums. Outside of a hand full of good Posters like Oilfan who have become part of the CP community and actually contribute to the site.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by nik-

I can't help it. I like watching them and during the game I cheer for them to win even though rationally I know this would be the ideal year for them to hit the skids. There is a lot of this roster I'm sick of cheering for, but I can't just not cheer for the crest.

This is pretty much it for me in a nutshell. It makes the losses way easier to take when you rationally know that a quick rebuild is the best thing that could happen to the team, you do not have to go into all the post-MacT reasons why losing an exciting game is better than a boring win.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I'm watching them for fun.

[boggledepot]

Originally Posted by craig.caulks

Die hard fans cheering for other teams. Not much dying hard going on there.

I just said it's a bit weird that no matter how poorly our teams can treat us, we are often there with our money in hand. I endured the 80's as a Canucks fans and kept coming back for more. You know when you hear the story of an abused spouse that kept coming back? That's us.

Maybe we are just all victims of a great marketing ploy. Baaaaaa.

Yup. Pretty much. Fans get played on their passion and suckered into subsidizing arenas too. With professional sports it is really difficult to draw the line between the game being merely entertainment, and the game making a real difference in our lives.

[VladtheImpaler]

#6.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

This is pretty much it for me in a nutshell. It makes the losses way easier to take when you rationally know that a quick rebuild is the best thing that could happen to the team, you do not have to go into all the post-MacT reasons why losing an exciting game is better than a boring win.

Me too

[Itse]

This season? Habit really.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I watch the Flames because it beats doing stuff.

[wired]

I have been asking myself that question for a while now. A mix of #1 &5. I hope the teaam will play good, they have shown that they can, then my hopes are squashed like a bug.

[dino7c]

I enjoy hockey in general and have been a Flames fan my whole life...its entertainment don't take it too seriously