Or in my case, numerous bad teams. All my life, my teams have fallen flat on their faces when it counts. Or in some cases, never even had a chance to fall flat on their faces. Lets take a closer look at my teams:
NFL: San Francissco 49ers and Oakland Raiders
Both these teams have been god awful in the last 6 years. But, at least the Niners are the only one of my teams that have won a championship in my lifetime (1994) However that was when I was only 2 years old, far too young for me to remember or appreciate it.
NBA: Golden State Warriors
Let's put it this way, in my 16 years on this earth, two years ago was the first time in my lifetime that they made the playoffs. And there already on there way back down with the loss of Davis
MLB: San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's
Yes, the Giants did get to the World Series in 2002. They had a 5 run led with only 5 outs to go in game 6. However, of course they blew it. The A's have been solid for most of my life but lets face it. They are a complete non event in the MLB.
NHL: San Jos Sharks
They have been arguably the most succesful team in my lifetime. Can you believe it? They've made the playoffs a whole 4 times!!! Wow!!! For most people, thats nothing. And everytime they get to the playoffs they choke like no other.
But to me, this has just become how it is. My expectations of my teams are not any different. I still expect them to win everytime, even though in my heart I know it can't be done. Lets look even closer at these teams.
The Sharks have been around for 17 years now, and have only made the playoffs once. The managment is not aggresive enough as they have the 5th lowest payroll in the league. While that can be frustrating they are still the hockey team I couldnt do without. And here's a fun fact for you, I have been a Sharks fan my entire life, and in fact have been a season ticket holder longer than I've been alive. I'd like to see anyone on this site say that about any team or any sport.
The Giants have pretty much been a wreck my whole life, and ever since they've been in San Francisco for that matter. I have stuck with them through all the worst times, including the Barry Bonds' Steroids case. And to be honest, Im still a fan of him too. Even though game 6 of the '02 World Series may have been the most depressing moment in my sports life, I still love them (yes, all of them, even Barry Zito).
While it is very hard to be an A's fan as they are changing their roster every day, I do everything in my power to stay as updated as possible. And I try to know that Billy Bean is always doing what he thinks is best for the orginization. Even if that is losing Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Jermaine Dye, Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, and many other A's greats who have been traded. None the less, I stand by them.
The Warriors are the least succesful of all my teams, hands down. Their only playoff appearance in my lifetime was one of the greatest sports moments in my life. Beating Dallas was priceless, and even though we got killed by Utah, Baron Davis' dunk over Ak-47 was legendary. Other than that though, they've sucked but I have still been a loyal fan for my entire life, even during 55 loss seasons.
The 49ers are the only team in my lifetime to win a championship. However I don't count it as I was only two. Beyond that, they have been pretty weak. I get so sick of hearing from my elders about the 80's 49ers" and how great they were. Listening about Joe Montana all day everyday is really hard when the next time I see them, I will see the name "O'Sullivan" lining up behind the center. That's tough to take. But I still wouldn't have it any other way.
Finally, last but not least, my Oakland Raiders. They have been awful since their 2002 Super Bowl loss to the Bucs. This franchise has been a wreck every other year of my life. And, they have had the most losses of any team except the Lions since 2002. I am in a very elite group though, as I have faith in Al Davis, and believe he has a very talented team who just need some experience and confidence before they breakout.
To me, this is just everyday life. Many fans, in fact almost all other fans have at least one good team they can root for who has won a championship in recent years. Or who has been good for many, many consecutive years. I have none of these, but this is just the way its always been for me. And guess what, I love it.
I get so tired of hearing fans complain about how "bad" their teams are, or how their teams got screwed, or about how they hate a player or manager, or front office personel on their team. That's part of sports. In fact, that is sports. Being upset, getting emotional, loving the small things about your team, or an irrelevant win for your team that keeps a rival out of the playoffs.
Another thing I hate, is bandwagon fans. How can you love a team that you have no connection to what so ever? Or how can you abandon your team for another? IF anyone had the right to do this, it would be somebody like me. But I have a soul, and would never do that. Because one day, one day, I know it will be my teams that will dominate the leagues they are in. And its gonna taste so sweet, especially when I look back at all these years of hell. But to me it really hasn't been hell because Im just enjoying being a sports fan.
Cintia Dicker
Taylor Walker
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Comments (15) Add A Comment
as a Niners fan since 1979 until the age of York
you missed a GREAT decade.
Kneel Before…
Informative Sports.Com, NC
Total Comments (42788)
I'm lucky, its the golden age for boston:)
and my soccer team arsenal has always been exciting...
they dont win every year, but they always have an exciting team
HighwayCrossingFrog
Gooonnners!, GB
Total Comments (3821)
at least u live in a city that puts out 2 teams in all the big sports..
double your chances
HighwayCrossingFrog
Gooonnners!, GB
Total Comments (3821)
and that's exactly what i mean... the fact that my cities put out more teams yet were still less succesful than cities or areas that put out fewer teams is pitiful.
OM= Andrew Luck
San Jose, CA
Total Comments (2261)
to a certain extent people pick 2nd favorites...
If your team doesnt make the post season, i generally temporarily adopt my fav of the rest of the bunch...
I usually pick the team with the most characters.. Or whoever is playing the yankees..
HighwayCrossingFrog
Gooonnners!, GB
Total Comments (3821)
that's not my cup of tea...
I stick with my teams and thats that.
OM= Andrew Luck
San Jose, CA
Total Comments (2261)
I can totally relate to your Raiders and Niners fandom. I was born into the Raider Nation and bled silver and black until they moved to LA. Living in Oakland, that was simply unacceptable. So I became a closet (T)Raider fan and cheered for the Niners before their incredible run. Not really a bandwagon fan, but glad to be on it once the wagon started rolling. Ironically, the year the Raiders moved back to Oakland was the year I moved to Portland and somehow, I think Al Davis was responsible for that...
Good for you for being in Davis' corner through all of this. Myself, I am mad and disgusted, but I still bleed silver and black and don't hide it like I did when they were in LA.
LoveItHateIt
Portland, OR
Total Comments (3163)
Being a fan of two different teams in the same sport is lame. Pick a team and back them instead of squating on the Bay Area fence.
Cassidy's House:…
Whatsittoya, NO
Total Comments (16281)
I'm kind of opposite, in that I have been pretty lucky with my teams, especially last year. I???m a fan of Michigan, Kansas, the Patriots, Chiefs, Red Wings, Royals, and partial Cubs and Red Sox. Just looking at that someone might say I???m a front-runner, bandwagoner, whatever, because of some of these teams, but there are reasons: I was born in KC, we moved to Michigan for a while, back to KC. Also, my step grandparents were (still are I assume) Boston fans and one of my best friends is a huge Cubs fan, and thus we were fans as well. Because of the grandparents I have had a pretty good interest in the Pats, but my Michigan boy Brady took over and I???ve been a pretty big fan ever since. I???m not that big of a pro fan (except Wings), so I have mild interest in pro teams. Basically I am huge Michigan football, KU basketball, and Red Wings fan.
Last year was a charmed year, mostly, for my teams. Michigan finally won a bowl game, KU football became great, Pats almost went undefeated, KU won the national title and the Wings won the Cup. It was a relief because Michigan had choked in bowls for several years, KU had choked all through our college years and through Roy???s time and the Red Wings had started making a habit of losing in the first round. It was such a relief and unbelievably lucky for all this to happen in one year that I am going to rest on that and not worry about this year! Anyways, it can all come around for your teams (btw, I became a Wings fan during their ???Dead Things??? era, starting in ???81 or???82 when they were so bad they made fun of them every newscast).
But I think you are a little myopic. I realized I was the same way when Michigan won the national championship in ???97. I was like ???finally, my perseverance has paid off.??? But then they started talking to fans that had waited decades for that moment. Michigan hadn???t won a title in 50 years and there I was, a young man, feeling it finally paid off for me. So just remember, it???s great to lament for a title and want more, but remember there are other fans that have waited longer.
santapig
Kansas City , MO
Total Comments (1318)
Awesome blog. I can definitely relate to this.
I have been one of the few die-hard Colorado Rockies fans ever since 1993 when the team was born. Even with Stanley Cups from the Avs in '96 and '01 and Super Bowl titles for the Broncos in '98 and '99, the greatest memory that I will ever have is watching the Rockies go to the playoffs. I was at Coors Field for the play-in game against the Padres, and when Matt Holliday slid into home plate, the whole stadium went silent for what seemed like an hour before the umpire called him safe. It was the greatest thing that I have ever been a part of. The night that the Rox won the NLCS, I couldn't even sleep.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3649)
Good blog - Oakland needs some help.
Southern Discomfort
Charlotte, NC
Total Comments (4878)
Good Blog. Fellow Niner Fan as well.
Daveita
Total Comments (973)
I know other people have waited longer (my great grandma waited 100 years on the Sox)
im just saying, my teams suck but i stick with them.
OM= Andrew Luck
San Jose, CA
Total Comments (2261)
Keep hanging in their. The ones that tell you your team sucks are usually the ones that are bandwagoners.
santapig
Kansas City , MO
Total Comments (1318)
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