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Am I a Fair-weather Fan? I Think Not, But You Decide.

A short background to my hockey history 1st.

I have been a hockey fan since 1996. I have been a Blues fan since 1998. I have been an AVID & Die-Hard Blues fan since 1999 or 2000. 1999 is when I discovered the Game Night Revue produced by Jeffio. The GNR was the predecessor of the current rag produced by our own Sean Gallagher, Brad Lee and many others.


Considering that I became a full season ticket holder in 2000 (after splitting the two previous seasons with another fan), I think of myself as a committed and devoted fan. By no means do I think I have ever been a fair weather fan.

After the jump, I will provide some back ground into my question, and ultimately, my defense, of being called a fair-weather fan. (click for Urban Dictionary definition or Wikipedia article talking about fan loyalty)

Fans-thumb-580x377-160236_medium 
                            Is DanGNR to be compared with these guys?

Die-hard_medium 
                            Or is DanGNR to be compared with this guy?

Star-divide

As I stated above, I first discovered, and have loved the sport of hockey since 1996.  In 1998, I moved from Washington D.C. to St. Louis and immediately split season tickets with another fan for two years. After those two years, I convinced my wife to let me get my own full season tickets and split the seats with a friend.

My account records show that I have been a season ticket holder since 2000.  But that isn't entirely true.  For two reason actually.

  • 1) During the 2005-06 season, I attended a Master's program in Redlands, CA (Hey Spectr17) for an entire year. (August '05 to August '06).
  • 2) During the 2006-07 season, I actually canceled my season tickets. Only to renew them again about halfway through the season. (more on this later)

During both of these years, I also stayed active in my Blues discussion email group (not really supposed to talk about that, a la Fight Club) to keep in touch with what the Blues were doing during the season while I was in school, as well as the year after when I didn't renew my season tickets.

 

I think the 1st reason is a valid reason not to attend Blues games wouldn't you say? After all, I attended at least 4 or 5 Ducks games at Honda Center.  Two of those games were to see the Blues. (for the record, I didn't want to venture too far into LA and go to the Staples Center, plus I was in school and had a shitload of classes, homework, projects and... oh never mind.) 

While away though, I kept my account open, paid for my tickets, then sold them to my neighbor (who graciously helped me keep my seats).  He either used them or sold them throughout the season.

 

Now the 2nd reason above requires a bit more explanation.  I am sure that most of you remember the 2004 season.  If you don't, look here. But the season after that, ya know, the one where we gave away Chris Pronger for half a robot operating with outdated software?  The owners then sold off other players while driving the team into the ground?  Well, during the LP days and the ownership (the NBA wanna Be's) days, I became increasingly frustrated with the management and finally had enough.  I told my ticket rep after the 2005-06 season, that I cannot spend my money supporting an organization that doesn't try and better the team for the future instead of preparing the team for sale.

So during the 2006-07 season, I attended the home opener.  Do you remember the Pepsi Fan Can and the many other 2 for 1 promotions and specials?  I took advantage of those and STILL went to almost half the games that season. When I wasn't in attendance at Kiel  er  Savvis  er  Scottrade  the Drinkscotch Center, I was watching the Blues at home on HDTV.  Yep, I still watched every game that was on TV that season.

You know what happened?  The new ownership started taking action.  They fired the coach, obtained better players through trades and the waiver wire.  The Blues finally starting caring about the team (and their fans). I then finally cared enough to pay money to see them again.

I called up the Blues and said, "I am willing to pay Season Ticket Holder price to come to games again."  They accepted.  I returned as a "Full" Season Ticket Holder and retained my "Season Ticket Holder Since 2000" seniority (or whatever).  There were 15-20 games that season that I attended sitting in my usual seats as a season ticket holder.


In summary: I have been a full season ticket holder since 2000. But during the 2006-07 campaign, I wasn't an official season ticket holder until February or March, 2007. But still went to as many games as I did as a full season ticket holder (in other seasons). I also watched all the Blues games on TV.


Sorry, but that was a long winded attempt at providing background for what transpired early this year.

I sent a friend an article about one of my SLGT exploits (this one).  He saw my old signature line "You can't call me a fair-weather fan."  He quickly retorted: "Weren't you the guy that canceled your season tickets a couple of years ago?"

So GT Nation, I ask you. Do YOU think I am a fair-weather fan?

Poll
Is DanGNR a fair-weather Blues fan?
Absolutely. He is worse than those ass clowns that claim to be long time blackhawk fans.
1 votes
Yes. He sure picked a convenient time to skip going to Blues games just to get a fucking education.
7 votes
No. he was just smart with his money and made adult type decisions regarding his financial and business affairs.
26 votes
Hell no. He went to Stockholm Sweden to get his picture taken with David Perron.
28 votes

62 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 16 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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I voted for no. (The 3rd option).

I’ve been a Blues fan ever since I was 8 years old and went to a game in Tampa at the Ice Palace with some friends (who were all Tampa Bay Lightning fans) and this was in 1992 when the Lightning were in their first year of existence. So I rooted for the Blues just to spite and egg them on. Been a fan of them ever since.

I didn’t give two spits about hockey for the first 2 years after the lockout and still don’t pay nearly as close attention to the game as I did pre-lockout.

But I still catch the Blues in Atlanta and Nashville (as living in Tennessee now makes it difficult to watch them regularly) at least once a year and then maybe 2 or 3 times on TV.

I don’t consider myself to be a fair weather fan but I do consider myself to be someone who’s interest and love of hockey was damaged (probably permanently) due to the lock out.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Aug 4, 2010 10:31 PM CDT reply actions  

I don't think having or not having

tickets makes you fair weather.
I had season tickets for 12 yrs but just couldn’t afford them after a house and kids came along.
I’ve been to a few games each season until last season when I didn’t make even one. Mr Depends took a 25% pay cut to keep his job and just got back his pay a few wks ago after 16 months.

I rarely miss watching a game. Kids activities may keep me away from the tv for a period or so but sometimes things happen when you pop those little suckers out.

I’m here most every day at least once and listen/read/watch whatever I can find about hockey.
Am I a fair weather fan because I don’t go to games? I don’t consider myself so.

Hockey players wear numbers because you can't always identify the body with dental records.

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Laura Ingalls Wilder

by luvhockey on Aug 4, 2010 10:43 PM CDT reply actions  

If going to games determines fanhood

Than I shouldn’t be here. I’ve gone to less than 10 games in my life. Hell, I think the number is less than seven.

You go to a freaking blog to keep tracks of a team that you didnt just learn about last week. That makes you a fan (among other things). Fanhood isnt about how much dough you toss around.

St. Louis Game Time Fact: Morning links are part of a well-balanced meal.

SBNSTL Writing about the Blues in more than one line is tough.

by averagejoe on Aug 4, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Heh.

Fair-weather fans are the ones that wear pink hats to Red Sox and Yankees games.

Fair-weather fans are the “Blackhawks fans” that have no fucking clue who Bill Wirtz is.

Fair-weather fans are the Red Wings fans that have no fucking clue who Gordie Howe is.

You, sir, are not a fair-weather fan.

Anyone that disagrees with me is . . . wrong.

St. Louis Game Time . . . I need another beer.
And I can also write things in 140 characters or fewer.

by Donut King on Aug 4, 2010 11:44 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

fair weather fans are only around when things are going well

watching all the games you can and following the team and going to places like this show that you stick around

also, we had the fourth overall pick after the 06-07 season; rejoining during a year when the team is bad does not constitute as a fair weather fan

Hail to the Blues

by medel19 on Aug 4, 2010 11:44 PM CDT reply actions  

I agree....

I have a few douchebag friends that root for teams for shit reasons….

1 was an Avalanche fan that rooted for them cause his aunt got him a Avs jersey…..He didnt even know who the fuck Joe Sakic was….

And then theres all the fairweather Detwat and Chicago fans…..out when theyre good but nowhere to be found when they suck….

I still maintain Vladimir Konstantinov got what he deserved...If you can't handle that then kiss my ass......

"I've got a bad feeling about this..."

by dablues7 on Aug 5, 2010 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

The only time I've ever had season tickets for ANY team...

…is for the Portland Winterhawks in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.

Having season tickets doesn’t make you any “better” a fan than anyone else.

It’s where your heart is that counts.

B.

Bleeding Blue since 1967, when I was six friggin’ years old and Glenn Hall was the only guy on the Blues I’d ever heard of…

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

http://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Aug 5, 2010 8:37 AM CDT reply actions  

True

But I still have my “Back in Blue – Season Ticket Holder 2005-2006” window cling on my car.

And I’m going to be “that guy” and shove it in all the bandwagoners’ faces when we have our parade down Market St. Where were you when we sucked, n00b??

The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. But that's the way to bet. - Damon Runyon

by baroose on Aug 5, 2010 9:04 AM CDT reply actions  

I abused my company's skybox privileges at United Center to see the Blues.

We were constantly getting told by UC management to use the skybox more often, so I gathered up the few Blues fans I could find in Cook and Lake Counties (and the lone Leafs fan which I still never understood) and showed up for every game the Blues played the Blackhawks. Even the pre-season games, no less. When I wanted to go see the Blues play in the Checkerdome as a kid, I was always told “It’s too far of a drive” or “We don’t have the money” or “How about we go the see the Kings at the Ice Chateau?”

Now I have both the money and the time… for single-ticket purchases. Ah well, there’s always KMOX.

by Paperwork Ninja on Aug 5, 2010 10:37 AM CDT reply actions  

You are definitely not a fair weather fan

I think its smarter to not give the blues money for making poor decisions, and reinforcing their good decisions with your wallet. You did exactly that. Showing them you wouldn’t support a team who was making shitty moves that weren’t for the better of the team is exactly what every fan should do.

by Holiday86 on Aug 5, 2010 1:17 PM CDT reply actions  

I went with Option B...

“Yes. He sure picked a convenient time to skip going to Blues games just to get a fucking education.”

Mostly because I am a smart-ass, sarcastic person too and having this option excited me.

Its weird... half the year my blood is red... but then the other half... it's blue... hm...

by PeacockJac on Aug 5, 2010 5:43 PM CDT reply actions  

Just tell me what frat you partied at in Redlands

and I’ll tell you if you’re a righteous dude or not. If you didn’t hang with the frat brothers then do you know what the Dirty Bird is?

Just a chew toy for the hockey gods

by spectr17 on Aug 6, 2010 3:42 AM CDT reply actions  

Dude

You went halfway around the world to watch 120 minutes of hockey. Fairweather fan, my ass!

St. Louis Game Time

by Marcus E Pettersson on Aug 6, 2010 5:30 AM CDT via mobile reply actions  

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, and this is coming from a college student who can only go to the occasional single game when he’s in town and is pretty much forced to use a cable company (Mediacom) in Columbia that is a bitch and only airs less than half of the games because they don’t want to pay a few hundred dollars more for stuff that isn’t favorable to their corporate masters in Iowa.

(And yes, I do have a choice, but Centurylink is a ton more expensive, their Internet is worse and for some odd reason they don’t offer AMC on any tier, meaning no Mad Men or Breaking Bad.)

“Fandom” shouldn’t be measured by how many games you go to or how many jerseys you own—it’s about actual knowledge and devotion, which is why I congratulated a friend of mine who actually bought tickets to see the Hawks when their top line was Tyler Arnason, Mark Bell and Kyle Calder. He, unlike the dumb pink-hat girls I know who all of a sudden went gaga over them this spring, actually knows his stuff and was there for the bad years, and thus is worthy of my respect.

It's a funny name.

by Turd Ferguson on Aug 6, 2010 2:21 PM CDT reply actions  

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