View Full Version : In a weird way....
jpenrod
06-22-2006, 01:32 PM
I am happy the Braves are struggling.
I think we all knew the streak would eventually come to an end and with the way they have spent money recently and the reliance on young, inexperienced players I figured it would would soon. While I would love to see the streak continue I can not say the struggles are a surprise, but that is not why I am happy to see it. The Braves, like other successful franchises, have become popular in the last 15 years and a large population of the fans are fair weather fans that have already begun to jump ship. As someone that has been a fan since the early to mid 80's and suffered through the down years I have become increasingly sick of the way other fans respond to me when they learn I am a Braves fan. The number one response is "Since when, '91?" or some variation thereof. I remember the days when it was easy to get a ticket to a Braves game because nobody cared about the team. I remember cheering players like Bob Horner, Phil Neikro, Rafeal Ramirez, Glenn Hubbard, Bruce Benedict, Rick Mahler, Zane Smith and Ozzie Virgil. Besides Dale Murphy, these were the players of the 80's, the face of the Braves. Because I can remember cheering for those guys (specifically imagining being Bob Horner, Ozzie Virgil, or Dale Murphy) it hurts when someone looks at me and treats me as a Johnny come lately fan. So why does it make me happy to see the Braves Struggle? Because I view it as a fan purging. I am sure there have been some great Braves Fans born from the success the club has had, but now we get to find out who those fans are. There is nothing like watching your team struggle to test the mettle of the fans.
To all you true Braves fans, hold strong and enjoy watching the developement of the young players, with the minor league system the organization has in place and the talent they have on the ML roster and in the front office the down times should not last nearly as long as it did in the 80's.
Francoeurstein
06-22-2006, 01:56 PM
Uggghh!!!!! What next, you are going for New York???
jpenrod
06-22-2006, 02:25 PM
Uggghh!!!!! What next, you are going for New York???
Not going for New York, and Not saying I am rooting for the Braves to play badly. I think every team needs to have a spell that success is hard to come by, and for the Braves it has been a while. I guess I am looking for a silver lining on this dark cloud, and this is what I came up with. Obviously you disagree with my opinion.
Francoeurstein
06-22-2006, 02:47 PM
I understand what you are trying to say. But you are not a TRUE Braves fan.
jpenrod
06-22-2006, 04:23 PM
I understand what you are trying to say. But you are not a TRUE Braves fan.
kid I have been cheering for the Braves more than twice as long as you have been alive, so do not come up in here and say I am not a true Braves fan. It is easy to cheer for the team when all you have ever known is success. I am going to try and keep this from getting personal, but as far as I am concerned you have no right to say ANYTHING to me about whether or not I am a true fan.
tmorss9
06-22-2006, 05:40 PM
Funny, but I was a HUGE Braves fan growing up (in the late 80's- that was a tough thing to be in Detroit.. lol) but strangely enough this slide that they're in has made me a bit nostalgic about them, and I'm really finding myself following them more and more... As a kid you always say stupid things when your favourite player gets traded away (#3) and a LEGION of fans suddenly appear (present company clearly excepted, I know all of you guys are quite die-hard) when they start winning, but one of those things came true recently... "I'll be a Braves fan again when they're back in last place". So I think I know what you mean. It's hard to appreciate success without feeling some failure.
I know that much of this sounds sarcastic, but please know that it really isn't.. and to prove my former Braves fandom I would be more than happy to show you some of the magazines and cards I still have from 1988-90.;)
41-44-VB
06-23-2006, 04:27 PM
Been a Braves fan since they won in 1957. I was nine years old so it was popular to root for the winner. Stayed with them ever since. Been good times and bad times, as most franchises go through. (except the Cubs, hooray). Tough to be a Braves fan here in Iowa (eastern Iowa especially with all these Cubs and Cardinal fans around here). Last fifteen years have been great (wish there were a few more few World Series wins). As I said in an earlier post, maybe this is the year we go two steps back to go that one step ahead. Young players will go through this. Hang in there everybody!!! GO BRAVES !!!!!
jpenrod
06-23-2006, 05:02 PM
Been a Braves fan since they won in 1957. I was nine years old so it was popular to root for the winner. Stayed with them ever since. Been good times and bad times, as most franchises go through. (except the Cubs, hooray). Tough to be a Braves fan here in Iowa (eastern Iowa especially with all these Cubs and Cardinal fans around here). Last fifteen years have been great (wish there were a few more few World Series wins). As I said in an earlier post, maybe this is the year we go two steps back to go that one step ahead. Young players will go through this. Hang in there everybody!!! GO BRAVES !!!!!
I agree completely and I want to make it perfectly clear I am not giving up, jumping ship or in any other way abandoning the team (why would I do that now after all of the dismal years in the 80's). My original post was more directed to the "fans" the Braves have gathered in the last 15 years (not directed toward anyone on this board necessarily). 41-44 you became a Brave in the good times in Mil and have remained with the team through good and bad, and I am sure there are plenty of fans that have been born from this run that will do the same, unfortunately I believe there is a larger number that are simply there to support the team because it is fashionable (or has been). As I have said (at least I think I have), my wish/dream/prayer is for the streak to never end, but the reality of all sports is that one day it will end. One of the siver linings on the cloud (to me at least) is that those "fans" that are just there to be there will jump ship leaving only us true fans and I will not have to put up with stupid statements like "You only like them because the are good" or "you are not a TRUE fan." I believe that if this is the year the Braves stumble they will catch themselve quickly and get back in the race ( they have built a great organization from top to bottom in the last 20 years).
interesting...
I was talking in the cubs forum today with someone, who says the Braves (this year) are a joke... I said, funny how quick some people turn...
I mean, how much does one team have to win before they get a "free pass" on an off season...
I did not expect it to happen this year... not like this, but I applaud you for what you said at the start of this thread... Give it a year and the team will be hungry yet again to start another streak....
On a somewhat different topic... how many more years does Cox have on his contract? could he be near retiring?
I will not have to put up with stupid statements like "You only like them because the are good"
The #1 perk of being a Cubs fan:
I never have to deal with that! ;)
Francoeurstein
06-24-2006, 07:19 PM
Sorry.. Don't be so mad at me :( .
Sorry.. Don't be so mad at me :( .
I don't think anyone is "mad" I just think this statement:
I understand what you are trying to say. But you are not a TRUE Braves fan.
was a bit uncalled for. calling someone "not a true fan" because they are still backing a team, even when they dont win... just is nonsense.
jpenrod
06-24-2006, 08:24 PM
interesting...
I was talking in the cubs forum today with someone, who says the Braves (this year) are a joke... I said, funny how quick some people turn...
I mean, how much does one team have to win before they get a "free pass" on an off season...
I did not expect it to happen this year... not like this, but I applaud you for what you said at the start of this thread... Give it a year and the team will be hungry yet again to start another streak....
On a somewhat different topic... how many more years does Cox have on his contract? could he be near retiring?
Yeah, and those are the people I am talking about. It is ridiculous to turn on a team you have supported for this many years just because they have a bad year (I have been through bad years with the Braves before). As for Cox, he has a one year contract, always does. I have wondered for quite a while if he will retire when the Braves fall (not faulting him) he is getting up in age and no one would blame him for retiring anytime he damn well pleases, but I think he will come back for next year at least. I am sure he has not given up on this season, but when the Braves do eventually miss the playoffs I think he will come back in hopes of turning them back to their winning ways. I suspect it will take two or three bad years and he will gracefully step down on his own terms.
SamtheBravesFan
06-24-2006, 09:07 PM
I'll never stop being a Braves fan because of some season like this. When I was 8, and I noticed baseball for the first time when I moved back to Georgia in 1991 and saw the Braves, I was hooked. One of my first caps was a Braves cap. The other was an Astros cap because I just loved how it looked. I still do. :)
So yes, I'm lucky that I didn't see the losing, and unlucky in that at first, I found the losing very hard to swallow. Slowly, I began to accept it and by now, I just shrug it off.
I did a little research, someone tell me if I'm wrong, but the worst Braves month was in May 1935: 4-20 (.166)
The Braves, at 3-19, have to win 2 of their next 5 in order to finish with a higher winning percentage than .166 (5-22, .185). At least we can be assured that the Braves will never play this badly in a month for 70 years. ;)
SABR Steve
06-26-2006, 07:57 PM
To all you true Braves fans, hold strong and enjoy watching the developement of the young players, with the minor league system the organization has in place and the talent they have on the ML roster and in the front office the down times should not last nearly as long as it did in the 80's.
I plan to stay strong about the team. I've been in ardent Brave fan since 1956, then the Milwaukee Braves.
jpenrod
06-27-2006, 06:18 AM
I plan to stay strong about the team. I've been in ardent Brave fan since 1956, then the Milwaukee Braves.
So I am curious, are you from the Mil. area? were you happy when baseball came back to MIL. Do you cheer for the Brew crew?
Eugenious
06-30-2006, 06:40 AM
Glad to see the diehards not giving up.
There are some good things going on with the Braves, here's one of them...
http://www.bravesoxtalk.com/85_Stats.html
the pyromaniac
06-30-2006, 06:28 PM
"You only like them because the are good"
The next time I hear this one somebody's getting punched in the cajones... I too cheered for Dale Murphy, Glenn Hubbard, boB Horner, Zane Smith, Ken Oberkfell, Ozzie Virgil, and the late Rick Mahler. I even remember Jeff Dedmon, Ed Olwine, Albert Hall, Terry Blocker, John Mizerock, Rusty Richards, Robbie Wine Jr, and Juan Eichelberger. In 1988 when the Braves were losing 106 games, I still proudly wore my Braves hat to school, and got in several fights with people who made fun of me for it. I've been wanting to purge fair weather fans for years too, j, and I thank you for voicing what is also my opinion.
pyro
SamtheBravesFan
07-01-2006, 09:00 PM
The next time I hear this one somebody's getting punched in the cajones... I too cheered for Dale Murphy, Glenn Hubbard, boB Horner, Zane Smith, Ken Oberkfell, Ozzie Virgil, and the late Rick Mahler. I even remember Jeff Dedmon, Ed Olwine, Albert Hall, Terry Blocker, John Mizerock, Rusty Richards, Robbie Wine Jr, and Juan Eichelberger. In 1988 when the Braves were losing 106 games, I still proudly wore my Braves hat to school, and got in several fights with people who made fun of me for it. I've been wanting to purge fair weather fans for years too, j, and I thank you for voicing what is also my opinion.
pyro
I agree that fair-weather fans would be chased off by the Braves' losing. Which is all right. I just wonder if it is those same people that call for the firing of Schuerholz and Cox.
Tomahawk Dynasty
07-06-2006, 12:17 AM
jpenrod, fellow Tech grad? Class of 02' here.
I have never been told "since 91?" when I tell people I'm a Braves fan, but I usually get lots of guff concerning how they fall apart in the playoffs.
I too have been a Braves fan since the early 80's, and I remember the nostalgia of that team.
"Now batting atting atting ting ting ting.... Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce Benedict!" Yep, outside of Murphy, we didn't have much to cheer about. I still remember when Chief Knockahoma had a TeePee at AFC Stadium. I remember when they had to mute the games on TBS because the hecklers were cursing and their curse-laden banter were being broadcasted inadvertently.
But enough going down memory lane. Simply put, I was born and raised in Atlanta, so I cheer for Atlanta in any sport. I loved the Braves when they stunk. I loved them through the streak, and I love them now.
However, there are plenty of fair-weather fans. I have to say that a lot of that has to do with Atlanta being a migrant city. So many people moved here for great job opportunities, a more cost-efficient lifestyle, beautiful weather, and so forth. If the Braves are losing, they don't care: they can root for their hometeam.
I still remember in 1996 seeing so many Yankees caps on after they won the world series. I wasn't pleased with that.
jpenrod
07-07-2006, 08:55 AM
jpenrod, fellow Tech grad? Class of 02' here.
I have never been told "since 91?" when I tell people I'm a Braves fan, but I usually get lots of guff concerning how they fall apart in the playoffs.
I too have been a Braves fan since the early 80's, and I remember the nostalgia of that team.
"Now batting atting atting ting ting ting.... Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce Benedict!" Yep, outside of Murphy, we didn't have much to cheer about. I still remember when Chief Knockahoma had a TeePee at AFC Stadium. I remember when they had to mute the games on TBS because the hecklers were cursing and their curse-laden banter were being broadcasted inadvertently.
But enough going down memory lane. Simply put, I was born and raised in Atlanta, so I cheer for Atlanta in any sport. I loved the Braves when they stunk. I loved them through the streak, and I love them now.
However, there are plenty of fair-weather fans. I have to say that a lot of that has to do with Atlanta being a migrant city. So many people moved here for great job opportunities, a more cost-efficient lifestyle, beautiful weather, and so forth. If the Braves are losing, they don't care: they can root for their hometeam.
I still remember in 1996 seeing so many Yankees caps on after they won the world series. I wasn't pleased with that.
Yep, I graduate in '99 BSCE.
I guess I have not gotten the "since '91?" thing as much recently, but there still seems to be this response from people when thy learn that I am a Braves fan that I am a recent fan or something. Just extrememly frustrating. As far as the comments about the dissappoint ment thing I laugh at them. let me break it down this way:
1991, worst to first, hardly dissappointing
1992, lost in the WS to a great team, heartbreaking yes dissappointing ...???
1993, well that whole post season stunk
1995 WORLD CHAMPS
1996, lost to the evil empire after being up 2-0, Very Dissappointing
1997, knocked out by the Marlins who won it all. I was most dissappointed by this one because of the players attitudes as they lost.
1998 knocked out by the Padres who went on to the WS
1999, lost to the evil empire....again
2000, knocked out by a Cards team we were not suppose to beat.
2001, knocked out by Arizona who won it all
2002, knocked out by the Giants who went on to the WS.
Since 2003 just making the playoffs exceeded expectations.
Bottom line except for a couple of year we got beat by either a better team or a hot team, those are things you can not control. The two that frustrate me the most are 1996 and 1997. Hey being a Tech grad I KNOW about teams not living up to expectations.
I agree with you about the whole transient city thing, but I still there are a lot of native fans that will bee turning their backs on the Braves too, I mean where were they in the 80's. That being said, I am not pulling for the team to do badly, just looking for a silver lining you might say.
I like the sig line.
Tomahawk Dynasty
07-07-2006, 11:02 AM
Oh, the 1991 series. I was at game 5: the game where they crushed the twins at AFC. We made a banner that said "No More Wins for the Twins." The popular banner was "3 at home 1 in the dome."
That had to be the most painful of all, because it was such a close series. The best Series ever in my opinion.
I still cringe when I think back to "Cox is putting in Charlie Liebrandt to face Puckett here in the 10th." I was 15, but I knew that wasn't good.
tmorss9
07-07-2006, 01:32 PM
The next time I hear this one somebody's getting punched in the cajones... I too cheered for Dale Murphy, Glenn Hubbard, boB Horner, Zane Smith, Ken Oberkfell, Ozzie Virgil, and the late Rick Mahler. I even remember Jeff Dedmon, Ed Olwine, Albert Hall, Terry Blocker, John Mizerock, Rusty Richards, Robbie Wine Jr, and Juan Eichelberger. In 1988 when the Braves were losing 106 games, I still proudly wore my Braves hat to school, and got in several fights with people who made fun of me for it. I've been wanting to purge fair weather fans for years too, j, and I thank you for voicing what is also my opinion.
pyro
Am I the only one that feels old after reading this post???? It's amazing how many of those guys I forgot about (Olwine & Blocker specifically).. Actually, last year at FanFest I almost asked Billy Sample what his chances for Murphy's HOF induction were.
jpenrod
07-07-2006, 06:48 PM
Am I the only one that feels old after reading this post???? It's amazing how many of those guys I forgot about (Olwine & Blocker specifically).. Actually, last year at FanFest I almost asked Billy Sample what his chances for Murphy's HOF induction were.
I already knew I was old, seeing these names just confirms it.
Tarheelfan44
07-07-2006, 08:05 PM
i must say that with all these comments that will always be a braves fan- always. i will love this team untill i die, and everyine in my family has ben a braves fan back to both my grandfathers. that being said i'm 16. during m,y lifespan, there has been ONE, yes ONE year of losing baseball. and it does mess with my head a bit. i mean think about it. the fondation of my baseball work is sort of upside-down. so igf you here people saying things that might not make much sense, you should probably take young guys perspective a little bit. they're not fair-weather fans, they're just fans who happened to come along at the right time. as far as jpenrod, it's never good to see this team struggle, but if you had to pick a situation to do it, this eould be it; with a good foundation of young players and a rich minor league system.
tmorss9
07-12-2006, 06:00 PM
Tarheel, we can't fault you becasue you weren't even alive back in the '80's. It's a lot like where I live, there is an entire new generation who have no idea that the Detroit Red Wings were once the worst team in hockey.
jpenrod
07-12-2006, 07:09 PM
Tarheel, we can't fault you becasue you weren't even alive back in the '80's. It's a lot like where I live, there is an entire new generation who have no idea that the Detroit Red Wings were once the worst team in hockey.
I would like to add to that, that in no way did I say that all young fans are not real fans. In fact I believe that I stated that I know there are some true fans that have been born out of this success. a perfect example is that my nephew has never known a bad Braves team. I know they way he feels about the team and I believe he will remain a fan for life. I have often thought how cool it is that no other team has won the division in his lifetime.
Tomahawk Dynasty
07-12-2006, 11:20 PM
Hey guys. I see there's some heated discussion. That's okay. That's more than okay, it's great. :)
I think our slump certainly gave a self-inflicted kick in the rump to the Braves. I expect big things from them in the 2nd half.
I think we're all just a bit on edge because it's been 3 days since we saw a Braves game! I don't know about ya'll, but I'm getting the shakes! J/K
Go Braves! :)