OTish: Your sports fan pet peeves?
Was thinking about this topic listening to the radio yesterday. This applies to all sports and sports fans.
my no.1 is up and down guy. The guy in your row (usually at pro sports where alcohol is served) that gets up and down a minimum of 10 times a game to go refill and take a leak. Cannot stand it.
DISCUSS
February 12th, 2015 at 4:41 PM ^
I'll branch off of this subject for one of my biggest pet peeves: Singers who ruin the national anthem.
Yes, I know I sound like the old guy yelling "Get off my lawn!" Guilty as charged. But there are certain pieces of music that should be performed as written, and I think the "Star Spangled Banner" is one of them. It's not an R&B number, a show tune, or a country-and-western lament. It's an anthem, a musical symbol of your country. Don't shove a 12-note run into the lyrics "banner yet wave" just to show off for the audience. Sing it with some respect.
OK. I'll sit down, stop shaking my fist, and drink my glass of warm milk now.
February 12th, 2015 at 5:23 PM ^
You do realize that the "Star Spangled Banner" is a Francis Scott Key poem stuck on top of a completely different piece of music, right? It's basically a ripped off song with changed lyrics.
The music for the "Star Spangled Banner" was yanked whole hog from "To Anacreon in Heaven", a drinking song written for the Anacreon society.
Francis Key personally set two different patriotic lyrics to this same song (Defence of Ft. McHenry/Star Spangled Banner, When the Warrior Returns).
A number of other folks ALSO set different lyrics to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KcHg5ZOIgU
February 12th, 2015 at 6:07 PM ^
Yes, I do realize all of that. The musical arrangement was different, too. I volunteer at an historical park, and you should see the surprised look on people's faces when the vintage band plays a mid-19th Century arrangement of the anthem. It's considerably different.
I also realize that, whatever its checkered origins or alternative lyrics in its history, the current song is recognized national anthem of the United States of America. It might have started out as a scribbled poem set to a drinking song, but it has evolved into considerably more since 1812. In this one man's opinion, it should be treated -and performed - with the respect it deserves.
February 12th, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^
Thing is - there IS no standard.
The way the song has been performed (and arranged) has changed continuously throughout it's life - and there has never been a time where vocalists DIDN'T take liberites with written music.
February 12th, 2015 at 7:07 PM ^
Amen... Regardless of your political persuasion, perhaps people could find it in their heart to take their hat off. Just for 2 minutes. You're not compromising your integrity, you're not supporting the military industrial complex, you're being respectful of the nation which has given you so much.
A lot of people have died for that flag and that song -- just not service members either. I'm looking at you @pescadero. You don't like the poem or the music? Fine. You've just exercised your 1st Amendment right. But take your hat off and show some respect.
February 12th, 2015 at 7:20 PM ^
I actually like the song quite a lot.
I always take my hat off, hand over heart, and face the flag when it's played.
I just don't think sporting events are the time or place to be doing it. Just like most folks didn't prior to WW2. I feel in many ways using it at sporting events cheapens and demans a noble song.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Anyone who wears a totally unrelated jersey. I'm not talking about wearing a Michigan hockey jersey to a Rangers game, I mean wearing an Arsenal sweater/scarf to an MBBall game (and acting like a douche about it) - anyone see that guy a few weeks ago?
February 12th, 2015 at 5:10 PM ^
Yes, but the "find the most random jersey" contest with my friends would not be nearly as fun without those guys.
The Wlliam Green Cleveland Brown jersey sightings are too much fun to pass up.
February 12th, 2015 at 7:53 PM ^
If I was at an Arsenal home game, odds are good that I would wear my maize jersey and be a douche about it
But Michigan Hockey is way better than Arsenal so it's ok that way
February 12th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
I hate the guy who feels the need to speak to you after every play, when your body language and responses clearly demonstrate you would like to watch the game in peace.
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February 12th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
and then get mad when I interupt their intense text-fest by cheering.
This has happened twice this season at Crisler. People turn around and shoot darts through their eyes because we dare encourage our team. Why do they even bother to attend?
February 12th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
to stay to the very end guy. If my hoops team is down 84-57 with 3 minutes left I am going to try to beat the crowd.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
Then there's less of a crowd when you abscond early.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:52 PM ^
like to be at an event with that guy.
I am even known to skip a concert encore if I don't think that song is going to be played if it means I don't have to sit in the DTE parking lot for 3 hours.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
The guy that talks about how the team should change their strategy and do what he did when he played in high school 30 years ago. The same guy claims that whatever he did in high school is fool proof and Michigan would start winning a ton of games if they just started listening to him.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
Whenever anyone plays that damn song at a sporting event, whether it be an Ohio State football game or anything else (the Indians play it between the 7th and 8th inning, I think, in every home game). I hated it when it came it, before it had any association with OSU, and I hate it more with each passing year.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
When a guest (aka not a fan of the team but happens to want to go to a game) comes to the game and then yells criticism at the home team the whole time. It's kinda like family - I get to talk shit about them but you may not.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^
The guy that creates a fan identity and thinks he's part of the show. Nobody is coming to see you.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
This guy's actually pretty cool though. Met him a couple years back at a UM/MSU game in the Big House. His antics made watching Michigan getting their collective assess handed to them somewhat more tolerable.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^
Pro tip: it's not one guy.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:37 PM ^
WD in ten years....
Sorry just had to.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:25 PM ^
He was a Freshmen at Michigan in 1992. Love him or hate him, he has a pretty cool man cave.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^
Also...
February 12th, 2015 at 1:37 PM ^
I vote this too.
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February 12th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^
Add Buckeye Man and BuckIGuy to that list
and second question... Did these 3 superfans even go to OSU? And I thought UM fans who didn't go to UM got shit on for being "walverines" ...
February 12th, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
BigNut did not go to OSU, he went to Terra Community College.
February 12th, 2015 at 5:40 PM ^
STORY TIME:
My dad lives in Sandusky, Ohio, so during summers I'd stay with him. In Sandusky every summer, they have this thing called a "Barge Party" where basically 1,000 drunk boaters all converge on the sandbar area of Lake Erie (by Cedar Point marina) and get housed and stand in our own piss. Well, Big Nut shows up in his Big Nut boat wiht his face painted like Big Nut, and my friend tosses him a softball question about OSU. Big Nut replies "I'm not here to talk about the Buckeyes," to which my friend retorts, "Then why is your face painted scarley and grey?"
No response.
Big Nut is a douche.
February 12th, 2015 at 6:38 PM ^
who say he's very nice. But not sure about that. My son says he buys tickets high up and then comes down and asks for the good seats and everyone gives them to him! I just think he has wayyyy too much air time. It's weird. Get a job. Also painting your face sounds itchy.
February 12th, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^
I watched him do that very thing at the 2011 OSU-UM game at the Big House.
He parked in the Pioneer lot and walked/limped/hobbled to the stadium in the MIDDLE of a gaggle of buckeye fans. He needed "protection". He got yelled at 2 maybe 3 times during the entire walk.
He is a really big piece of garbage..bigger than he looks on tv. When I went into the stadium I thought that would be the last I saw of him. I was a few sections over from the Buckeye fan section in the south end zone and noticed him again high up in the stands. Sure enough, by the time the game started, he was down in the front row. I wondered how he got there...but now I know.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:21 PM ^
One of my friends is a Michigan grad who married an Indiana grad. She is only an Indiana fan when IU happens to beat Michigan in basketball or football. Otherwise, she couldn't care less and probably couldn't even tell you that Tom Crean is their hoops coach.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
I have a co-worker who is an IU grad that does the same thing. She still thinks Bobby Knight is the coach and Steve Alford is the point guard.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
That deserves a punch in the throat.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
More so OSU fans, because they have a smugness/ arrogance about them. They think they are the most superior sports being on the planet and whatever you say is complete ignorance.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:45 PM ^
Umm... you're describing a LOT of Michigan fans.
February 12th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
Moo U hands down. At least tOSU has been there, done that, got the t-shirt. It's not a shock when tSOU wins. Want to shut tOSU fans up, just win. Just like the 90s and aughts.
Sparty on the other hand is a special brand of delusional loud mouth. Fuck them. I hope they never see another Rose Bowl again. 25 years between appearances and after listening to Sparty, you think the Rose Bowl was their birth right. Sparty is too fucking stupid to act like they've been there before.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
There's that one friend that everyone has that has multiple favorite teams. You can't have more than one favorite. The worst of these are the people that are Michigan/Sparty fans until they play each other. Pick a fucking side already.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
Holy crap that irritates me so much. College sports are about rivalries. Pick a side and stick with it. I don't understand the whole "cheering for the Big Ten" either. I don't give two shits about the other Big Ten teams.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
Conference fans suck ass. Especially SEC fans. I lived in Knoxville for a while and to this day still have friends there that are Tennessee fans. Nothing inherently wrong with that other than horrible orange uniforms, but due to their lack of doing anything significant these fans are now SEC fans. Assholes.
February 12th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^
College? Fine. Those of us who move every few years tend to pick up a pro team here and there, however.
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February 12th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^
I go to a lot of minor league baseball games and it's definitely the parents that let their kids run all over the fn park unattended. I paid for my good seat four rows back from the field right behind the dugouts and I don't need 30 fn kids running up and down the aisle and seats in front of me trying to get a baseball. Many a beer has been kicked over and many a foul word has been muttered under my breath.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^
State fans that jumped on the bandwagon after 2008 and act like they own the rivalry. Jim needs to beat Staee this season. I honestly don't care about that overall record just win that game and I will be happy.
February 12th, 2015 at 3:55 PM ^
You should have stopped at your first 2 words.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
When fans say "we" like they're part of the team. I've heard several radio announcers do that and that's even more annoying than a regular fan.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
This shit kills me every time. I usually make it a point to ask when they signed their LOI. (yes I know that makes me somewhat of an ass, but oh well.)
February 12th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^
So you actually refer to Michigan at all times as "they"? I can't believe that.
February 12th, 2015 at 6:22 PM ^
No... just say "Michigan"... instead of "we kicked Sparty's ass today" just say "Michigan kicked Sparty's ass today!"
February 12th, 2015 at 3:29 PM ^
I don't get why this bothers people, especially in a college context. If I'm cheering the teams from my alma mater - whom I also support financially - I can't say "we" to refer to them?
February 12th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
Being an alma mater is different. If you graduated from the school, I don't mind a person saying "we" when they refer to the team.
But because I'm not a UM grad, I've never used that pronoun. It's always "Michigan won the NC in '97."
February 12th, 2015 at 6:32 PM ^
This drives me fucking nuts too. Unless you're on the roster, there is no "we".
Your college rub brings an interesting dynamic to the debate though not previously considered. I guess I'll temper my enthusiasm in that regard.
But for teams like the Lions, why the heck would anyone say "we"?! I don't want to be associated with 57 years of losing! I'm not even 57 years old!
February 12th, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^
Yes, this, and all my points to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!