04/25/24
August 22, 2002
Meet The Mutts!: Clearly the most dissapointing team of the last 5 years. I guess until you get to my beloved Blazers. What is it with me? I mean, what team has let you down the most?
You and I, djacobs, we are of the same ilk. I’m a battered Red Sox fan. I decided over the weekend to leave the Red Sox again this year. I could not longer stay in this relationship where I was mistreated game after game. My feelings were hurt. I had been let down again. Promises were broken. I was broken-hearted. I had been very loyal. I had forsaken all others, devoting myself entirely. Early in the summer, we had spoke of our future together and how we were going to make it happen this fall. I praised their convictions and work ethic; I worshipped the turf they walked on. But this weekend, I had had enough. Things changed. No longer were they responding to my needs, they had ignored my pleas and had let themselves go to hell. They decided they were going to walk out on me at the end of August if they couldn’t get their own business dealings together. We didn’t even talk about the future anymore. I did something brave, something my friends could not understand. I decided I’d no longer see them. I stopped answering their calls. I sold my tickets for last night’s game, and declined to visit with them at their home. But last night they called and for some reason, I listened. What they said had a lot of promise. They did a lot of sweet-talking and by the end of the night, they had given me flowers. It was really nice. It made me remember the good times we had in the spring when night after night, we laughed, cheered and thought of the good times ahead this summer. This was the summer we were really going to make it work. The Red Sox asked me to take them back. They reminded me I had no one else. They pointed out I didn’t like the Bruins and I didn’t know the Patriots well enough. I took them back, strictly on a trial basis. I’ll watch. I’ll wear their t-shirt. If we can’t make it work this weekend, I am shutting them out of my life… …until next spring.
posted by jerseygirl at 02:22 PM on August 22, 2002
There are always the Celts and BC football. :)
posted by tieguy at 02:32 PM on August 22, 2002
Oh, where to begin... Buffalo Bills : "He missed?" (or the more modern "It was a forwad pass!") Toronto Maple Leafs : "Why didn't Gretzky get a penalty for high-sticking Gilmour?" England World Cup Soccer : "Oh God, here comes Maradonna again!" or "What the fuck did you do that for Beckham!?" If it wasn't for the Blue Jays and the 2002 Men's Olympic Ice Hockey team, I'd have no recollection of a "good year" in sports for me as a fan. I think what is truly frustrating about being a fan is if your team comes close to winning (or has the talent to win) and fails.
posted by grum@work at 03:32 PM on August 22, 2002
I'm with grum on the Bills. Most frustrating team EVER.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:56 PM on August 22, 2002
I'm a longtime (and long-suffering) fan of the Minnesota Vikings. They can beat any team and lose to any team. Every 10 years or so they have a team that should win the Super Bowl, and they always find a way to lose. Ninety-eight was the latest example (Randy Moss arrives and scores millions of points), but they did the same thing in the late 80s when Anthony Carter was the star wide receiver. They beat the 49ers in San Francisco in the playoffs--which was unheard of at the time--then lost the following week to the Redskins. I do thank the Buffalo Bills for losing four Super Bowls in a row, though, because it made most people forget that the Vikings were the first 0-4 Super Bowl team.
posted by kirkaracha at 04:17 PM on August 22, 2002
But the Bills got there! like 9 years in a row or something? I have no sympathy, Bills fans, get on the Braves fan bus.
posted by djacobs at 04:20 PM on August 22, 2002
I don't think the Mutts are that disappointing actually. It is strange that Alomar isn't putting up his usual numbers, but to actually hope to get a productive year out of Mo Vaughn is stretching it a bit. He's hasn't played in almost two years, and any time that much down time is involved, it will take a player quite a while to return to form, if he ever does. Also, other than Leiter (always very good) and Benitez (very good a lot of the time), the pitching looked spotty at best at the beginning of the season. I must admit that Astacio has surprised me though (hang on to that nice surprise loyal rooters). Then there's that whole psychological Braves block they seem to have (you caught me, go Braves). As as fan, disappointment is expected. But most disappointing, not really. My most disappointing year? Baseball - any year but 1995 since 1991 (I'm hoping to add 2002 next to 1995) Football - The year after the Falcons went to the super bowl. I actually dreamt that I would have some good football to watch here in Atlanta.
posted by trox at 05:23 PM on August 22, 2002
Sorry to disappoint Trox, but 2002 is a strike year.
posted by 86 at 10:08 PM on August 22, 2002
I never said my 2002 hope was rational.
posted by trox at 07:52 AM on August 23, 2002
jerseygirl: I definitely think Red Sox & Mets fans are cut from the same mold. My best friend is a Red Sox fan. I was trying to explain to a completely sports-oblivious friend of mine the other day what the Mets season was like - and I also (pathetically?) compared it to a dissapointing relationship. The Mets are like that friend you keep letting into your life, even though they are constantly stealing your money and lying to you.
posted by djacobs at 09:47 AM on August 23, 2002
from www.oregonlive.com/blazers:
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Could the Blazers pry The Glove from the Sonics? A package including Damon Stoudamire and Bonzi Wells or Dale Davis might entice Seattle to sit down at the bargaining table.
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Come on, gag me with a spoon! Damon and Dale Davis for The Glove and The Hole, aka Rashard Lewis.
posted by djacobs at 01:35 PM on August 23, 2002
Redskins: 7 years of Norv. Make it all go away! Orioles: Um, yeah... Marlins: Um, YEAH... Wizards: Jesus Christ on a Motorbike.
posted by owillis at 10:13 AM on August 24, 2002
Being a Boston sports fan is hard. So hard. Others have already commented on the Sox, but the Bruins make me want to cry every year. Last year they finally pull it out, kick ass, takes names, finish first in the East, and then tank against Montreal in the playoffs (oh, it wouldn't have been so bad if it was any other team). Then they let their leading goal-scorer and their goalie walk, and don't sign any free agents of note except a once-promising defenseman with one good eye. All they had to do was shell out a little cash and they'd be contenders for the cup. Now they'll have a hard time making the playoffs, and I'm such a damn sucker I'll watch every game I can anyway. I'm so weak. Jerseygirl: Brilliant. I think I'm developing a nerdly internet crush on you.
posted by Samsonov14 at 05:23 PM on August 24, 2002
jerseygirl: I think the Red Sox are going to make it.
posted by djacobs at 01:54 PM on August 27, 2002
Either Duke football my freshman and senior years (0-11 both times) or Duke men's basketball, 1999. UConn lost to Miami, fer chrissakes. :/