04/18/24
May 19, 2011
The Tampa Bay Lighting Have Fans!: and we know because they've been organized by local sports radio host Mike "Cowhead" Calta "like Seal Team 6" to fight back against the villain that is the Boston Bruins marketing department.
Here's hoping they've taken them down only to unveil even funnier ones for game 5 (which hoping further will be the end of TB in the playoffs).
posted by kokaku at 02:07 PM on May 19, 2011
As an Islander fan (yes there is still some of us), I approve this message--the Bruins ones that is. Someone who works for the Bruins marketing department is hilarious. We've seen some of their other handy work here before and I loved those too.
posted by jagsnumberone at 02:17 PM on May 19, 2011
I think it is pretty fun. Mean to the Tampa fans, but still funny. It doesn't make me embarrassed to be a Lightning fan. The old people chokes are pretty much a constant from anyone outside of Florida anyway. And, the Lightning fans had a couple of good comebacks. I liked this one:
Bruins fans: In hibernation from Lord Stanley since 1972.
posted by bperk at 02:36 PM on May 19, 2011
Yeah, I just can't see getting teeth-gnashing, hair-rending upset about the work of a marketing department. It's shit talking, but it's clearly in fun. I promise people in New England don't think those elitist things about Tampa or Philly. Because we don't think about you at all.
And I liked the hibernation one as well. Needs better wording, but it's good.
posted by yerfatma at 02:37 PM on May 19, 2011
I do find Bruins fans insinuating that Tampa fans are of the bandwagon variety kind of funny. Pot, meet kettle. While I find (west coast) Bostonians to be extremely loyal to the Sox, Pats, and Celtics, the case is not the same with the Bruins. Most I know unapologetically abandoned them for the past ten years, only recently beginning to take an interest. Lots and lots of brand spankin' new B's hats around here.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:54 PM on May 19, 2011
the case is not the same with the Bruins. Most I know unapologetically abandoned them for the past ten years
Two things:
1. Never really true. Whenever the Bruins get deep into the playoffs, you get the obligatory "This has always been a hockey town" stories and talk of how everyone played second-fiddle to the Bs. Admittedly, that was in the '70s.
2. I gave up on them around '95 and I'm still not even a bandwagon fan anymore (though I watch a couple dozen games a year) and I will stay that way until they either win a Cup or Jeremy Jacobs dies, since he refuses to sell the team. That cheap prick and his love for concession sales has done more to hurt the Bruins than a thousand-year losing streak. If they win, I'll be happy for them and for the people who stuck by them (especially that Asian woman who has had season tickets behind the bench for a couple of decades), but I don't think I'll be all that excited. It's cool, but it feels like rooting for a team that just relocated to the town. This team and the last two decades of mismanagement have killed all the ties to the days of glory. Hopefully Cam Neely & Peter Chiarelli can restore the luster, but I'm not getting the football pulled out from in front of me again.
posted by yerfatma at 03:30 PM on May 19, 2011
In Tampa, a "blue line" is what you see on the monitor in Grandpa's hospital room.
In Tampa, a "body check" is what they do to Grandma every morning to make sure she's still alive.
In Tampa, "icing" is what they do to Grandma's body (after negative results on the "body check") to slow the decomposition.
For Tampa fans, a "two line pass" is a popular move at the square dance at the retirement castle.
In Tampa, a "first period" is something the average female fan got 70 years ago.
I'm here all week, folks.
posted by holden at 04:11 PM on May 19, 2011
In Tampa, a "first period" is something the average female fan got 70 years ago.
So, so wrong.
posted by rcade at 06:40 PM on May 19, 2011
The Bruins' marketing campaign with the bear is well thought out and quite clever. I love the one with the 2 guys standing at the men's room sink when the bear walks out of a stall. The dialog goes something like, "So it's not just in the woods." This 'Cowhead' guy is just trying to see if he can get the fans away from the early bird senior special at the Red Lobster.
For Tampa fans, a 2-line pass is all the guy has when he approaches the senior cougar in the bar. Oops, while I was typing, the fans had less to cheer about. Krejci scores an early one.
posted by Howard_T at 08:16 PM on May 19, 2011
Hey, up until about two years ago, the Bruins didn't have any fans either.
Those aren't nearly as clever as I think some are copping to. Tampa is full of old people?!? Ka-razy.
Ok, full disclosure - I hate the fucking Bruins. I hate the fucking Red Sox. Kinda like the Pats though (which is probably the worst one for most). The Bear ads were awesome however.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:03 PM on May 19, 2011
While I find (west coast) Bostonians to be extremely loyal to the Sox, Pats, and Celtics, the case is not the same with the Bruins.
Really? I saw them play in San Jose maybe ten years back, and there was plenty of black and gold in evidence.
(also a lot of Hockey East jerseys, which confused the hell out of the Sharks fans...which tells you something)
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:44 PM on May 19, 2011
Totally. I'm a Sharks fan, and I played at a CCHA school. Hockey East. Pfffttt.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:35 AM on May 20, 2011
also a lot of Hockey East jerseys, which confused the hell out of the Sharks fans...which tells you something
That they're not intimately familiar with colleges 3,000 miles away from them? I'm not sure I'd recognize most California school jerseys.
posted by yerfatma at 09:03 AM on May 20, 2011
yerfatma: no, the comments I heard were all along the lines of, "Why are people wearing college jerseys?" It was pretty obvious where most of the jerseys were from (BU, BC, UNH, Black Bears, etc.), but people seemed puzzled by why anyone would wear them.
(also, I think if you're a hockey fan, you'd probably recognize the names of Frozen Four teams, no?)
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:09 AM on May 20, 2011
I don't know that college hockey is very popular outside of college hockey areas (New England, Upper Midwest, Colorado). And not every Hockey East jersey makes a regular appearance in the playoffs, much as I wish it were otherwise for PC. But I take your point.
posted by yerfatma at 10:33 AM on May 20, 2011
I'm from Florida. Why would anyone wear a college jersey?
posted by bperk at 11:34 AM on May 20, 2011
They offended a whole three people and caved? For shame.
posted by TheQatarian at 11:37 AM on May 20, 2011
I think the adds are funny and cant beleive they would remove them. Just another example of what wimps we have become. Gotta be politically correct. Wouldnt want anyone offended.
posted by Debo270 at 12:25 PM on May 20, 2011
I'm from Florida. Why would anyone wear a college hockey jersey?
FTFY
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:38 PM on May 20, 2011
Yeah, we should all be bullies and taunt the little guy for being smaller than us. It couldn't possibly inspire him to kick our big pompous ass.
posted by Hugh Janus at 12:50 PM on May 20, 2011
Yeah, we should all be bullies and taunt the little guy for being smaller than us.
Its not taunting the little guy, It is funny. They have done it with everyone else they play. Now Florida is offended???? Suck it up and deal with it. Its a game. Its fun.
posted by Debo270 at 01:51 PM on May 20, 2011
Its not taunting the little guy, It is funny.
These are not mutually exclusive. It's a big market team making fun of a small market team's small market. I call that taunting, but that kind of bullying is an American tradition, so I can see why anyone else might not feel that way. At any rate, the upshot may be bigger and louder crowds for the Lightning, which would erase Tampa Bay's perceived lack of home-ice advantage. That sort of thing happens a lot, trash talk motivating the opponent. I don't care who wins, so I root for comeuppance.
posted by Hugh Janus at 02:14 PM on May 20, 2011
I would like to see Tampa win too but really do not swee this as bullying. As a teacher I can tell you stories all day about Bullying. They did this to Philly in an earlier round, they are not a small market.
posted by Debo270 at 02:23 PM on May 20, 2011
Now you're going to tell me I can't make fun of Ottawa Kanata Senators fans!
Who the hell can I make fun of then?!
posted by grum@work at 02:41 PM on May 20, 2011
At any rate, the upshot may be bigger and louder crowds for the Lightning
If the fan base exists. I have no idea if it does or not, myself. But the whole "bulletin board material" pop psychology fails spectacularly if no one cares. People in Tampa who didn't care before, won't suddenly discover an interest in hockey because of a few billboards making fun of "their" team.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:40 PM on May 20, 2011
As a teacher I can tell you stories all day about Bullying. They did this to Philly in an earlier round, they are not a small market.
Right, and you don't call it taunting, either. I'm sure as a teacher you have a window on taunting that I, as a you-have-no-idea-what-I-do-or-know, clearly don't.
Because Boston's marketers targeted Philly fans before, it's not taunting? Gimme a break.
Usually when people use the term "politically correct," they're standing up for someone's right to be a total asshole. Seems to be the case here, too.
Really, what I said originally was more to point out that this kind of taunting tends to backfire, as it riles up the players and fans of the taunted team. Some people think this adds a little zing to a competition. I think it's ugly bullshit, unfortunately unsurprising.
But what do I know? It's been years since I was a teacher.
posted by Hugh Janus at 03:40 PM on May 20, 2011
Tampa drew 708,022 this season. Boston drew 702,600. I don't think Tampa's a sad-sack small market franchise with poor fan support. They won a Stanley Cup in 2004 and they play in the 13th largest TV market in the U.S.
posted by rcade at 03:58 PM on May 20, 2011
they're standing up for someone's right to be a total asshole.
That is a funny line coming from a dude whose handle is "Hugh Janus".
Speaking as a total asshole I can attest to the fact that the Bear marketing has not been concocted by a "total asshole". This looks more like the work of a "smart ass".
posted by THX-1138 at 04:09 PM on May 20, 2011
I'm from Florida. Why would anyone wear a college hockey jersey?
Hey, I resemble that remark.
posted by bperk at 04:31 PM on May 20, 2011
So some loudmouth radio guy in Tampa tries to boost his listening audience by 50% (that means 2 more of his relatives) by hollering at the Bruins' marketers. His listeners, instead of recognizing that this has the intent of humor, decide to get all thin skinned and complain. The amazing thing is that the Bruins have actually listened to these people (aka the Dolts for the Bolts) and cancelled the ads. My advice to the Bruins would be to ignore them, and they will go away sooner or later. My advice to the Tampa fans would be to recognize some trash talking, and instead of getting mad, get even. Come up with your own stuff and get a little war of the words going. Some of us with a sense of humor might find what you say clever and funny. Right now, we find you ill-humored and overly sensitive.
posted by Howard_T at 09:55 PM on May 20, 2011
That right there makes me embarrassed to be a Lightning fan. Those are hilarious and well thought up, and clearly have had the desired effect.
Also, in my defense, I was a bandwagon fan in 2004, but have remained a fan since.