I'm curious: when we root for sports teams, we aren't (usuallly) compelled to trash *other* teams...

[BlooInBloo]

... Why do we feel the compulsion to trash other *candidates* in our party, other than the one we individually are rooting for?

It would seem odd to me, if it weren't Standard Operating Procedure for DU.

Theories, anyone?


(Caveat: Charles Barkley of course feels the need to trash anyone crossing his path. Moral: never have a no-championship-wins comment on the playoffs.)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well, I do occasionally claim that the Yankees suck.

[catzies]

2. I respectfully disagree - people do it all the time. I'm a mod on an NBA board

any my team is in the playoffs and people came onto our site from the other team just to bash us.

I'm also sorry to say some of my members joined the other team's board just to bash THEIR fans.

Happens all the time.

I think partisan politics is EXACTLY like sports team affiliations. "My team rules, your team sucks."

[BlooInBloo]

4. Except (as the first poster mentioned) for the Yankees, I see it rarely....

... ymmv on that, apparently.

[catzies]

11. YMMV indeed, as I see it and deal with it daily -- Houston Rockets fans

bashing Utah Jazz fans, specifically. I remember going to Lakers games & seeing people with custom embroidered hats saying "UTAH SUCKS."

on edit: are you a sports fan yourself? If you're not, then I can understand why you don't see it.

If you are, you see it ALL THE TIME.

Last night, Dallas Mavericks, vs. Golden State Warriors: The entire arena in Dallas chanted, "YOU SUCK!" loudly, for several minutes straight, when Baron Davis was at the free throw line.

[theboss]

16. You are blind

My girlfriend when to Pitt ten years ago and still owns a "West Virginia Sucks But Penn State Swallows" t-shirt.

I personally own a "Lee Corso Sucks" shirt from the 1993 WVU season.

What else? Hmmm...I once owned a Lion-busters t-shirt from the 1984 WVU-Penn State game.

And I participated in a "Fuck You!" chant directed at Warren Moon once at a Steelers game.

I also have a friend who once got into a fight with two guys leading a "Mario's going to die!" chant at a Rangers-Penguins game after Lemieux came back from Hodgkins.

I have a friend who is a Rangers fan who still chants "Beat Your Wife, Potvin, Beat Your Wife" at Islanders games. And that chant has not been relevant in 25 years.

[Patsy Stone]

3. I assume, then, you're not from NY?

:)

[BlooInBloo]

5. Ok, ok... I get the idea on that. heh-heh.

[hiaasenrocks]

6. Strongly disagree with the premise. From what I've seen, WAY too many people

spend time trashing other sports teams than rooting for their chosen favorite.

I think it stems from living vicariously through others (sports teams, candidates, etc.)...not that I'm a psychiatrist. :)

[BlooInBloo]

7. Wow - I guess I'm pretty much on my own in having rarely seen that...

... And I've lived literally all over the country. (shrug) Wrong place, wrong time *every time* I guess.

[treestar]

8. LOLOLOL, this happens in every political party ever convened

on Earth!

For total agreement at all times, join the Nazi party!

[BlooInBloo]

10. Wow - curiousity makes me a Nazi.

EDIT: Clarified subject.

[AlCzervik]

9. you can't bring yourself by putting other people down. Tell me whats' good

about your candidate instead of telling me my candidate sucks. Also in the same vein--i am a mac user and i have no desire to bash no macs, just not interested, you like your Dell or whatever-excellent.

[Richard Steele]

12. Sports fans don't trash-talk other teams? OOOOOOOOOkay....

:eyes:

[bleedingheart]

13. Clearly you haven't been to Pittsburgh...were we loathe both the Browns and the Cowboys

and no one hesitates to trash those teams...and any other team we play...granted it is typically all in fun...but there are people who take football far more seriously than politics.

[MadBadger]

14. Um, are you kidding me? People trash opposing sports teams ALL the time

See Duke, NY Yankees, Michigan, OSU, UNC, Boston Red Sox, Notre Dame, and any NY or Philly team. Need I say more? OH yea, Dallas Cowboys suck.

[theboss]

15. I can only assume you are a woman

Because my mom and girlfriend both sometimes feel compelled to tell me to calm down when I scream accusations of child molestation at Carson Palmer wheneve he appears on TV.

I was also at the Cowboys-Eagles game last year (girlfriend is from Philly) while the entire crowd chanted "OD! OD! OD! OD!" at TO. That was kind of awesome.

PS Fuck the Browns and their pretty-boy QB! I hope Kellen Winslow runs him over on a motorcycle.

[MadBadger]

17. Philly fans cheered when Michael Irvin went down with a career ending injury

[aikoaiko]

18. A serious answer to your question

The analogy may be flawed but still we see many people trashing the opponents of their preferred candidate.

I think this is mostly because we are voting for the lesser of evils even within our own party.

[Balbus]

19. I can tell you're not a big sports fan.

[taterguy]

20. I think Barkley is a great commentator

He was just unlucky enough to play when the only only folks who got championship rings were Michael Jordan's teammates.

How can you not love a man who writes a book called "Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?"

[Beelzebud]

21. Because in America Professional Sporting events are more sacred than the country itself.

[trumad]

22. we aren't (usuallly) compelled to trash *other* teams...

LOL

Hey Pitt---you reading this?

[AngryAmish]

23. Because the Packers suck

[uppityperson]

24. While I don't trash other candidates, try to stay positive on who I support, I have a problem with

I have a problem with the analogy. Politics is not sports. I really hate comparing the 2 because I see them as very different things. My friend may lose his job is our major sports team gets sold and moved to another city. That would be bad. My other friend's kid is off to Iraq, 3rd tour, because of politics. They are different things and I take politics much more seriously. I know some take "their" sports teams seriously, but it is not the same.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

25. You weren't around here at March Madness time

I have occasionally rapped on my eternal foes (yes, you people in Chapel Hill!) and plenty have lambasted my team. It's part of sports and great sports rivalries...

We're all humans. We all seek to highlight the greatness of those we favor, while emphasizing the weaknesses of those we don't.