Sometimes it is Hard to be a Fan
By Gary Armida
Sometimes it is tough to be a sports fan. A quick look at the Thanksgiving weekend sports sections and one could read about Stephon Marbury refusing to entering a game and then proclaiming he is the victim by collecting $20 million dollars to do nothing. Flip a page and you can read about how New York Giants wide receiver, Plaxico Burress shot him in the leg and hired a lawyer. Read further and you can get the lowdown on Barry Bonds’ reduction of Federal Perjury charges. Yes, following sports isn’t how it once was, especially when it was seen through the eyes of a child or teenager. Heck, even an adult has to do a double take when watching Sportscenter and hearing how there are allegations of cheating in college sports and professional sports’ championship series. But, even in this age of seeming corruption everywhere the sports fan turns, sports keep getting bigger and bigger. The sheer volume of blogs are mind numbing as any type of fan can find a blog to catch up on whatever type of news he wants to read. If he wants hardcore baseball, he comes to fullcountpitch.com (shameless plug). Cheating, corruption, money, teams telling fans that times are tough as they are raise ticket prices are just a few of the many issues that face sports fans today. Yet, why do fans, specifically baseball fans, keep coming back?
I can’t speak for all fans, so I only write for myself here. Baseball is my outlet. I can sit and watch any game and be mesmerized by the strategy of each manager, the conflict between the batter and the pitcher, and how fielders will position themselves on each pitch. That is why I am a fan. It is that passion which led me to start FCP. I wanted an outlet to unite my two passions-writing and baseball. But, that passion is constantly being challenged.
Passion Challenged by Politics and Greed
First, the average sports fan is being priced right out of the stadium. With field level seats costing hundreds of dollars per ticket (some even range into the thousands), a middle-class family cannot have a night at the park. My argument was once in concert with the argument of Michael Kay, the voice of the New York Yankees and host of his afternoon talk show on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. Mr. Kay’s argument is that going to a game is not a divine right. He likes to refrain, “it’s not bread or milk”, meaning that going to a baseball game is not life or death. He’s correct in his argument. Going to a game is not important in the grand scheme of things. I agreed with Mr. Kay for a long time. Then, I stumbled upon an article discussing the new Yankee Stadium (read here).
It seems that New York City officials demanded that the Yankees give them a free luxury box along with free food just like the Mets gave them in their new stadium. At first, the Yankees balked at the idea, but they quickly came to their senses and reportedly worked out a deal that allows them some great advertising space which will most likely make back the lost revenue in that luxury box.
This is where I officially changed my position about the fans getting priced out. Listen, I am not naïve to think that these kinds of deals don’t happen every day. But, this one truly crosses the line and is a slap in the face to the true fan. Check that-it’s not a slap; it’s more like a kick. Sure, a typical fan can’t afford to go to a game, but City officials get a free luxury box in left field with a beautiful view of the third base line. Evidently, New York City officials thought it was “bread and water” as they succeeded in their quest. Now, City employees can use the box for staff outings, for visiting officials, or for “City Business”. I wonder if any of the City Employees like the members (not the “suits”) of the NYPD or the FDNY or the Sanitation department will ever get to use the box. Hey, it’s for City employees, right?
Meanwhile the fan is left to either take out a second mortgage for a good seat or simply save six month’s salary in order to buy an upper deck ticket. If the prices were high for everyone, there is less of an argument for a fan who cannot afford the tickets. It’s capitalism at its finest: a team will continue to charge a certain price until they stop making a profit. As long as the Yankees (and all of the other teams in Major League Baseball) are making money, there is no reason to cater to the middle class. But, when City officials get something for free, the same middle class fan is disrespected. Yes, going to a game is not “bread and water”, but there should be the same price of admission for everyone.
Passion Challenged by the Economy
One cannot pick up the papers without noticing that experts are predicting a terrible economic future. Evidently, things are bad right now. In fact, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig had the owners attend a seminar on the future of the economy. The results? Well, the most significant free agent signing so far is Jeremy Affeldt. No offense to Mr. Affeldt, but since the hot stove season officially opened two weeks ago, there should be bigger names already signed (side note: Affeldt is a great signing by the Giants). Many teams have admitted that they are being very cautious this year because of the uncertain future of the economy.
While it could be viewed as savvy business sense, it reeks more of saving money under the guise of good business and an attempt to lower player salaries. If teams were serious about making money and getting fans to show up to the park, it would invest in the team to make it competitive. Why do the Yankees draw over four million a season? The answer is not that they are the Yankees, but simply that they win every year. One just has to look back to the early 90’s to see that Yankee Stadium was usually half empty during most games. Even in 1996, the Yankees were not filling the stadium to capacity every night like they are now. The Brewers’ payroll has risen each of the last two seasons. Not coincidently, their attendance has risen each season as well.
Fans are not dumb. Fans can tell when a team is being cheap. Just look at Pittsburgh as their attendance dropped for a third consecutive season. When teams raise ticket prices and do not invest in the team, it takes some of the passion out of the stands. Now, stands are filled with corporate executives who use these expensive tickets to entertain clients. The passion level definitely drops in the stadium. When fans see this, it becomes disheartening that the backbone of the game, the fans, is being ignored.
Passion Challenged by the Players
Just because one is a professional athlete, it doesn’t mean that he won’t make mistakes. No fan asks for perfect behavior from a player off the field. Even in the glory years of baseball, players like Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, and Whitey Ford were notorious partiers. Their stories of drinking, fights, and late nights are almost as legendary as their play on the field. So, when a fan reads that one of his team’s young players was out at a club, the fan should not get annoyed.
But, a fan’s passion is challenged when a player blatantly disrespects the game and the fame he has attained from that game. Is it too much to ask not to have a player shoot someone or himself? Is it too much to ask for a player who makes millions to hire a driver so the issue of drinking and driving can be avoided? Forget about the notion of performance enhancing drugs and other cheating methods-sadly, those have to be overlooked if a fan wants to keep his passion.
Perhaps the most disheartening thing for a fan is when a player disrespects his craft. A fan expects two things from a player. One is for the player to show up and play hard. The other is some sort of passion when playing or preparing to play. So, a fan’s faith is attacked when a player like Luis Castillo signs a 4 year $25 million dollar contract and then re-commits himself to conditioning just one year later, admitting he was not in shape after receiving his large contract. Carlos Silva has made a similar decree after gaining more than 40 pounds during the first year of his big 4 year contract. The list of players who don’t perform up to their standards due to a lack of effort could go on and on. That’s why a Robinson Cano is working very hard this off season. He’s trying to reclaim his status as the best hitting second baseman in the American League after having a miserable season with constant questions about his work ethic, commitment, and constant partying.
This is what extinguishes the passion of a fan the most. It’s unrealistic to expect a player to give it their all on every single play. They are human; nobody can do that. But, when a player disrespects the game, it makes it tough for the fan to watch and to become invested. If a player isn’t passionate enough to prepare, is there a single valid reason why a fan should have any passion for the sport? The answer is yes, especially in baseball.
Why We Still Love Baseball (and Sports in General)
Baseball is still loved because of the game, the competition. The same could be said for every other sport. Most fans are rooting for their teams to do well, not the individual player. There are exceptions to that rule like rooting for the everyday grace of a Derek Jeter or the grittiness of a Dustin Pedroia, or the dominance of an Albert Pujols, Johan Santana, and Roy Halladay. So, a Barry Bonds, a Stephon Marbury, or a Chad Johnson can try to make use hate the game with their apathy towards the fans and the game. But, true fans hold on to guys like Brett Favre, LeBron James, and Ken Griffey Jr.
It is the game that makes us passionate and keeps us coming back for more despite the police blotter roster, the lack of respect from some players, and the corruption that clouds the integrity of the game. In its purest sense, sports are just that-pure. It is a competition played at the height of athletic skill. There is where the passion comes from and will remain forever even if it means watching the games forever more from our couches.
