One thing that Ive noticed over the past couple season is the lack of support the fans give the team when they are down. It's one thing to be angry or disappointed with the play of your team but to start yelling because you think someone isn't playing well is unbelievable. I realize that some people who are into hockey don't get all the things that go on and thats okay but don't yell about it if you don't get it.For example, in the game against Portland the other night, a couple people were yelling to pull Koskinen and giving sarcastic applause when he made a save. Thats uncalled for in a game like that. Koskinen stood on his head, by the time he was pulled he had seen 41 shots and hadn't gotten any help in the game at all. Most of the time players can't hear you but on a Wednesday game with half the people they usually get there, sometimes they do. It makes it feel like it's a road game for them and which makes it that much harder to come back. Even if they can't, people who are attending the game for the first time are going to think that the the team and it's fans are terrible.
Another example is the treatment people gave Nathan Lawson. Last year he played extremely well and everyone loved him and at the start of this year he comes out and is playing well but the team isn't in front of him, but people blame and ridicule him. Now, he is playing well and people like him again. Last night in Edmonton, Lawson was pulled for two goals on defensive break downs that were not his fault. People will go on and say he played terrible or doesn't deserve to be up there or that Poulin should start ahead of him, but once he plays again and does well, everyone jumps on the band wagon and says they love him.
Some people think that the players should be able to take it, and for the most part they probably can. The fact of the matter is, it can be disturbing for other fans who appreciate the good saves, and the bad goals. Also, most people don't like coming into an environment like that. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are looking to bring in new fans and keep them. We don't want all of that work to go to waste just because we need to ridicule our own team. We're there to support, and we should be supportive. Fans need to support players and the team through the good and bad. It is just frustrating to see that some fans can't support the players and the team when they're down or not playing well, because thats the time when they need it the most.
I agree 100%....I have always said when you boo your own team your not a true fan. Sure you can get frustrated when your team loses but booing them crosses the line. It does not show support and its very rude! You come to the games because you love hockey and the team not to ridicule them. Its the same exact thing when people say DP is a 15 year bust...its just not necessary. Just a thought....
ReplyDeleteWhile many of the things you say are true, fans have the right to voice their opinions. I know that the defense is bad in front of the goalies, but let me ask you this question. When the defense is bad for all of the goalies and 2 of them make the saves and one does not, what then? The problems with the teams goal tending were 2 fold. First having a 3 man rotation does not help and in that situation you have to perform. Now in this rotation if you are one that needs regular work you are dead. Now that both Nathan and Kevin are with the Islanders, Mikko will get the majority of the work. Let's see how he performs.
ReplyDeleteI for one do yell at the game and for the most time may not know every thing but if something is not working CHANGE it. Yes they gave up 41 shots, but Mikko was giving up goals that should have been saved.
I agree with you one most of that as well. I don't believe that Koskinen let up many soft goals. There were times that he was screened by two to three of his OWN players, and it's not his fault if he can't see the puck. And I completely agree with you on the fact that if something is not working then you need to change it. In my opinion that stems down from the coaching and it seems as though they have been working on changing some things recently.
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