What is it about losing football games that makes people so hateful

[proud2BlibKansan]

and mean?

We protest the war every Sunday and if the Chiefs play at home at noon, we get a lot of fans driving by on their way home from the game. On the Sundays the Chiefs lose, like today, we can count on people driving by (almost always in a big SUV) all dressed in red, usually drunk, rolling down their windows and yelling hateful things at us. Another interesting thing is the majority of these cars are not local; they have out of state plates.

Several weeks ago on a losing Sunday, I had a full can of beer thrown at me. Today we had an SUV drive by so slowly it was holding up traffic. They had their windows down and yelled several cuss words. One guy yelled that he wanted to beat the shit out of us. Then the car sped up and the driver ran a red light, nearly causing a collision.

My dad was a high school coach. I grew up watching games. I can remember crying on the way home from many games he lost but I don't remember anyone being so upset that they were hateful or threatened anyone. Granted, it was high school and these fans are coming from a pro game, but it sure does seem odd that they are so incredibly mean.

Maybe it's the beer. But I sure will be glad when football season is over. Sheesh.

[Monkeyman]

1. They are not Bear Fans they cheer you

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Ok I guess I should come to Chicago and protest there

:)

[Monkeyman]

6. We have and will keep doing it

Like Dubba is coming in Feb WE WILL BE THERE

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Pictures from his visit here in September!

[Monkeyman]

16. Now thats the ticket

We are out in force but so is the Chicago Cops. When John Leasch was running against Hastert they kept us about a mile away. To many of us showed up

[derby378]

2. Funny - I don't think I ever reacted like that when my team lost

Maybe I'm just more mature than I gave myself credit for...

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Derby, you are far more mature

Some of these out of state war mongers are from Texas. Can you please make them stay there and go to Cowboys games? :)

[derby378]

11. Well, I can sure try...

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Thanks Friend!

:hi:

[trumad]

3. They played to many video games when they were younger...

;-)

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Did they drink beer then too?

[TriSec]

8. Drunk, what else?

I have been to two pro football games in my life. I found it repulsive and not fun at all.

People get there at 11am and start drinking. They go in the stadium and drink. Then they go back in the parking lot and drink some more.

That makes people act like idiots most of the time. Big, tough, men in their SUVs would cower and run away if you actually confronted them. It's typical right-wing behaviour.

[Monkeyman]

12. We tail gate cook meat and party

But Chicago is mostly Democrats what you want Cowboys

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. They start here at dawn

Kansas City is famous for its huge tailgating parties before the game. They get to the parking lot at dawn and start barbecuing. And they start drinking then too. I went to one tailgate party and have vowed to never go back.

[Monkeyman]

18. Kansas City went once man are they out there

We showed up on our bikes they did not mess with us.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Hey did you go to Randy Barnes' service today?

I looked for you but man, that place was packed. We left right before the service started.

We saw Nancy Boyda there!

[Monkeyman]

29. John Kerry showed up.

Kathleen was so thankful to all of you. I was there but had to leave to get back to the Hospital had a little problem with a gift from Nam moving

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Kerry was there??

Wow I missed him. Damn.

[Monkeyman]

34. The whole Veterans For Kerry Leadership showed

The VVAW wrote and article today about Randy. I don't know if you know this John Kerry, Randy Barnes and Me marched on Washington in 1972. I am and old VVAW member so was Randy. Rick Weidman the head of VVA showed and help up Kathleen Barnes. Randy is not done with us. Because of him 35 veterans groups have formed into a national org. I am the Head of Veterans For Progress. We will stay as one fighting unit for the Democrats.

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. Good for you!

I am so sorry I missed you today. Please keep in touch and if you are in KC, let me know.

[Monkeyman]

39. I will we have a Senator we shall be seeing a lot

[Divernan]

51. KC is a terrific city - just spent a week there & was very impressed.

One of my kids just moved there and I went to help unpack, transport pets, etc. Just in time for that pisser of an ice storm! But despite the weather, I saw enough of the town to be blown away. I expected a bland place - but it had the level of charm of Charleston or Richmond. There's a big Irish expat community with lots of good live Irish music, and great jazz and restaurants. I think KCMO is America's best kept secret. And wonderful architecture and tons of neat museums!

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. It is surprisingly sophisticated

You are so right about the music and restaurants and museums. But sports are huge here.

[SeattleGirl]

9. I've gone to one NFL game, and the crowd was so freakin'

nasty by the end of the game that my husband, my brother and his girlfriend, and I were very uneasy as we left the stadium. People were cussing and swearing and batting each other around, running into us (nearly knocking me off my feet). And this was the home crowd at a Seahawks game that the Hawks WON.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. My sister and her hubby gave up their Chiefs season tickets

(which are prized and very hard to come by) because of all the drunks at the games. And they were on the level where the private boxes are. For years, those were very safe seats. Then my sister got hit by a beer one Sunday and when security came, they said it was her word against the drunk who threw the beer in her direction. So they stopped buying their season tickets.

My sister is a HUGE Chiefs fan. We were all stunned when she stopped going.

[SeattleGirl]

52. Jeez.

That sucks. I love football, and was so excited to go to the game, but by the end of it, I'd had it with the crowd. I went to a football game, but ended up at a giant drunkfest.

[marmar]

14. Beer-guzzing, SUV driving, Bush-supporting, hate-filled assholes who care more about sports...

than they do about people dying in senseless wars....

I hate to stereotype, but I'll be damned if they don't live up to it.

[Monkeyman]

22. A how any games have the Lions won

I be in a bad mood too

[marmar]

25. If Lions fans reacted that way after every loss....

Everybody in Michigan would have gotten a beatdown by now.

[Monkeyman]

27. LOL how true

Cheer up you got four first round picks. I like being there when the Lions play the Bears its always a great game. Never had a problem there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Today when they yelled at us,

I asked "How was the game?" I was trying to change the subject. :)

[Aviation Pro]

17. Similar behavior after a NASCAR event.....

...guys, always it's guys, think they're Tony Stewart or Junior and for fun draft behind cars on the interstate. The alcohol fueled sports culture is just one in of a number of symptoms that needs to be addressed by our country if we're to retain our competitive edge in the world.

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. Several of the nastiest drive by fans we dealt with today

were women!

[Texasgal]

19. wow.... lot;s of broad brushes

in this thread... :eyes:

I am a football fan, and have attended several games in my lifetime. I have not experienced this at all. As a matter of fact some of the best times I have had have been attending football games.

Not all football fans are beer guzzling, SUV driving Bush lovers. Geeze.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. I know that

I grew up going to sporting events. Like I said, my dad was a coach. He also worked as a linesman at the Chiefs games and we went with him to every home game.

I have never seen this kind of mean and nasty behavior after a game. But this year, we see it every home game Sunday.

[TheWatcher]

59. Several, as in how many?

The kind of behavior described in this thread is business as usual at Seahawks home games every time they play, and this is one of the more civilized cities to live in. I cannot imagine how things are getting in other cities.

Take the word of someone who sees this all the time. You should pay more attention.

And no, not all football fans are this way, but the laser accurate quote in this thread "alcohol fueled sports culture" is getting very out of control in this country. Many years ago it would have been absurd to compare us to the Romans, but these days the argument is getting hard to avoid.

This country is a very ugly place and if you want to see the face of it in all it's unfettered, disturbing glory, attend a sporting event.

[Bill McBlueState]

20. if Herm Edwards was your head coach, you'd have an attitude problem, too

These are tough days to be a Chiefs fan; these guys need our understanding.

[TheWatcher]

60. Fans who behave the way the OP described need no understanding

They need an intervention.

It's inexcusable to behave this way over a SPORTS TEAM.

The priority and importance this country puts on such things is beyond disturbing.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. I lived in Pittsburgh for awhile, they are SERIOUS about the Steelers.

:evilgrin: I don't recall any ugly incidents after a losing game though. There probably were some, I just wasn't subjected to any.

[JVS]

33. I remember a few years ago someone got killed in at tom's diner for badmouthing...

the Steelers.

I've not heard about stuff hapenning at the end of games though.

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. Wow! That's intense! Steelers fans are a loyal bunch! They can get quite boisterous

But I never witnessed any violence from them.

[Monkeyman]

36. We had one hell of a snowball fight with you guys here in Chicago

But everyone had a beer after words

[BoneDaddy]

32. It isn't about football

it can be about anything...

Fan short for "fanatic" isn't just restricted to sports.

People affiliate themselves with a team and incorporates that into their identity. If the team wins, they feel good about themselves, if they don't well the opposite.

Tribalism.

[Homer Wells]

43. I like Jerry Seinfeld's attitude about sports fans

Sports fan: "We won, we won!!""

Jerry: "NO!! They won; YOU Watched!":spray: :spray: :popcorn:

[BoneDaddy]

68. Exactly

I think people lead "quiet lives of desperation" and attach themselves to whatever makes them feel good. Unfortunately it goes too far.

[karlrschneider]

35. Gee, I don't know. We're Chiefs fans, halfway between KC and Dallas

and we don't like the cowboys (not because they're from Texas...it's a long story :D

They played crappy today unfortunately. :-(

But it's just a game (well, it's big business of course, but...you know)
:wtf:

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. I have the feeling that if you drive by our protest,

you wouldn't be rude to us. :)

[karlrschneider]

42. True dat. We would only be rude if you were visible Bushbots.

:D :D

[mitchum]

41. Because they are yahoos?

[pitohui]

44. gambling

the dirty secret of sports is that people are betting money and sometimes too much money on their teams

[Divernan]

45. Definitely gambling - they bet more than they could afford and LOST!

I was on a diving trip on a trimaran sailboat out of Tortola, BVI, during last year's Super Bowl. 16 of the 20 passengers were couples where the husbands were Republicans. The husbands were all into gambling on games and they had all kinds of bets/pools on the game. We were the ONLY Steeler fans, and didn't have a penny bet on the game. However, the plans were to take the Zodiacs ashore to an island dive called (I kid you not) Fat Hog Bob's to watch the game on a big screen TV. I had my Troy Polamalu Tshirt, and we had Terrible Towels to wave.

Of course we were ecstatic over the Steelers' win, but these other guys (from Indiana/St. Louis) were in foul and furious moods about the game. Not one could bring himself to say a single good word about the Steelers or congratulate us on our hometeam's win. Talking to some of the wives later, we learned all these guys lost thousands on the game - and there were some bitter words from the women about previous BIG gambling losses. One woman proudly recounted the major "gifts" she demanded from her husband to compensate for gambling losses - we're talking little things like a baby grand piano, various diamond jewelry, etc. I was thankful that none of these yahoos did any scuba diving - only us four "outsiders" got in the water. The fatcat Rs were there to get drunk and have someone sail them around.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

46. America's Civil Religion

When I was going to a Presbyterian college, my religion prof (Ph.D. from Princeton) introduced us to the concept of "Civil Religion".

He said that pro football is America's Civil Religion. How right he was.

I was exposed to this idea back in 1972!! It's very useful.

[Caoimhe]

47. I will most likely get flamed for this but...

I think American football and Nascar have contributed to the complete abandonment of basic dignity and respect in America. People turn into animals, painted from head to toe.. and raw emotions are whipped into a frenzy. People who live for this crap often feel the same way about politics, this US vs THEM no matter what bullshit. No holds barred! Dirty tricks are ok as long as you don't get caught! God is on OUR SIDE not theirs! I get so tired of it. Everything becomes a stupid competition, from getting a parking spot to buying a video game. ME ME ME! I deserve this!

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if I never saw or heard a fat, bloviating, toupe wearing announcer commenting on Football plays or race car drivers EVER EVER AGAIN.

my 2 cents

[Divernan]

48. You're right. It's like the Roman circuses for the masses.

The big thrill for NASCAR fans seems to be the constant knowledge that any second there could be a spectacular crash. And the more cars and drivers involved, the greater the thrill. What could possibly be more boring than watching cars drive round and round some track for hours on end? And
how many fans would turn up at the track if they couldn't drink there? Imagine sitting there for hours stone cold sober.

The vast majority of NASCAR fans, whether watching from the stands or their living room recliners, have such vacuous, empty lives they have nothing better to do with their limited leisure time than watch this. And the thing is that most of them are certainly young enough and potentially healthy enough to be physically and/or mentally active enough to engage in their own activities with their friends or families.

And good point about the parking spaces! This is the extent of athletic competition for a lot of frustrated drivers - mostly male! Hey, park farther away and get at least a little exercise of walking another 50 feet!

[ComerPerro]

49. even though I like football, it seems to be the dumbest sport

granted, there are certain complexities to the game. But it is incredibly easy to understand, and of all sports fans I'd have to say, on average, NFL fans are the dumbest.

[Art_from_Ark]

69. It's not just NFL fans who are dumb

I've always wondered about all those fans who battle traffic jams and the weather to make a 400-mile round trip just to watch a college football game--especially when they could have listened to it on the radio at home, and the end result would have been the same.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. No flames here

Sadly, I think you are making a great point.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

53. I really do like watching some football games

but I would rather read your post any day of the week. Great post.
:bounce:

Edited for being a stewpid speller.

[Skittles]

57. I am with ya there

I find the obsession of watching millionaires play games WAY juvenile

[proud2BlibKansan]

67. And how the salaries have changed!

I said earlier that my dad was a high school coach and he also worked as a linesman at the Chiefs home games. Many of his friends were pro athletes. The reason my dad knew them is that during the off season, they had to work other jobs because their pay as pro athletes was so low. And many of them were high school officials. So my dad knew them since they were the officials who worked the games he coached.

We were friends with their families and spent time at their houses. They lived no higher on the socio economic scale than we did. One of my dad's good friends in the 60s was Roger Maris. He lived here in the KC area and I can remember going over to his house and watching him break the home run record in 1961. He was the most famous baseball player in the US that summer and his family was no wealthier than mine.

Yes, how those salaries have changed!!

[TheWatcher]

61. I am not going to flame you, I am going to praise you

For saying what needs to be said. Great Post.

[shanti]

55. because they're drunk

yeah, it's the beer.

[Skittles]

56. THE SAINTS MARCHED OVER THE COWBOYS

hoo boy I am just digging THAT headline :D

[Mythsaje]

58. It's the testosterone poisoning

Sports fanatics--particularly of the male variety--are too hyped up on competition. Those of us who don't get it are usually less testosterone-driven.

I don't mind watching a baseball game now and again, but pretty much every other sport leaves me cold, and I'd certainly never make a spectacle of myself because of a freakin' game.

[MadHound]

62. Same reason why spousal/partner abuse cases go up by 25% everytime the home team loses

There's a certain segment of the sports watching public that are violent, abusive assholes. If they're precious team wins, then they're pleased, passive and happy. If the team loses, then they're pissed and looking to take it out on somebody else. And given that alcohol and other drugs are usually involved, well that leads to even more problems.

[Philosoraptor]

63. I just hate those types.

I'm also annoyed at those who get severely depressed when the team loses.

Brutes is what they are, I have no problem with having fun at a football game, but we all know there are a lot of assholes that go to these games to get drunk and raise hell, and every now and then somebody gets hurt.

[cboy4]

64. Those fans seem pretty mellow to me. ;) Have you ever seen Oakland

fans leave after the Raiders lose? :scared:

[Philosoraptor]

65. Somebody broke my windshield where my 2 Chiefs tickets were...

...and they put TWO MORE there.

[PVnRT]

66. Yes, it is a problem

Soccer Match Violence in France Condemned

Soccer Marred by Violence, Sparking World Cup Concerns

Racism a Widespread Problem in Football

A Red Card for the Round Ball

Soccer Violence an International Problem

I guess it's not just those damn ugly Americans after all...