Are you a true fan?

What is a true fan? That is the question I’ve been wondering for a while as I attend Hershey Bears games. I know everyone has their own comfort level, and their own enthusiasm level, so we each react differently. I also know from time to time you get people there that aren’t really Bears fans, they are just Hockey fans, and are there because it’s the closest hockey. Then you have the ones that are only there because someone gave them tickets, and they aren’t’ even hockey fans. So this isn’t towards those categories.

I am writing this about those people, who say they are Bears fans, and go to a bunch of games, and show no emotion. Since I am a season ticket holder I tend to watch people at the games. I’ve notice a bunch of people, who are at a lot of games, who just show no emotion. When the Bears come onto the ice, they don’t clap, or if they do its only once. When the starting lineup is announced they don’t clap. And the worse part of all is when they score they don’t react.

Now not everyone has to jump up and cheer, and ring their cowbell, like I do, but they should at least react. If you just sit there and stare at the ice no one knows you are into the game, and with ice hockey the more the fans are into the game the better the game is.

So what is a true fan? I feel it’s someone who at least shows some emotion towards the game. Anyone can go out and buy a jersey and say they are a fan, does that make you a fan? No I don’t feel it does. I know people who can tell you a ton of facts about the Bears, and hockey, but are they true fans? I know with me I can totally hate something and still memorize the facts about it. So that doesn’t make you a fan. So what makes you a fan, I feel it’s the emotion you show towards the game. It’s the love of the game, it’s the excitement when the game is going good, and the disappointment when the game is going bad. So are you a true fan? If so, the next Bears game, or whatever your favorite sports team is, that you are at, stand up, clap, show your excitement for the game. Trust me the players do notice, and it motivates them…

Common Sense - 12-27-09

I haven't posted a common sense blog post in a while now, and thought it was time for another one. This is based on something I've noticed while at Hershey Bears games. And that is that people don't show the proper respect for our flag, national anthem, or country.

I’ve been watching people for a while now, and I’ve noticed that usually the same people are the ones that are the problem. You have the people who don’t have respect for our national anthem by talking during it. I know at Bears games between the last two lines of the anthem that people yell “Go Bears”, or “Let’s go Bears”, or something like that. That I am ok with. But the people who just stand there and continue their conversation during the anthem need to learn some respect.

The other thing that bothers me is the people who don’t take off their hats during the anthem. I was always taught that the proper etiquetteis to do so. I used to get strange looks from my coworkers when I used to work Bears games. When they would do the anthem, I would stop what I was doing, remove my hat, and show respect until the anthem was over. Then I would resume my duties. I just felt this was right.

As for the people who don’t show respect for the flag. I see a lot of that too during the Bears games. I was always taught that you should wait until the flag is off the ice to sit down. And I do feel that that is showing respect for the flag and its carrier. Usually at the beginning of the Bears games you will see the same people stand only long enough for the anthem, clap once or twice, and hit their seat. This just isn’t respectful.

Now I understand you have those fans who have trouble standing. Those I totally understand seeing sit down right away. But when you see these young people who are in perfect heath just sit down that is disrespectful. And like I’ve said before, with being a season ticket holder, I see it all the time. And it usually is the same people every time.

It is only common sense that if you don’t show respect for our country, and the symbols of our country, that others will see you have no respect. And common sense leads me to believe that if other countries see we don’t even have respect for our country then they won’t respect us, and why should they?

So what can we do? Show the respect our country and its symbols deserve. Stand up, remove your had, and stop talking during our anthem. Stay standing until the flag is off the ice, or field, or whatever the situation. When you are out, if you see a member of our armed services, show him or her some respect too. This will go a long way, and will show how we truly feel about our country. And maybe this will stop the attacks on our country and bring us together again….