Support shrinking in the wake of poor Panthers preseason

[raleigh-panther]

So when we spend money we are more "invested" in the team than if we go to our living room each Sunday and watch win or lose? I just don't get that. Personally I am sick of folks who start their statement by saying something to the effect of ..."I have been a PSL holder for ....blah, blah ...and I am not driving back to see another .....blah, blah .... I am not a PSL holder but would love to be in a financial position to purchase a couple. However, I have been just as invested in this team since day 1. Investing money and driving down from wherever doesn't make you more or less of a "fan" than someone who watches each game from their home.

Half of the fun of rooting for a team is to be able to vent and get pissed off when things are not going well. How a person handles their displeasure is also up to them. But to jump off the Band Wagon and jump back on the Band Wagon is annoying to see. For Fowler to write this article about some random guy pouting and taking is ball and going home does not impress me at all. Scott, how about interviewing people who are not Band Wagon Jumpers and are sticking by the team through the rough times.

I meant no disrespect to you, nor am I saying that the PSL way was the best way to build the stadium or that because I saved and bought PSLs that I'm some how a better fan than you or anyone else. I'm not.

What I am saying, however, is that it is quite a different level of investment to purchase the initial outlay for PSLs and then more investment to buy tickets every year and then even more investment to buy playoff tickets which cost even more and are not part of 'the package'.

To that end, yes, there is quite a difference in being financially invested in a team and not being financially invested. Weigh the cost of a montly cable bill against the cost of the PSL + tickets + travel + food + vacation time plus plus plus; particularly in these economic times.

...so yes, there is a difference between committed and invested.

All most PSL holders ask for, in return for all that investment, is a team to be proud of, a team that is passionate, that plays with heart, that looks like a professional team. I believe this gentleman has simply made the decision, that under John Fox, that's not going to happen anymore. His opinion.

For his 12 year investment, no, I don't fault him, and no, I don't consider him a 'fair' weather fan.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Can you point out some of Fowler's fine work that might change our opinions of him? Or is it easier to attack people who criticize your idol?

I don't follow sports writers. I did read the article in the paper today and noticed that it's under the column IN MY OPINION. My point is this, WHO CARES what a meaningless writer has to say about our team? Stop getting so damn butt hurt when someone talks about our team in a bad light. All that matters is if we win. If you want Homerific Writing, I suggest you start your own blog because it can't be found safely anywhere other than a fan page.

[francois.nc]

7 hours each way from Columbus OH? i think not. it's almost 7 hours each way from southeastern VA.

I go to Columbus several times a year, it is about 7.5 hours for us, we are on the east side, in Mint Hill.

[Cyberjag]

I don't follow sports writers. I did read the article in the paper today and noticed that it's under the column IN MY OPINION. My point is this, WHO CARES what a meaningless writer has to say about our team? Stop getting so damn butt hurt when someone talks about our team in a bad light. All that matters is if we win. If you want Homerific Writing, I suggest you start your own blog because it can't be found safely anywhere other than a fan page.

To get this straight, someone points out that a sports writer is a douche, you criticize him for doing so and suggest he start his own blog, then I ask you for evidence that the sports writer is not a douch, and you criticize me and suggest I start my own blog.

You just want people to start blogs, don't you?

[Gman was right]

Great! We went from having 3 panther fans at the stadium to only 2

[grateflday]

I read that article this morning in the paper......... can anybody say "bandwagon".

Give me a break. A supposed fan is not going to the home opener because the team was bad in the preseason??

How about this guy is not going to the game because he wanted the $$$ he could get from selling them to an Eagles fan. I say good riddance to this fan, we dont need ya.

[saladdodger]

Seriously to call this person a fair weather fan is retarded. The time, money, and miles this guy has invested, including a 1-15 season, is something only a truly dedicated person does. He's not complaining that the Panthers went 0-4 in the preseason. He's upset with a lack of heart, a lack of urgency, and a lack of execution. He's upset with the team for basically gutting our cap space to hold on to a guy who claimed he didn't want to be here. In his mind, the good of the team came first, and the good of the team has been tanked. Now that's a hardcore fan opinion.

He's not the only one. I remember from the first day of camp reports here, I think it was Zod that mentioned that camp didn't have that same sense of urgency or sense of mission. And I don't know what games you've been watching if you haven't seen the sleepwalking through plays, the mis-execution, and the lack of heart outside of J Leman.

If the Panthers had gone 0-4 last preseason, I wouldn't have been worried, because they showed spirit, execution, and looked comfortable executing the offensive and defensive system. This year? If they somehow went 4-0, I'd still be concerned due to injuries, unsharp play, and in the case of the defense, bad fundamentals and the appearance of not yet "getting" the new defensive scheme. "Its the preseason!!!lolwtf1". Fine. "Injuryes!!!1lmao." Sure. I don't think the sky is falling, but fact is I haven't seen much reason to think the Eagles game won't just be preseason week 5. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

So here's a 63 year old guy that is frustrated. Not that his team is bad, but that his team still hasn't shown that it's trying to play it's best football. He sounds to me like the kind of guy that takes a bad loss personally and dwells on it for days. Hell, it probably gives him health problems. He probably just doesn't want to drive an 8-hour round trip to make himself sick over the fact that he cares more than a lot of Panthers are showing right now.

But yeah, I guess that means he isn't truly a "fan". Genius.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

But yeah, I guess that means he isn't truly a "fan". Genius.

He gave up. Therefore, he isn't.

[MadHatter]

You turn you back on your team, whether in good or bad times....then you are no fan.

[saladdodger]

He gave up. Therefore, he isn't.

Actually, he's not. He's just not going to go to games while he feels he would be giving more than some members of the team.

People around here should hold the team accountable half as much as they do fans.

[Cape Fear Cat]

I took my 12 year-old nephew to the Steelers preseason game. He's a Pittsburgh fan (go figure) and it was his first live NFL game. He saw a steady stream of people leaving by the third quarter, when we were still stinking it up after the half. He asked me why I didn't leave, too (trying to rub it in, I think, that his team was beating mine). I told him to pay close attention, because I was about to impart to him the family rules of fandom:

"One," I said, "ANY day spent in an NFL stadium is a good day, no matter what the score ends up being at the end whistle (remember the long dry off season?). Two, a fan stays in the stands as long as his team is on the field with any hope of winning. Three, being a fan is a lot like marriage is supposed to be - When you first become a team's fan, like the girl you marry, they might be the prettiest thing around. But if you love 'em, you still stick by them when they start sagging and hitting the rough patches that inevitably come. Being a fan means being there through thick and thin." I choose to believe my Cats are gonna play like the contenders I believe they are. Maybe I'm a homer, but I'm okay with that, too.

[Darth Biscuit]

I took my 12 year-old nephew to the Steelers preseason game. He's a Pittsburgh fan (go figure) and it was his first live NFL game. He saw a steady stream of people leaving by the third quarter, when we were still stinking it up after the half. He asked me why I didn't leave, too (trying to rub it in, I think, that his team was beating mine). I told him to pay close attention, because I was about to impart to him the family rules of fandom:

"One," I said, "ANY day spent in an NFL stadium is a good day, no matter what the score ends up being at the end whistle (remember the long dry off season?). Two, a fan stays in the stands as long as his team is on the field with any hope of winning. Three, being a fan is a lot like marriage is supposed to be - When you first become a team's fan, like the girl you marry, they might be the prettiest thing around. But if you love 'em, you still stick by them when they start sagging and hitting the rough patches that inevitably come. Being a fan means being there through thick and thin." I choose to believe my Cats are gonna play like the contenders I believe they are. Maybe I'm a homer, but I'm okay with that, too.

I hope your nephew doesn't tell your wife this particular part of your story.

[dpanthersman]

this guy sounds like my ex roommate. we have been friends for a couple years he was a big panthers fan also, about 6 months ago he asked to move in with me cause him n his gf broke up.

a day or two after the steelers game he came home wearing a tony romo jersey saying he was gone start pulling for the cowboys...long story short. i now live alone. i HATE bandwagon fans

[Sam Mills Fan]

Wow that was one stupid article. I want to punch that old guy in the face.