A Donation To The Less Passionate

[Jabara]

So you're willing to post on the Baltimore Ravens website.
That's fine, but you aren't really a passionate fan.
You care more about Madden video games and fantasy football, and you hate preseason games because to you there are no fireworks and no reason to watch a team develop.
It's not about some fantasy league or team. You either follow sports in Bmore or you don't.
Maybe the O's aren't making a run for first place, but it's interesting to watch our prospects grow, even if it is a losing season. Same goes with the Ravens. You should be interested in the young talent, the next man up and the struggle.
Some have expressed a disinterest in the 4th preseason game because the starters won't play.
Even though the Ravens have depth issues and a rather large amount of players fighting for spots on the the roster, you'd rather not watch the game with interest, because Flacco won't be throwing Boldin a TD pass.
If that situation is the only reason you watch the preseason, you are missing the point, yet you are willing to comment on threads concerning the preseason.
The Ravens currently have a battle at certain key spots on the roster such as WR, CB, RT, etc. This 4th preseason game can solidify those spots. Why is that not interesting?
How does that not represent what this game is about?
Some people think we can just push a button and get Revis, some think we should have gotten TO. That really bothers me, to assume anything can happen without understanding the way things work in the NFL, and basically real life.
The actual fans out there, that care about Baltimore and the Ravens can submit an opinion based on knowledge of the team, city and football, yet can get negatives from those that think getting Revis is not only possible, but a good idea, without realizing we'd have to pay him let alone make room for him with the good corners we have.
I recently posted that the Ravens looked really good compared to other teams in the PS, and people jumped all over it saying it's only the PS, the Lions in the recent past went 4-0 also, etc.
Are you kidding me? The Lions look just like the Ravens, right?
In fact playing the Ravens in the PS you're going to test out the exact same thing as you would with the Lions since they are basically the same team.
If you aren't from Baltimore please do us that are a favor, and limit the nonsense and the fantasy stuff and the Madden stuff, and the, well I like the Ravens but I'm a Manning fan since I only care about seeing TD's thrown , etc.
It kills me to hear people say, they like the Ravens and Bmore, but they love the Saints or would rather have Revis, and think we can just put together some fantasy team w/o knowing what goes on in the NFL.
I've lived in Bmore county and city all my life. I love the O's and Ravens, and I understand what happens in both leagues. The O's are on their way to getting better, and the Ravens, if you truly follow them as a team, are ready for whatever comes their way.
Stop the hate, enjoy everything they do, fireworks or not, it's still Ravens football. Ozzie is still watching and making moves.
Seriously, you like the Ravens, and Ravens football or you are just daydreaming.

[theFRANCHISE]

Fairly valid points, I'd say.

Regardless of people's level of passion, fact is, not everyone will always be happy. Sure, as fans who support the team financially through our viewership and purchasing of merchandise, we are entitled to our own criticisms of the team -- but, as the story of the old Colts goes, there's a point where you have to learn to appreciate what you have, before you end up mourning it long after it's gone.

That's not to say that old Baltimore Colts fans never appreciated their team. Rather, we should be wary of what I consider being overly critical, or else you'll only miss out on an entertaining product if there's ever another situation where the team moves for some unknown reason in the cover of night.

[jaege]

I assume you understand that not every fan sees these "truths" as you see them. Ask 100 people to define the "true fan" and you will get 100 very different definitions. Most of them will likely not agree with you, at least not completely. Me? I like to watch the Ravens play, and I do watch the preseason games since I like to see what the new blood has to offer, although I feel they are meaningless as a gauge to measure the team for the upcoming season. I personally have no use for Madden and I do not participate in fantasy football. That is not to say that a true fan should not enjoy one or both of those things as well. I am not a fan of baseball or any other sport beside football. But being a Ravens fan does not require that you be a fan of all Baltimore teams. Or that you cannot be a fan of another team as well.

To be honest, it is annoying to see these posts of people who want to define what it is to be a fan. Annoying and very egotistical on the part of the definer considering that Websters already did a fine job defining it:

fan    /fæn/
–noun
an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.

Synonyms
supporter, enthusiast, partisan, booster, addict.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1283426671' post='462323']
To be honest, it is annoying to see these posts of people who want to define what it is to be a fan. Annoying and very egotistical on the part of the definer considering that Websters already did a fine job defining it:
[/quote]
I don't think it's so much defining what a true fan is or what a fan has to do, I think this is just making a plea for less pessimism and over-analysis of what the team's doing in preseason. I think it's just a case where a lot of people are focusing so much on the negatives and what the team's done wrong, rather than what they've done right.

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1283431174' post='462330']
I don't think it's so much defining what a true fan is or what a fan has to do, I think this is just making a plea for less pessimism and over-analysis of what the team's doing in preseason. I think it's just a case where a lot of people are focusing so much on the negatives and what the team's done wrong, rather than what they've done right.
[/quote]

Amen, brother.

[stormie]

Just my 2 cents.

I think there are levels of fans and each of us has a different interpretation as to what a 'true fan' is. It's not something you can judge even though it seems like you can at times. [b]I did love the original post here, you have great points as do some of the people who responded.[/b]

Pre-season gets us so hyped up that we sometimes over analyze and bring up stuff or start threads that make no sense. I'm guilty of a little negativity at times. I try not to be but I have to admit it's true.

All I can say is I am VERY EXCITED to see the team tonight starters or no starters. That's our team and players trying to make the team. That there is the good stuff. Every game we play is.

[Purple Nurple]

Get up on a soap-box much?

[PuRock]

Keep coming back.

You'll get use to the different levels of fandom (sometimes) on this board. If you think it is bad now, wait until we have winning/lossing swings in the season.

I'm a die-hard Ravens fan. But I'm also a die-hard fantasy football fan. They both can exist.

You on the other hand have different priorities than other people. It's all good no matter how you slice the cake (sometimes cutting out the center and eating the icing is better).

[jaege]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1283431174' post='462330']
I don't think it's so much defining what a true fan is or what a fan has to do, I think this is just making a plea for less pessimism and over-analysis of what the team's doing in preseason. I think it's just a case where a lot of people are focusing so much on the negatives and what the team's done wrong, rather than what they've done right.
[/quote]

You make some good points, of course you always seem to make good points. In this case Jabara seems to trying to define what a fan should do or be or like, at least that is my take. His first question was "are you a passionate fan". He then goes on to describe his idea of what that is. You cannot like Madden, you must like the O's, you cannot get into fantasy football etc etc.

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='Jabara' timestamp='1283414360' post='462300']
So you're willing to post on the Baltimore Ravens website.
That's fine, but you aren't really a passionate fan.
You care more about Madden video games and fantasy football, and you hate preseason games because to you there are no fireworks and no reason to watch a team develop.
It's not about some fantasy league or team. You either follow sports in Bmore or you don't.
Maybe the O's aren't making a run for first place, but it's interesting to watch our prospects grow, even if it is a losing season. Same goes with the Ravens. You should be interested in the young talent, the next man up and the struggle.
Some have expressed a disinterest in the 4th preseason game because the starters won't play.
Even though the Ravens have depth issues and a rather large amount of players fighting for spots on the the roster, you'd rather not watch the game with interest, because Flacco won't be throwing Boldin a TD pass.
If that situation is the only reason you watch the preseason, you are missing the point, yet you are willing to comment on threads concerning the preseason.
The Ravens currently have a battle at certain key spots on the roster such as WR, CB, RT, etc. This 4th preseason game can solidify those spots. Why is that not interesting?
How does that not represent what this game is about?
Some people think we can just push a button and get Revis, some think we should have gotten TO. That really bothers me, to assume anything can happen without understanding the way things work in the NFL, and basically real life.
The actual fans out there, that care about Baltimore and the Ravens can submit an opinion based on knowledge of the team, city and football, yet can get negatives from those that think getting Revis is not only possible, but a good idea, without realizing we'd have to pay him let alone make room for him with the good corners we have.
I recently posted that the Ravens looked really good compared to other teams in the PS, and people jumped all over it saying it's only the PS, the Lions in the recent past went 4-0 also, etc.
Are you kidding me? The Lions look just like the Ravens, right?
In fact playing the Ravens in the PS you're going to test out the exact same thing as you would with the Lions since they are basically the same team.
[b]If you aren't from Baltimore [/b]please do us that are a favor, and limit the nonsense and the fantasy stuff and the Madden stuff, and the, well I like the Ravens but I'm a Manning fan since I only care about seeing TD's thrown , etc.
It kills me to hear people say, they like the Ravens and Bmore, but they love the Saints or would rather have Revis, and think we can just put together some fantasy team w/o knowing what goes on in the NFL.
I've lived in Bmore county and city all my life. I love the O's and Ravens, and I understand what happens in both leagues. The O's are on their way to getting better, and the Ravens, if you truly follow them as a team, are ready for whatever comes their way.
Stop the hate, enjoy everything they do, fireworks or not, it's still Ravens football. Ozzie is still watching and making moves.
Seriously, you like the Ravens, and Ravens football or you are just daydreaming.

[/quote]

I found the part in bold quite offensive. I've supported the Ravens since I was 5 (1997), living in Scotland. During that time I had to listen to a terrible standard of Radio to hear anything about the NFL team I loved. So, despite it being very difficult during the first couple of year, I've followed the Ravens.

I'm spending around $1600 to come across to the states and see us play the 'Phins in Baltimore then flying to Atlanta to see us take on the Falcons.

I may have misinterpreted what you said but I don't like opinions being belittled because of where somebody is from.

/Rant.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1283625289' post='464530']
You make some good points, of course you always seem to make good points. In this case Jabara seems to trying to define what a fan should do or be or like, at least that is my take. His first question was "are you a passionate fan". He then goes on to describe his idea of what that is. You cannot like Madden, you must like the O's, you cannot get into fantasy football etc etc.
[/quote]
I could see that interpretation. Perfectly understandable. Maybe I'm just trying to find some optimism in the sea of pessimism that was on this board for awhile!