Great Expectations

[Dudeman]

After 3 weeks of this season I am having trouble understanding some of my fellow fans. I just don't understand how the over-all tone of the forums can do a complete 180 from week to week based mostly off a win or a loss.

It's not like I became a fan yesterday either. I try not to flood this place with posts because I'd rather add something more meaningful when I do get a chance to post. But I have been around long enough to see the completely bi-polar comments that get thrown around here.

My major beef is pretty simple. Why on earth do we seem to root against our own players?

I saw a post earlier that if Foxworth covered Andre Johnson that Andre would set nfl records.

Now I am not going to sit here and say that I think Foxworth is the best corner in the NFL, or even the best on our team. But wouldn't you at least hold out a little hope that he could get the job done? Wouldn't it be amazing if he did cover him, and cover him well? Don't you think that it's counter productive to someone's self-esteem to sit there and CONSTANTLY bash and badger them? What if Jimmy Smith had trouble covering him, should we just throw in the towel and call him a bust as well?

I would hate to have to go to work under those kinds of conditions.

Everyone was so quick to call Torrey Smith a bust too, and now the kid is probably the most picked up player in fantasy football this week.

All I am saying is that it is ok to have great expectations for the team, but that we shouldn't get so down on them (and ourselves) when the team doesn't live up to them. It's also easy to forget that players are people too, and their philanthropy ends up being secondary to their individual performances on the field and we shouldn't be so quick to forget that. Lastly, would you be so quick to judge them if that was your son, brother, or father out there on the football field?

[lowrider]

I mean I understand where your coming from. I'm getting tired of some of the threads where it is becoming a petty fight over nothing. Most of the times it is when people refuse to admit when they are wrong.

Ex.

The Flacco supporters blame the WR's around him too much, and the offensive line. And when Flacco has a bad game, they (and myself included) try to overlook that it is Flacco's fault.

The Flacco haters (or critics whatever you want to call yourselves) are too critical of Flacco and won't give him respect when he does have a great game.

My main point is what are we trying to do as a fanbase here. Being critical but responsibly discussing our team is the goal of this message board. Saying Torrey Smith is a bust for 2 preseason games is nonsense, for the same reason saying he is the next Mike Wallace after one good game is nonsense. I like to think the Ravens fanbase is a little better than other teams (partially because I'm biased), but when we fight over stupid stuff and forget that we are trying to support our team and be as reasonable as possible; then it just because annoying. Especially when our team is as talented as they are.

[Npane171]

An admirable post; however, we are spectators and we do reserve the right as those being entertained to be upset at the entertainers when they do no perform as they should (for whatever reason). Now, should our "negative emotions" lead us to go over-board with the whining and complaining? No, certainly not. We should do so with some maturity. Yet being a spectator is very selfish. We spectate primarily for our own enjoyment. The same principle applies during a movie. I'm sorry but if I pay 12 dollars for a movie that is absolutely abhorrent then you will most definitely hear me complaining as we're walking out of the theater (much like many others). Hardly ever do you hear something like: "Hey guys, lets not be too hard on Tom Cruise...he is trying is best. Next movie is going to be great, you just wait and see". More like: "Tom has lost his edge. Man, I remember the days when he flew the Jet in Top Gun....sure isn't that same now." The same applies to Foxworth and any other athlete who also happens to be an entertainer. As sad as it may be, we spectators are very selfish. We want the win, the celebration, the beer, the grill, the breeze with sunshine, the hot cheerleaders, TD's and forced fumbles by our D , a stadium full of fellow spectators igniting good conversations during the break...and most of all we want a SuperBowl. We expect our team - in every one of its departments to prepare for this since it is we, the spectators, giving the organization the money to do such things in the first place. Yet, there should be a mutual respect and love for the athlete since he puts him self at risk to entertain (amongst other things). I think there just need to be a healthy balance. Too many people go overboard with their complaints and/or praise.

[Twistidfunk]

I agree with the original poster but I try to keep this in mind...

Its a message board with people from all ages, walks of life, and personalities. There are 3 hot button issues in this life - Politics, Religion, and Football (and most sports, but we all know Football is teh best!)

You learn pretty quick which people to ignore and which topics to ignore.

You can't change faceless people. There are no consequences for people's comments here other than a mod warning.

I read some really good stuff here and I enjoy it. I don't offer a whole lot compared to others but a lot of what I have to say is already said.

[cursona pirate]

Yes its annoying but we have to just ignore it really. There is always going to be someone who will complain. This is a message board were everyone has discussions and opinions so it's not breaking the rules or anything.[img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/minioiseau1.gif[/img] even though it would be better if we all supported them instead of hating them.

[Natty Boh]

A lot of it can be perception.

Some folks may take asking a simple question about a player, team, or coach as bashing them. While others may see this as merely an analytical question. Some people do bash players based on a few mistakes made while others give too much praise to players. It doesn't bother me because you need to have a little bit of both to make it interesting.

[Dudeman]

Great points all around guys.

@Lowrider I couldn't agree more. They say that intelligent conversation is a revelation and I am always down for that. By the way I love your avatar.

@Npane17 I burst out laughing when I saw your Tom Cruise anecdote. That's a very good way to drive your point home. I agree that a healthy balance of expectations are needed or we risk not seeing the big picture when it comes to football. I also feel that "good football" should be something all fans root for more often. But I also don't mind when we win in a landslide either. I guess I am trying to say that as long as I see great effort from the Ravens then I am ok with a loss. By the way, I love your avatar too.

@et all, It's definitely more annoying than anything to read all the negative comments after a loss, and then to see them totally evaporate after we win. Also more to the point I still just don't understand why it seems to me that some "Ravens Fans" want to see players fail. Isn't that really the opposite of what a fan should be?

I saw a little video posted in Late for Work that shows some of our players doing some charity for PLay 60. Again, I can't help but feel like it's wrong that their philanthropy is secondary to their play on the field. Our players haven't had any off the field drama for a long time (other than David Reed, but I feel that was a victimless crime.) Shouldn't they be praised and rewarded more for the things they do in our community, and not just what they do on the field? Don't we think Ray Lewis is one of the greats not just because he has top 50 talent, but because he has a top 50 heart?

[Ravens Beast]

We have been really hot and cold lately and I don't think anyone is reacting well to that.

[mgridda]

Great Novel and a good OP, too.

Such is the way of the knee jerk reactionary. I think some people brush off their accounts and start posting after a few week long hiatuses and use this board to vent. So the same people who praise after a win might not be the same who criticize after a loss. The optimists usually have less warrant to push their brilliant perspective of the world after a big loss, and the pessimists usually have less warrant to push their grim perspective of the world after a win. So, after the Titans game all the pessimists really felt justified in making their point and all of the optimists did not. The opposite happened this week.

So, that is my input: different people come on and post different things after different results. And it's all dealing with their neurochemistry. Unfortunately, a poll asking people if they're generally optimistic or generally pessimistic (or pragmatists) in their life isn't on topic and so we can't really get a number or inventory on it.

[True]

NFL is only 16 games compared to the 80+ of the other major sports like the NBA/NHL/MLB. The games have much more meaning because it's one game per a week compared to 3+ a week for the other sports.

You live week by week and the team is only good as it's last performance. The reactions are a lot stronger. After game the Ravens are world beaters and the other times they're going to draft in the top 5. Overall though when you look back at the season when it's over you'll say despite the fact that they didn't win the Super Bowl it was still a good season as long as they had a winning record. Then you head into next season and do it all over again. It's the nature of the game.

[Dudeman]

@[url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/user/34963-mgridda/"][color=#42205d]mgridda[/color][/url]- I couldn't, and obviously didn't say it better myself. I guess you would label me eternally optimistic, even in the face of the sky falling down. But I do think I am realistic enough to temper my tendency for optimism. I also understand that people basically need to vent, but I wish that some would use more discretion when they do so.

@True- That is so true that in the NFL they play a whole lot less games. I think all said and done there are possibly 12-13 home games(w/pre and post season) and each of those is precious. I also think that the MLB should revert back to playing less games as they did in the classic days of Babe Ruth.