My Theory On Why Ravens Fans Take Losing So Hard

[scrock]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]This is my theory on why some Ravens fans do not deal with losing very well at all, especially lately.[/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Since Joe Flacco came into town and took us all by surprise, set all kinds of league records all we've been doing around here is winning. Last year we went 12-4 and from the threads and posts on the forums at the time you'd think we were much much worse. [/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]My theory is, we all have grown accustomed to winning so much that when we do lose it's a shock to the system. It's like we go through shock....[/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]First we're all in shock and denial, 2ndly we feel pain..then we are angry and trying to explain to every little detail why we lost, how we could have won, how plays could have been called better, etc[/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Then we are just DEPRESSED!!!! Ohhh it hits me for at least two days, I reflect on the game of what could have been....and I'm usually alone because I don't want to hear anyone else laugh it up [/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Then the TURN starts....you're over your grieving, you've laid to rest that loss because there is something on the arisen, another game, its time to get back to work, we break down the other team, we get guys back, they are coming to our house, we start to accept what happened and have hope for the future[/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]......so that's my theory on why some fans take it to such extremes after a loss, blaming the world, blaming anyone so they can feel vindicated[/font][/size]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]little story, I was at the game on Sunday vs Bengals on Baltimore's first drive they didn't go 3 and out I don't think but when they did get off the field this guy in our section started booing...well another man said STOP BOOING!! Other guy said WHY?? Other guy said Because WE are the RAVENS and WE are a FAMILY[/font][/size]

[scrock]

you guys should read that, i feel that sums up what it feels like for sports fans.....some are more extreme than others though, some *cough*areravensfansonthisboard*cough*

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1322042556' post='882271']

[b][size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Then we are just DEPRESSED!!!! Ohhh it hits me for at least two days, I reflect on the game of what could have been....and I'm usually alone because I don't want to hear anyone else laugh it up [/font][/size][/b]

[size=5][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Then the TURN starts....you're over your grieving, you've laid to rest that loss because there is something on the arisen, another game, its time to get back to work, we break down the other team, we get guys back, they are coming to our house, we start to accept what happened and have hope for the future[/font][/size]
[/quote]

Happens to me everytime

[Purple Nurple]

What's with the fancy font? It's almost impossible to read on a phone. Keep it real!

Ps. Good theory.

[scrock]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' timestamp='1322052046' post='882290']
What's with the fancy font? It's almost impossible to read on a phone. Keep it real!

Ps. Good theory. [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/wink.png[/img]
[/quote]


haha sorry , i felt like changing it up a bit..these normal fonts are boring

[MsMarvel73]

My theory as to why we take losing so hard can be summed up in one word:

expectations.


We all get so excited with the off-season acquisitions and we lift the guys up so high and say 'they'll do this and this and this and we're going all the way this season' and then, when something happens that doesn't fall in line with the expectations and the hype, some of us [size=2](note I didn't say all of us) [/size]fall apart and want to trade and fire almost everyone in sight.

[ravensdfan]

My theory:

Because the Steelers' fans are just soooooooooo obnoxious (with a couple of exceptions). Only way to shut them up is to finish better than them. As evidenced by our sweep of them this season, even that fails to work sometimes!

[PuRock]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1322052671' post='882296']
[b]My theory as to why we take losing so hard can be summed up in one word:[/b]

[b]expectations.[/b]


We all get so excited with the off-season acquisitions and we lift the guys up so high and say 'they'll do this and this and this and we're going all the way this season' and then, when something happens that doesn't fall in line with the expectations and the hype, some of us [size=2](note I didn't say all of us) [/size]fall apart and want to trade and fire almost everyone in sight.
[/quote]

Now that's a damn good theory and one I support as well. Expectations not just in sports but in life. Whenever you set expectations and those expectations are not met, the results are harder to swallow.

Scrock's thoery, in essence, can be broken down to 'expectations' as well.

Our fans take a loss the same as any other team with high expectations. Its one thing to lose to the Packers, its another thing to lose the Seahawks when you deem yourself SB contenders.

[CapoRocky]

I suggest that we win all of the rest of our games this season and we won't need to worry.

[Twistidfunk]

All true.

Disappointment is a tough thing to swallow especially with high expectations. Those expectations exist because we know we have a great team and they are capable of beating anyone.

Hangovers don't help either....

[redrum52]

No, they take losing so hard this season cause those were all games we should have won. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Our team was better than their team... AND WE LET EM OFF THE HOOK! But there is some truth to what you say. Before Harbaugh came the team was inconsistent whether coaching or injury. It was one good year followed by an off year. Now we have become accustomed to winning and that makes the taste of defeat that much more sour.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PARavensgirl' timestamp='1322052671' post='882296']
My theory as to why we take losing so hard can be summed up in one word:

expectations.

We all get so excited with the off-season acquisitions and we lift the guys up so high and say 'they'll do this and this and this and we're going all the way this season' and then, when something happens that doesn't fall in line with the expectations and the hype, some of us [size=2](note I didn't say all of us) [/size]fall apart and want to trade and fire almost everyone in sight.
[/quote]

You hit the nail on the head.

I think it's been even worse this season with how last season ended and the hectic off-season.

[grape drank]

well when you read some of the posts on here you can tell a lot of Ravens fans are well educated successful people who probably have very high standards of themselves and everything they associate themselves with. Also when you look at our roster...it's star studded theres no excuse to lose to bottom of the barrel teams like Seattle and Jacksonville, and then dumby the steelers at home in week 1 then pull a last minute victory out against them in the 2nd meeting.

[BloodRaven]

I think some people just read into the little things too much, in-fighting isn't always an expression of hatred sometimes it's an expression of passion, some of the closest families I know fight each other all the time and I like to think that's what we are.

[Dfence4champs2052]

Well I don't deny anything you said my friend. I think the simplest explanation lies in the way we lost, NOT the fact that we lost per se. The way we lost was so embarrassing and deflating, especially in primetime. It's like we lost the fight without swinging at all. That's frustrating and is what drives me crazy. If we were clicking and had things going and lost a close game or just got beat by a better (during that game) team I could deal. But to flop like helpless beached whales disgusted me (I won't venture to speak for everyone). Your bottom line is right though....Joe and Co. spoiled us with winning and remember 13-3 a season before the 5-11 season and so on.....so we have very high expectations.

Bottomline is great post...I just stated my perspective.

[Dfence4champs2052]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1322062295' post='882397']
No, they take losing so hard this season cause those were all games we should have won. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Our team was better than their team...[b] AND WE LET EM OFF THE HOOK![/b] But there is some truth to what you say. Before Harbaugh came the team was inconsistent whether coaching or injury. It was one good year followed by an off year. Now we have become accustomed to winning and that makes the taste of defeat that much more sour.
[/quote]

LOL, I see what you did there........#DennyGreen. Nice.

[Dfence4champs2052]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1322064687' post='882438']
I think some people just read into the little things too much, in-fighting isn't always an expression of hatred sometimes it's an expression of passion, some of the closest families I know fight each other all the time and I like to think that's what we are.
[/quote]

Very well said. Couldn't agree with you more. I also think we, as fans and ticketholders, should hold the team and organization responsible. When they don't deliver they should hear about it then fix it.

[Dfence4champs2052]

[quote name='Twistidfunk' timestamp='1322062235' post='882394']
All true.

Disappointment is a tough thing to swallow especially with high expectations. Those expectations exist because we know we have a great team and they are capable of beating anyone.

[b]Hangovers don't help either....[/b]
[/quote]

LMAO.....and God help those of us that have to tolerate Squeelers fans. Whether we play them or not they rejoice in every one of our losses and vice versa....as it should be.

[Blex64]

Comic Sans...................

[Natty Boh]

I know fans can take losing hard but it's not limited to just Ravens fans.

NFL fans are the same all over the country. Every city has its' share of delusional fans, fair weather fans, bandwagon fans, and "true" fans. Anything you say about any fan of any team is not unique.

Some Ravens fans complain about Joe Flacco and other aspects of the team. But you know what? I have no doubt there are fans that will complain about Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. It's all a matter of perspective. Fans are fans and will do what they do.

[ball hawkin 20]

nah its just because i don't like losing to crap teams. If we lost to the 49ers i'd completely understand and get over it pretty fast.

[VCsam]

It hurts because we seen what this team can do then we get upset because they show what they can't do.

[Gordo52]

Im just a Die hard fan. Forever and always

[usmccharles]

It depends. for example....if we go into pittsburg and lose...i hate it, but in honesty i expect because pittsburg is a great team and i always expect the home team to win in our games against them. What i cant handle is losing to teams that we should easily beat , ie jags, seahawks.

[ryanpatt28]

i take it hard because with the talent we have we should never lose

[CalvinSmoke]

We take losing so hard because we ball so hard!!

[Jerseyraven52205527]

Because losing sucks & our coaches have been losing the games for us.
Please don't disappoint me tomorrow. Lets show the rest of the NFL that we are real contenders

[zythen]

I try to keep my expectations reasonable in life as well as football... and in general I am happy with my team just making the playoffs I consider that a successful year regardless of what we are "projected" to do.

[mrwideout]

I think maybe the losses this year have been extra hard, because we have proven that we can just about lose to anybody. And any theory that was made about overlooking opponents can be thrown in the trash, because this happened 3 times. The last one I even predicted. In the 3 years past under Harbaugh we only once lost to a sub .500 team. And when the schedule came out, us facing a NFC west and the Peytonless AFC south, and on top of that destroying Pittsburgh in our opener. The stars seemed to be aligned for a year of the Ravens dominating the league. If we had won even 1 of those games. We would have an inside track to 1st seed in the AFC, even with a loss to the 9ers this week. We came so close to tasting what`s like to be the top team. It`s not over yet, but the Ravens like making things interesting I guess.

[PeRK82]

Gotta disagree, its the Way We Lose that makes us, FANS, so mad. Heck we should be 9-1 right now. The Titans were the better team that day, but the rest of the loss were hard to take and now we have to win out to get a bye.

I dont know about anyone else but im kinda sick of having to go on the road in the Play offs and if we get a wild card, honestly i will be pissed because it be from the losses to the Jags and Seahawks and we should have the number 1 seed instead.