Looks like the terrorists won...

[Subby]

ESPN Boston launched today.

http://espn.go.com/boston/index

One of the top headlines: Brady baby: QB confirms Bundchen pregnancy

THANK YOU INTERNETZ!

[SirFozzie]

heeheh. I love all the comments from the Boston haters "So ABC is getting rid of ESPN.COM because ESPNBoston.Com is redundant due to ESPN's love for all things Boston"

[Fidatelo]

What a craptacular idea. Also hate that the fucking site just started blaring video and audio while I sit at my desk. Fuck.

[jeff061]

I thought it was an ok idea until I saw it had the same eye gouging frustrating layout. No thanks.

They did hire Mike Reiss away from the globe unfortunately, I'll continue reading his blog.

[Maple Leafs]

So how many cities have this now?

This has to have local sports departments shaking in their boots.

[DaddyTorgo]

anyone know what the number i can call is to get my account code so that i can get my insider access even though my magazine hasn't arrived yet?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

This has to have local sports departments shaking in their boots.

I seriously doubt that.

[jeff061]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I seriously doubt that.

Yes, the layout is just beyond horrible. I don't know who would go there voluntarily over other true local sites.

[SirFozzie]

Presented without comment:

Schaap Reflects On Boston Decade - ESPN Video - ESPN

[Abe Sargent]

What the hell?

[DaddyTorgo]

i have a feeling this site will be good for cringe-worthy fun when i get home...

[Karlifornia]

It's good thing that ESPN did this. Boston is pretty much a world away from ESPN's hub of....Bristol, Connecticut!?!

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Just so everyone knows, ESPNChicago was actually the first of their local sites. ESPNDallas is opening soon (next week?) and ESPNLA and ESPNNY are starting early next year.

[Abe Sargent]

Is it just me, or is Boston, like a few other cities, a place that really needs to get over itself. (Another example would be Ann Arbor).

[DaddyTorgo]

yeah. so no need to rag on Boston. Shit...no need to rag on any of these cities. not like we ASKED for it.

[Passacaglia]

Weird, espn.go.com/grandrapids/index doesn't seem to work.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Is it just me, or is Boston, like a few other cities, a place that really needs to get over itself. (Another example would be Ann Arbor).

It's most certainly you.

[molson]

I'm not going to lie to you people, I'm going to use this site.

I'm surprised they haven't done this for every major city years ago. Boston's the perfect city for it, since Boston fans generally are very provincial (huge disparity between tv ratings for local sports v. national sports). I'm getting more like that myself, having less and less time in my life to follow sports. A lot of times I just skim for stuff on my teams anyway - this makes that easy.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Is it just me, or is Boston, like a few other cities, a place that really needs to get over itself. (Another example would be Ann Arbor).

So Boston and Ann Arbor should do what, care about their teams less? Is that your criticisim, I don't quite follow you.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Is it just me, or is Boston, like a few other cities, a place that really needs to get over itself. (Another example would be Ann Arbor).

bite me.

it's not like we asked for this or we're trumpeting our horn about this. ESPN decided they could make a buck or two by launching sites for major metropolitan areas. it was their decision, based purely on $$.

[molson]

I'm facinating by that subtle editing choice and the thought behind it DT.

[Passacaglia]

Word. Expecially since he won't edit his own signature.

[molson]

It looks like Boston is the 5th market they've done this for.

[dervack]

I haven't gotten my magazine yet, but was able to get into insider. Try this link and put in your info as you did when you subscribed. When I did mine, it found my info.

ESPN Insider Renew to ESPN The Magazine and Insider

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by molson

I'm facinating by that subtle editing choice and the thought behind it DT.

i just felt the intial 4 letter word was a bit harsh. bite me seems a bit less...angry

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Word. Expecially since he won't edit his own signature.

LOL - well played sir!

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by molson

So Boston and Ann Arbor should do what, care about their teams less? Is that your criticisim, I don't quite follow you.

Ill jump in here lol

Its fine to care about your teams, im die-hard about my mizzou tigers and my arizona state sun devils(and my manchester united red devils, but thats another story ). No one complains that boston people are passionate about their teams, its their high and mighty attitude about their teams and they way they look at other cities and their teams.Now there are certainly exceptions, and it may be a small vocal minority giving this impression, but my encounters with Boston fans(along with a few others, like New York) just aren't the same as with most others teams fans. Elitist comes to mind, and most people I know agree with me on that one. Again, I also know some really cool down to earth Boston fans, and the others give them a bad name. But I think Abe is in the majority, not the minority. No one doubts your passion, its just the way you go about showing it that comes across poorly in my eyes.

I have no problems with this site, and think every major city should get one. Its a great idea to reach out to the individual communities and Boston(along with Chicago, LA, and NY) are logical first choices to test it out.

[Noop]

Well that's nice for them.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by dervack

I haven't gotten my magazine yet, but was able to get into insider. Try this link and put in your info as you did when you subscribed. When I did mine, it found my info.

ESPN Insider Renew to ESPN The Magazine and Insider

oh fuck me. it says "OR" before your account number...not "AND"

*hits self in head*

thanks.

hmm - well my subscription hasn't been processed yet apparently.

[panerd]

I thought they already had this... Sports Guy's World

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Ill jump in here lol

Its fine to care about your teams, im die-hard about my mizzou tigers and my arizona state sun devils(and my manchester united red devils, but thats another story ). No one complains that boston people are passionate about their teams, its their high and mighty attitude about their teams and they way they look at other cities and their teams.Now there are certainly exceptions, and it may be a small vocal minority giving this impression, but my encounters with Boston fans(along with a few others, like New York) just aren't the same as with most others teams fans. Elitist comes to mind, and most people I know agree with me on that one. Again, I also know some really cool down to earth Boston fans, and the others give them a bad name. But I think Abe is in the majority, not the minority. No one doubts your passion, its just the way you go about showing it that comes across poorly in my eyes.

I have no problems with this site, and think every major city should get one. Its a great idea to reach out to the individual communities and Boston(along with Chicago, LA, and NY) are logical first choices to test it out.

I really think it's his erroneous and unnecessary paranthetical statement that got everyone up in arms.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Its fine to care about your teams, im die-hard about my mizzou tigers and my arizona state sun devils(and my manchester united red devils, but thats another story ). No one complains that boston people are passionate about their teams, its their high and mighty attitude about their teams and they way they look at other cities and their teams.Now there are certainly exceptions, and it may be a small vocal minority giving this impression, but my encounters with Boston fans(along with a few others, like New York) just aren't the same as with most others teams fans. Elitist comes to mind, and most people I know agree with me on that one. Again, I also know some really cool down to earth Boston fans, and the others give them a bad name. But I think Abe is in the majority, not the minority. No one doubts your passion, its just the way you go about showing it that comes across poorly in my eyes.

Using your logic, since the most prominent Mizzou fan I know is an utter douchebag, you are all utter douchebags.

[Noop]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

oh fuck me. it says "OR" before your account number...not "AND"

*hits self in head*

thanks.

hmm - well my subscription hasn't been processed yet apparently.

You might want to add a no homo or a *pause* after that DT.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Using your logic, since the most prominent Mizzou fan I know is an utter douchebag, you are all utter douchebags.

Like I said, the majority of Boston fans ive come across act like that. I know some who dont, and I really like them, but the majority have acted poorly. If the majority of Mizzou fans act like that in your eyes, then yes, that logic should apply. But I wasnt referring to one bad apple in my logic. And I made sure to say that it may just be a small vocal minority giving the rest a bad rap.

I think the actions of the majority of any fan base should be representative of the fan base(I hate nebraska and their football program, but their fans are just too damn polite and nice to hate them as well)

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Of course, we should all be held accountable for other people's actions. This is a stupid conversation, I'm not sure why I get drawn into it.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Ill jump in here lol

Its fine to care about your teams, im die-hard about my mizzou tigers and my arizona state sun devils(and my manchester united red devils, but thats another story ). No one complains that boston people are passionate about their teams, its their high and mighty attitude about their teams and they way they look at other cities and their teams.Now there are certainly exceptions, and it may be a small vocal minority giving this impression, but my encounters with Boston fans(along with a few others, like New York) just aren't the same as with most others teams fans. Elitist comes to mind, and most people I know agree with me on that one. Again, I also know some really cool down to earth Boston fans, and the others give them a bad name. But I think Abe is in the majority, not the minority. No one doubts your passion, its just the way you go about showing it that comes across poorly in my eyes.

I have no problems with this site, and think every major city should get one. Its a great idea to reach out to the individual communities and Boston(along with Chicago, LA, and NY) are logical first choices to test it out.

I think its really just a question of volume.

Have you ever noticed that the fanbases that are considered "jerk" fanbases are really, really large? Larger means more jerks. On top of that, there's Boston transplants all over the country because there's a crapload of colleges there, yet no jobs or affordable housing. I can understand how its very annoying to go to an Oakland A's game as a fan and see thousands of Red Sox fans there (many of them Boston transplants, who are all over the bay area). They get loud, they cheer for their team, their team wins (at least the last few years), and suddenly, they're "asshole" fans in a way that fans of the Royals, Tigers, Rangers aren't, just because those teams' fans don't travel, and don't relocate all over the country. If there were 10,000 Royals fans at every Royals road game - I guarantee you that that fanbase would soon earn a "jerk" reputation - because there will be some jerks in the 10,000

And of course, the real dynamic is winning - now I'm an asshole for being a Red Sox fan, but in the 90s, when I cared about sports much more, and was much more obnoxious, I wasn't. The winning really has brought out more bitterness and resentment. The hatred is really bizarre, and it comes out everywhere - even a thread about a stupid ESPN website.

And of course, winning creates volumes and more opportunities to be a jerk. If the Arizona Cardinals and Diamondbacks and Phoenix suns won a bunch of championships in the next few years, they're be a lot more Arizona fans, and all of their fans would be a lot more visibile. The jerks of the crowd would be far more noticeable then they are now. I mean, where would I have access to an Arizona jerk fan? They wouldn't be relevant, or out there, or visible, until they have success.

I assure you that there's plenty of University of Idaho Vandals jerk fans. Yet you wouldn't know about it, because you've probably never met one.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by molson

I think its really just a question of volume.

Have you ever noticed that the fanbases that are considered "jerk" fanbases are really, really large? Larger means more jerks. On top of that, there's Boston transplants all over the country because there's a crapload of colleges there, yet no jobs or affordable housing. I can understand how its very annoying to go to an Oakland A's game as a fan and see thousands of Red Sox fans there (many of them Boston transplants, who are all over the bay area). They get loud, they cheer for their team, their team wins (at least the last few years), and suddenly, they're "asshole" fans in a way that fans of the Royals, Tigers, Rangers aren't, just because those teams' fans don't travel, and don't relocate all over the country. If there were 10,000 Royals fans at every Royals road game - I guarantee you that that fanbase would soon earn a "jerk" reputation - because there will be some jerks in the 10,000.

And of course, the real dynamic is winning - now I'm an asshole for being a Red Sox fan, but in the 90s, when I cared about sports much more, and was much more obnoxious, I wasn't. The winning really has brought out more bitterness and resentment.

I assure you that there's plenty of University of Idaho Vandals jerk fans. Yet you wouldn't know about it, because you've probably never met one.

I absolutely agree that the large fan base, and the migration they have undertaken, are large factors in that opinion. But on your second point, im not sure I agree as much. There are different ways to handle winning, and that is where my impressions have come from. There are quite a few teams out there that win and win consistently, but don't have that rap(at least in my eyes). In regards to the patriots, I think everyone still has a bit of a grudge about the whole video-taping scandal, and how that might or might not of affected their winning ways. In baseball the complaints I usually hear are the extremely high payroll compared to other clubs(in my mind, with no salary cap in place, if you can spend the money then good for you). Like I said, the people I have come across may have been the bad apples of the lot. It just seems that you can win, and winning consistently should help you in this, without just tearing down opposing fan bases.Boston fans have a lot to be happy about recently, their teams are universally doing pretty well, and I wish them nothing but luck. I was merely passing along that my experiences haven't been the best with them, win or lose. Disparity on pro leagues makes it hard to really remain a contender for long periods of time, so the Patriots deserve tons of credit for doing what they have done.

[Sublime 2]

Originally Posted by molson

I think its really just a question of volume.

Have you ever noticed that the fanbases that are considered "jerk" fanbases are really, really large? Larger means more jerks. On top of that, there's Boston transplants all over the country because there's a crapload of colleges there, yet no jobs or affordable housing. I can understand how its very annoying to go to an Oakland A's game as a fan and see thousands of Red Sox fans there (many of them Boston transplants, who are all over the bay area). They get loud, they cheer for their team, their team wins (at least the last few years), and suddenly, they're "asshole" fans in a way that fans of the Royals, Tigers, Rangers aren't, just because those teams' fans don't travel, and don't relocate all over the country. If there were 10,000 Royals fans at every Royals road game - I guarantee you that that fanbase would soon earn a "jerk" reputation - because there will be some jerks in the 10,000

And of course, the real dynamic is winning - now I'm an asshole for being a Red Sox fan, but in the 90s, when I cared about sports much more, and was much more obnoxious, I wasn't. The winning really has brought out more bitterness and resentment. The hatred is really bizarre, and it comes out everywhere - even a thread about a stupid ESPN website.

And of course, winning creates volumes and more opportunities to be a jerk. If the Arizona Cardinals and Diamondbacks and Phoenix suns won a bunch of championships in the next few years, they're be a lot more Arizona fans, and all of their fans would be a lot more visibile. The jerks of the crowd would be far more noticeable then they are now. I mean, where would I have access to an Arizona jerk fan? They wouldn't be relevant, or out there, or visible, until they have success.

I assure you that there's plenty of University of Idaho Vandals jerk fans. Yet you wouldn't know about it, because you've probably never met one.

I think that hits the nail on the head...

- Fellow Boston 'Asshole' Fan

[Pumpy Tudors]

I just want to add that Royals fans, Bucks fans, Predators fans, and Pirates fan are the biggest assholes on the planet.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

In regards to the patriots, I think everyone still has a bit of a grudge about the whole video-taping scandal, and how that might or might not of affected their winning ways. In baseball the complaints I usually hear are the extremely high payroll compared to other clubs(in my mind, with no salary cap in place, if you can spend the money then good for you)

Boston fans aren't responsible for either of those things. And yet we get yelled at for this all the time.

I was at the World Series in Denver a few years ago - people were complaining to me about payrolls on the shuttle bus there and at the game. What the hell do they want me to do? I've been rooting for the team since the minimum salary was about $60,000. Should I switch teams now that the Red Sox can spend lots of money?

That singular experience was pretty hostile - more hostile than going into Yankee Stadium as a Red Sox fan. I don't believe that all Denver fans are assholes though, but a bunch definitely were, and that's definitely what I'll remember about them, so I can understand how people make that error attributing that visibility to an entire group (it's no different, though of course much more mild and harmless, then any other kind of generalization tricks that your mind plays on you)

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by molson

Boston fans aren't responsible for either of those things. And yet we get yelled at for this all the time.

I was at the World Series in Denver a few years ago - people were complaining to me about payrolls on the shuttle bus there and at the game. What the hell do they want me to do? I've been rooting for the team since the minimum salary was about $60,000. Should I switch teams now that the Red Sox can spend lots of money?

Like I said, I dont have a problem with either one, I was merely explaining the complaints I often hear about the clubs

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I just want to add that Royals fans, Bucks fans, Predators fans, and Pirates fan are the biggest assholes on the planet.

+1

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I just want to add that Royals fans, Bucks fans, Predators fans, and Pirates fan are the biggest assholes on the planet.

Good use of the singular

[Blade6119]

Im a fan of Manchester United, who spend money out the ass and win titles consistently. They steal top youth players from smaller clubs, attract the best players, and get the most publicity. Its really a rather direct comparison to the Red Sox, so I can understand where the fans come from. And there are many Man U fans who gives the group bad reps because of the way they act towards their rivals and smaller Premier League clubs. I dont like it, but its the way it is.

I think other clubs, in my eyes one such example was the Nebraska Cornhuskers, have just handled winning better then other clubs. They may not be as elite now, but they were for a long time, and despite being a rival of theirs, I always respected the way they handled winning. I hope any team who does well does it with class, and Boston winning right now just makes them a visible target, as my comments were meant about a few cities. Boston just happened to be the one the conversation centered around.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

No one complains that boston people are passionate about their teams, its their high and mighty attitude about their teams and they way they look at other cities and their teams.Now there are certainly exceptions, and it may be a small vocal minority giving this impression, but my encounters with Boston fans(along with a few others, like New York) just aren't the same as with most others teams fans. Elitist comes to mind, and most people I know agree with me on that one. Again, I also know some really cool down to earth Boston fans, and the others give them a bad name. But I think Abe is in the majority, not the minority. No one doubts your passion, its just the way you go about showing it that comes across poorly in my eyes.

Please go see the whole "Shitzburgh" thread. Every time somebody wins, everybody else complains about their fans. So STFU about it already, okay?

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Please go see the whole "Shitzburgh" thread. Every time somebody wins, everybody else complains about their fans. So STFU about it already, okay?

I will give everyone this, the Boston fans responded in a thoughtful and intelligent manor. The guy from North Carolina was the dismissive asshole. I didn't start the argument, and I didnt come in here just to attack a singular fan base. I came in to this thread, as I do with most threads at FOFC, to have an intelligent discussion. If you would like to join me in that goal, id be happy to discuss anything you would like.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

I will give everyone this, the Boston fans responded in a thoughtful and intelligent manor. The guy from North Carolina was the dismissive asshole. I didn't start the argument, and I didnt come in here just to attack a singular fan base. I came in to this thread, as I do with most threads at FOFC, to have an intelligent discussion. If you would like to join me in that goal, id be happy to discuss anything you would like.

Every couple of months, someone starts bashing Boston sports fans as the worst on the planet, ripping on them as a group for being full of jerks and stuck-ups and every other bad name you can think of. Boston fans try to point out that every fanbase has its assholes, and the others won't listen to it.

Then in between there are two or three threads pointing out how bad ( insert recently successful team )'s fans are, validating our point. It was just Friday and over the weekend in the NFL thread that the whole Pittsburgh thing came up.

I'm tired of the cycle. Give it a rest. Every team has its bad fans, the worst ones come out of the woodwork when a team is successful, and Boston has had a recently successful run so the worst ones are out plus people love to kick the folks on top. I'm tired of being insulted just because I was born in Massachusetts and have rooted for the Patriots for as long as I knew they existed.

[SirFozzie]

I think a lot of it is that.. well.. the age of heterogeneous fanbases is pretty much over. Before, if you were a Boston fan, it was because you lived in the area, or used to live in the area (a lot of Boston fans moved to Florida/Arizona to retire for example.)

Now, in the days of MLB Extra Innings, DirecTV, 24 hour sports networks all over the place, it's a lot easier to front-run.

One of the other things is that with all the messageboards, there's a lot more interaction between what I call Asshole Fans. (for example, any ESPN.COM comment section)

This is not just related to sports, god help us all if you go to politico, or any politics story that has a comment form out there. The creme de la crap becomes prominent. (I hope this links, but the Penny Arcade comic really sums it all up nicely)



The problem you start mistaking the illusion (the assholes and idiots),for the reality (the 80-95% of normal fans)

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Every couple of months, someone starts bashing Boston sports fans as the worst on the planet, ripping on them as a group for being full of jerks and stuck-ups and every other bad name you can think of. Boston fans try to point out that every fanbase has its assholes, and the others won't listen to it.

Then in between there are two or three threads pointing out how bad ( insert recently successful team )'s fans are, validating our point. It was just Friday and over the weekend in the NFL thread that the whole Pittsburgh thing came up.

I'm tired of the cycle. Give it a rest. Every team has its bad fans, the worst ones come out of the woodwork when a team is successful, and Boston has had a recently successful run so the worst ones are out plus people love to kick the folks on top. I'm tired of being insulted just because I was born in Massachusetts and have rooted for the Patriots for as long as I knew they existed.

First of all, your trying to make your early points on the exact same points myself and other boston fans have already agreed upon. So try reading the discussion before you jump in and rehash arguments in a negative manor. We all already agreed every city/team has its asshole fans, winning bring them out of the woodworks, and the volume of boston fans both in number and spread out nationally makes it more evident. And like I originally said, and they agreed upon, it is likely the vocal minority giving the vast majority a bad rap.

Im sick of being insulted for being a Manchester United fan, we get a bad rap, but its because they win and they do have a lot of jerk fans spread out all around the globe. Does it suck being berated for winning and other fans acting poorly? Sure...can I change their actions? Not one bit. Sorry you dont like your team being ragged on, but it comes with the territory. But if you want to change that perception, when people come along and comment or question your fan base's attitude, telling them to stfu and go away isn't the best way. If anything it makes those beliefs more concrete. Your fellow Boston fans here did the right thing and handled criticism with class and discussed their own viewpoints on the matter in an intelligent manor, and I respect that. For your own sake, so people stop making you feel insulted for where you were born, lets both try to follow their example going forward.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Im a fan of Manchester United, who spend money out the ass and win titles consistently. They steal top youth players from smaller clubs, attract the best players, and get the most publicity. Its really a rather direct comparison to the Red Sox, so I can understand where the fans come from. And there are many Man U fans who gives the group bad reps because of the way they act towards their rivals and smaller Premier League clubs. I dont like it, but its the way it is.

Net transfer spending since the Glazer takeover in June 2005:

Man Utd: £6.25m
Arsenal: -£27.87m
Chelsea: £97.5m
Liverpool: £88.35m
Man City: £232.45m
Spurs: £132m

The outspending everyone else ended years ago but they keep on winning titles.

I consider the whole stealing youth players thing a noble protest of the FA's ridiculous 90 minutes rule.