Musings from a Bleacher Creature
Mark Hanoian
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: Sports
New England fans' expectations are not realistic. With the Sox, Patriots, and Celtics winning a combined six championships in less than a decade, it is understandable their fans demand a lot from their teams. However, I am sick and tired of hearing Patriot fans whine about the team's prospects during the dark days after Brady's injury. I can not recall ever hearing fans claim a 5-3 record is unacceptable. Are you kidding me? I dread the day when the Bruins become a legitimate contender. This is why I take pleasure in not being a New England sports fan. Yes, I am a Red Sox fan, but that is all. In fact, the only other professional sports team I follow is the Carolina Panthers. This provides me a very interesting perspective on sports.
Unlike the Sox, the Panthers do not receive any media from the national press. Sadly, I have yet to watch a game in its entirety this year. CBS and Fox are generous enough to give me a glimpse of my boys once in a while. These stations must believe they are doing me a favor, when they state they will air in-progress games after the nationally televised game ends. However, just as my hopes flourish for a matter of seconds, all I get to see is Jake Delhomme take a few knees to end the game. I must say his form is impeccable.
I always moderate my expectations with the Panthers. In 2001, Carolina taught me not only could losing be bearable, but it could be humorous as well. After starting the year with a win against Minnesota, the Panthers lost 15 consecutive games to finish the season. It was futility at its finest. I will always remember the figure of Heisman winner Chris Weinke taking the field before every drive. I know players do not always come across as the most intelligent beings, a la Eli Manning, but Weinke looked completely lost without any semblance of an idea of what to do with his offense. Adding to the comedic value of these moments were the reactions of Carolina's drunken faithful, who found humor in the name "Weinke" and made the most obvious innuendos for entertainment. George Seifert certainly didn't ease the confusion. He roamed the sidelines with a perpetual look that just screamed, "I can not wait until I'm fired, so I can get out of this city." That's the thing. Charlotte just is not a sports town-unless you consider NASCAR to be a sport. Most Panthers' fans take solace in the fact that the Daytona 500 would only be two months away after the last game of the season.
Unlike the Sox, the Panthers do not receive any media from the national press. Sadly, I have yet to watch a game in its entirety this year. CBS and Fox are generous enough to give me a glimpse of my boys once in a while. These stations must believe they are doing me a favor, when they state they will air in-progress games after the nationally televised game ends. However, just as my hopes flourish for a matter of seconds, all I get to see is Jake Delhomme take a few knees to end the game. I must say his form is impeccable.
I always moderate my expectations with the Panthers. In 2001, Carolina taught me not only could losing be bearable, but it could be humorous as well. After starting the year with a win against Minnesota, the Panthers lost 15 consecutive games to finish the season. It was futility at its finest. I will always remember the figure of Heisman winner Chris Weinke taking the field before every drive. I know players do not always come across as the most intelligent beings, a la Eli Manning, but Weinke looked completely lost without any semblance of an idea of what to do with his offense. Adding to the comedic value of these moments were the reactions of Carolina's drunken faithful, who found humor in the name "Weinke" and made the most obvious innuendos for entertainment. George Seifert certainly didn't ease the confusion. He roamed the sidelines with a perpetual look that just screamed, "I can not wait until I'm fired, so I can get out of this city." That's the thing. Charlotte just is not a sports town-unless you consider NASCAR to be a sport. Most Panthers' fans take solace in the fact that the Daytona 500 would only be two months away after the last game of the season.
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