Let's take the Reds as an example. 1999 was such a wonderful year to be a Reds' fan. Long winning streaks, the terrific play of some kids, a pennant race and an extra home game to decide the wild card. Not to mention that Marge Schott finally gave up controlling interest in the Reds. In the off-season the Reds added Dante Bichette and hometown hero Ken Griffey, Jr. Oh, those were high times. Season ticket sales soared and confidence in the Reds was close to an all time high. Then the season started and Jr. got off to a slow start, as did the team. It wasn't long before the optimism of Opening Day turned into, "I want my money back!" or "We don't deserve a team like this!" By the end of June, a lot of fans gave up on the Reds totally.
Do we deserve this season? Yes, we do. Just like we deserved 1999 and the year before that and the year before that. In reality, the only thing we deserve from the Reds is 81 home games and 81 road games. Nothing more. Nothing less. Does that sound harsh to Joe Fan? Perhaps, but let's look into the arguments that we as fans deserve better from our sports' teams.
The most compelling argument is that we as fans pay the freight. We buy tickets to their games, we buy their concessions, we park in their lots, and we buy their souvenirs. Why if it weren't for us, there would be no games. That's precisely my point. Instead of whining and complaining about what we deserve and at the same time buying a new hat, why not boycott the team? For every ticket we buy, for every car we park, for every jersey we buy, for every beer we drink and for every product we buy that advertises with our team, we give that team a vote of confidence. That tells them that what they are doing is all right with us. If you don't like what ownership is doing, don't tell them what they're doing is O.K. That is what has always mystified me about the Cubs' fans. Their team stinks and they keep going to games. I know Wrigley Field is a beautiful place to watch a game but all the fans do by filling that park is send Cubs' management the message to keep on keeping on. Hit the team where it hurts: in the pocketbook.
Another argument I hear is that we are loyal to our teams and support them 100% and deserve a winner as a result. Give me a break. Sure, there are some people who go to every game and cheer whatever their team does and if they flub up, they won't boo. These people are the exception rather than the rule. Have you ever booed one of the players on your favorite team? Called for someone's release? Not attended a game if you had the money and time? Not watched the games when they were on the tube? Seen your interest wane when the team is lousy? Started rooting for another team while your team sucked? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, don't cry about being a 100 percent loyal fan and you deserve a winner because of it because you aren't and you don't. I don't mean to seem like I'm holier than thou and I'm a 100% loyal fan but I've never said I was.
I've also heard some fans say that they wanted refunds on their advance tickets or on their season tickets, especially after the Neagle trade. I could see a case being made if, for example, the Reds put Neagle on their advertising and promised he'd be around all year and enticed fans to buy season tickets on that premise alone. That could be construed as false advertising but I doubt it would hold up in a court of law. Of course, that didn't happen. As a partial season ticket holder myself, I don't feel ripped off if my favorite players don't play. When someone like Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa come to town and they can't play due to injuries or something; there are fans that actually think they deserve a refund. What they deserve is a game between the home team and the visiting team. If the game isn't played, they get to use the ticket for another game. There's no promise that McGwire or Sosa will appear. Who knows, there might be something else that one would want to see; after all, home runs aren't everything. Besides, aren't these team games? It's rather silly to ask for one's money back because of a poor record. If you're going to do that why don't you go back to the box office and ask for your money back every time a guy on your team strikes out or makes an error?
A fan shouldn't take their team for granted. Back in the early 1960's, the Reds were rumored to be moving to New York City. Later on in that decade they were almost moved to San Diego. Then in the early 1980's there was talk about moving the team to New Orleans. There's no reason not to be proud of your team but don't take it for granted. At the same time hold ownership's feet to the fire. If you feel that they aren't trying to present a competitive product, make your feelings known. As far as what we deserve from our teams, we don't deserve a winner any more than we deserve anything else out of life. If I had a choice between a healthy family and a winning sports' team, I'd certainly choose my family over my team.