Cubs fans are what’s wrong with Arizona sports
I’m not quite sure what city I live in. Last time I checked it’s 110 degrees outside without any humidity so it must not be Chicago.
I wish I could tell that by going to Chase Field this week, listening to the radio or reading the local newspapers.
The Diamondbacks three game series versus the Cubs today, Tuesday and Wednesday, as usual, will be a prime example of what is wrong with Arizona sports.
This is a touchy subject for me because I’m marrying a Chicago native and a fan of the lovable losers. She is one of the many Valley transplants that remain loyal to their home town team when they come to Phoenix, but are Diamondbacks fans when the Cubs are back at the friendly confines.
That, right there, is the biggest problem in Arizona sports. There is a core group of diehards that love the teams, and then a contingent of fans that will root for the home team as long as it doesn’t violate a previously established bond.
I was asked by a fellow writer whether I would change my team allegiance if I were to move to a different city. My answer is no. No matter where I am, I will be a fan of the teams I grew up with. That is why I don’t expect the Cubs fans to change their allegiance, even when the Cubs aren’t playing in Phoenix.
If you are a Cubs fan, stay a Cubs fan. Don’t bother going out to Chase or claiming you are an Arizona fan when you aren’t. That goes for Boston, New York and any other city a person may come from. Either be 100% Arizona sports fan or don’t bother at all.
If Arizona ever hopes to have a sports culture like some of the cities listed above, kids are going to have to grow up loving the local teams. The fan base can’t be divided in their allegiance.
As for the current Arizona fans, it’s time to stand up and defend your home fields. There is no excuse for everyone of the home teams venues to be infiltrated every season by the likes of Lakers fans, Cubs fans, Cowboys fans and Red Wings fans. It’s gotten so bad that the Cardinals have had to create a ticket purchasing gimmick to deter Cowboys fans from filling the University of Phoenix Stadium this season.
If the true Arizona sports fan wants to be taken seriously it needs to show it exists. The true fan needs to stand up and be heard. The true fan needs to drown out the opposition and it needs to do so during the regular season rather than just the post season.
Then, and only then, will things change and the focus move away from the opposing fan and clubs and be placed on the local teams.
Join the discussion at The Locker Room Forum. Arizona Sports 24/7.
Posted by Greg Esposito
Co-founder of AzSportsHub.com. Greg provides the sometimes serious, sometimes sarcastic and always interesting takes on Arizona sports (at least we hope). Whether it’s on In The Zona with Matt or in his column Greg reports, rants and raves about whatever is in the news for Arizona Sports.
http://www.azsportshub.com/author/espo
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I’m afraid it’s going to take a while to change the climate for AZ Sports. I myself am a transplant from NY and still love the Mets and Giants. We didn’t have the D-Backs or Cardinals when I got here. I am a D-Backs fan and try hard to be a Cards fan but that’s hard to do. I think the Cards need to change their image to make them AZ’s team, like the Coyotes did. The stigma that the Cards are still the St. Louis Cardinals is still out there. The mascot and the uniform needs to change to actually make them our own. The Suns, D-Backs and even the Coyotes even though they are not an expantion team with their new name and mascott are easily identified as AZ teams. The Cardinals aren’t! It would also help if the Cardinals would put a better product on the field. 8-8 is not what fans want to see. I’ve defended them left and right stating they should have been 12-4 last season but should haves aren’t W’s.