Being a fan should be fun

[Illini88228]

This game is going to be fun. I know…I know “They’re 1-4, almost out of the playoff race in October, etc.” I realized something today: dedicating my time to something that makes me unhappy is stupid.


So, I had to decide whether or not I enjoy being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys—I definitely do. But I haven’t enjoyed it lately. I’ve got so into criticizing this and that part of the team—or all of it—that I’ve let a few stupid losses rob me of the joy of being a fan.


It’s football season. The game’s on tv here, so I don’t have to mess with internet feeds or sports bars. I’m blessed enough to have free time and extra cash to dedicate to this interest. So, there’s no reason why this season shouldn’t be fun. Football is still the best game ever devised, and the Dallas Cowboys are still God and I’s team. So come Hell or high water, I’ve decided to make this season fun.


I’m not trying to create a Believe thread for 2010, just thought I’d share my thought-process a little on getting back to the spirit of being a fan. All of the people who spend so much time complaining about this and that and wanting to gut the team don’t seem like they’re having any fun. Maybe I’m oversimplifying the issue, but it seems to me like if you scream and cry every week maybe you ought to take up golf on Sunday afternoon instead of watching football. And deep down you probably realize you’re overreacting just as much as the people who cry Super Bowl after every win.


Being a fan that sticks with their team is fun. The ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, it’s a sweet ride. So, kick back and enjoy some football—it’s October, heart of Cowboys football, and you’ll be wishing you had these weeks back in June when you’re trying to pretend like you give a crap about the Mavericks.


I don’t know if this applies to anyone else, but if it helps somebody else enjoy this season then I think it was worth it.

 

[tomson75]

I don't know if I'd say it's been fun lately....but I like this post, and I wish more fans could adopt this perspective.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Agree.

It sucks that we've lost four of five games this year. No doubt.

But it's 2.5 hours to kickoff, and I've been looking forward to it all day. Maybe we'll put together a good game tonight and win.

You know what would really suck? No NFL football. And that's what we're looking at next year.

So I'm going to enjoy each game this year no matter how much people act like we're in the worst situation on Earth.

 

[JustDezIt]

powerful post. let's get it.

 

[Tricericon]

almost out of the playoff race in October

Not in this farcical conference. We have a good team - we just have to win with it.

"You know what would really suck? No NFL football. And that's what we're looking at next year."

100% agreed.

 

[davidb257]

I'm not sure about everyone else, but I'm a fan of the Cowboys because I enjoy watching them play.

I like watching the Cowboys play football in a losing effort a 1000 times more than watching Brady vs Manning go at it in a shootout.

Being a fan is fun.

 

[Illini88228]

Not in this farcical conference. We have a good team - we just have to win with it.

"You know what would really suck? No NFL football. And that's what we're looking at next year."

100% agreed.

Oh I agree. I was just trying to anticipate what some of the "realists" would post in response. It ain't over 'til it's over. :giants:

 

[Stautner]

It's ALWAYS fun, even when we are losing or I'm complaining. The analyzing, and second guessing is all part of the fun. There is nothing wrong with being an armchair QB as long as you don't take the role too seriously and begin to think your opinions are infallible or you don't let it affect your job and family. Lsoing is part of sport just like winning, and the ride is the fun. Sure it's more fun when the ride is going up more than down, and more fun still if it actually takes you to the top, but the rollercoaster has to be enjoyed from start to finish.

 

[windward]

Agree.

It sucks that we've lost four of five games this year. No doubt.

But it's 2.5 hours to kickoff, and I've been looking forward to it all day. Maybe we'll put together a good game tonight and win.

You know what would really suck? No NFL football. And that's what we're looking at next year.

So I'm going to enjoy each game this year no matter how much people act like we're in the worst situation on Earth.

Ditto. Even from 2000-2002 I was excited to watch the Cowboys every week ( although in those days I spent most of my time watching the NFL Gamecenter on NFL.com)

No NFL would suck.

I wasn't around in 1982, but missing those seven weeks of football must of been killer.

 

[Hostile]

ost:

 

[Stautner]

Ditto. Even from 2000-2002 I was excited to watch the Cowboys every week ( although in those days I spent most of my time watching the NFL Gamecenter on NFL.com)

No NFL would suck.

I wasn't around in 1982, but missing those seven weeks of football must of been killer.

2000-2002 was rough. 1989 was rough. I was still glued to the TV every week, hoping for the best, but the level of enthusiasm was clearly lower.

But that's prt of being a fan, and every fan should realize that things change. If you love the sport and love the team, you hang in there.

 

[Vintage]

Just root for little things when your team sucks. I always root for Miles and Dez to break the 100 yard mark. Same with Felix. I root for a Ware sack or three.

And if we happen to win the game along the way, all the more better.

 

[Illini88228]

I like watching the Cowboys play football in a losing effort a 1000 times more than watching Brady vs Manning go at it in a shootout.

I wish I'd included this in the original post because it's absolutely true.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I don’t think being a fan has to always be fun. What i think it should be is entertaining. Even in losing it can be entertaining. I think when you get to a point where the Cowboys winning or losing means nothing to you, it’s probably over for you as a fan, well at least for this season. I am slowing shifting from a mindset of “Super Bowl bound” to “train wreck bound”. Both can be pretty entertaining.

I don’t know if the Cowboys will win tonight. But what i do know is they will gain a ton of yards offensively but will have costly turnovers. Give up only a few yards defensively with no turnovers caused and with a few blown coverages sprinkled in. Kicker will miss an important field goal late in the game. Special teams will give up the momentum at some point. Shots of Jerry concerned will be shown to the world.

Next week we get a thousand playoff scenarios, win or lose.

 

[peplaw06]

I approve of this thread.

Seriously though, being a fan through thick and thin makes the titles all the more meaningful. I was a pre-teen when I first saw the Cowboys win a Super Bowl, then 15 for the last one. I really had no perspective on how difficult it was to do. Now 15 years later, I realize that it's exceedingly rare. You can bet the next one will be so much more meaningful to me.

 

[windward]

2000-2002 was rough. 1989 was rough. I was still glued to the TV every week, hoping for the best, but the level of enthusiasm was clearly lower.

But that's prt of being a fan, and every fan should realize that things change. If you love the sport and love the team, you hang in there.

1989.

That was the first year I watched the NFL every week. I was 6.

I remember waking up every morning at 6am, hoping against hope that the Cowboys would find a way to win that weekend. Of course, I was disappointed 15 times out of 16.

21 years later, I'm addicted as ever.

 

[utrunner07]

Good post.

I think we win tonight. Win tonight and they are very not dead . Win next week and there may be signs of life. Then we go into GB in the third week and there the put up or go home test really begins. If, IF we can come through the next three 3-0, we are at 4-4 and I think we will be a legitamite contender. Not only that this team will have the confidence and hopefuly swagger, along with the UNDERSTANDING, which is key, that they need. So anyway, Ive been down on this team all year and I don't know what it is but the past two days I am starting to get the feeling they are going to turn it around. Maybe it is from the other Arlington Sports team, maybe it is wishful thinking, maybe its just some neuron degeneration, who knows...but I think we have a chance...got to win tonight. It will be a fun game. Lose and the season is over though, for real this time, I think. Expectations are lower for this team, but as of now still hoping.

 

[Illini88228]

I don’t think being a fan has to always be fun. What i think it should be is entertaining. Even in losing it can be entertaining. I think when you get to a point where the Cowboys winning or losing means nothing to you, it’s probably over for you as a fan, well at least for this season. I am slowing shifting from a mindset of “Super Bowl bound” to “train wreck bound”. Both can be pretty entertaining.

I don’t know if the Cowboys will win tonight. But what i do know is they will gain a ton of yards offensively but will have costly turnovers. Give up only a few yards defensively with no turnovers caused and with a few blown coverages sprinkled in. Kicker will miss an important field goal late in the game. Special teams will give up the momentum at some point. Shots of Jerry concerned will be shown to the world.

Next week we get a thousand playoff scenarios, win or lose.

I guess I don't look at it the same way. To me, every game that I get to watch the Cowboys play is fun. I think part of it is because I became a truly obsessive fan during the Campo years. The Cowboys have always been my team, but I was really only old enough to really dig into the intricacies of the game in 2001 or so. And, being out of state, there were a lot of games that I didn't always get to see, so any time I actually got to watch the team it was a good thing.

Of course I care whether they win or lose, and of course wins are more fun than losses, but the point is that the experience of being a fan is fun for me. And, I think it's a mistake to let a few losses completely rob the experience of being a fan of all its joy.

 

[bsheeern]

ost:

X 10 to the 3rd power plus 2

 

[SacredStar]

Nice post Illini.....that's what being a fan is all about. Sometimes we make it more complicated than it really is.

Let's have some fun. :starspin