What ever happened to optimism in fans?

[cobra]

What ever happened to optimism in fans?

There is a never-ending deluge of posts here trying to identify problems with the team, coaches, and players. It really appears that we are looking for things to be critical about.

Now, I don't care for ridiculous homerism. The Commanders fans who think they are going to the Super Bowl every year are absurd.

But optimism seems to me to be a requirement of being a fan. It can be guarded optimism ("this is going to be rough, but I'm sure hoping we are as good as I think we can be"). But there has to be optimism---certainly before the season even starts.

Life is hard. It can be a grind. We are in a constant struggle with stress, competition, obligations, and lack of time. People get worn down unless there are outlets.

Sports are a release. Being a fan is about enjoying cheering for something.

None of us are employed by this team. None of us are invested in this team. Being a fan is purely optional. And if you are not excited about the team or at least hopeful for the best, why would you be a fan? It makes no sense. No rational person cheers for a bad ending or a car wreck. We cheer for the hope of success.

So where is the optimism? What is with the never-ending, pathetic, and obnoxious constant hand-wringing over every single thing about this team?

In a perfect world, I'd change things about this team. But I enjoy watching them and cheering for them. I am hopeful that everything comes together and this is our season to cross that hurdle. I am eager and excited about our potential.

Again, I am not calling for extreme homerism. But there is an enormous difference between extreme homerism and the extreme pessimism we see here daily.

This is a call to stop it. Stop worrying about this team. Focus on the things to be excited about and get excited about this season. We have the potential to be good. So quit running everything into the ground and look at what we have to be thankful for as we enter the season that gives a chance to be the winner.

 

[sureletsrace]

It's part of the Dallas Cowboys. We are spoiled fans. 99% of Cowboys fans take the team for granted.

 

[CATCH17]

Im optimistic.

If this team stays healthy we will be dangerous all year.

We have a very tough 2nd half to our schedule so we'll see what happens.




What I don't get is all the Romo hate. It makes me wonder if the people posting this were actually paying any attention the previous 7 years.

If they were here with the Quincy/Hutchers. Or if they stuck through the tooth pulling year with Vinny.

You know where I was? Watching every single game and posting about it here on thecowboys.net/thezone.

We are so fortunate to have that guy.

 

[adbutcher]

Great post.

 

[Doomsday101]

My expectation is very high for this team and look forward to the season.

 

[RS12]

13 years no playoff wins.

 

[BBQ101]

What ever happened to optimism in fans?

I consider myself an optimist, but I can see the other side too. This team hasn't won a playoff game if a LONG time. We have choked the season away a NUMBER of times, including how many times just last season? The last time we came out on the field in a make or break fashion, we lost the game by more than 5 touchdowns.

I understand your point, but every coin has two sides. Personally I am extremely excited about this year. If we can stay relatively healthy, I think we got a shot at going the whole way. However, like I said above, this team has given plenty of reasons for the fans to be pessimistic that last 10+ years.


BBQ

 

[WoodysGirl]

It's part of the Dallas Cowboys. We are spoiled fans. 99% of Cowboys fans take the team for granted.

Such a tired excuse. If you're spoiled, then throw the moldy bread out and get a fresh loaf. That's what the 'boys have done. This is not the same roster that field the majority of those losing seasons.

This team has a chance to do some good things. At this point, that's all you can ask of Jerry & Co. This isn't like in the past where you're rooting for Quincy et al and knew they had no chance. Each year is different and this team has some very good players on the roster that I think are worthy of having more fan optimism than pessimism.

13 years no playoff wins.

And winning only one playoff game make you happy?

 

[sonnyboy]

What ever happened to optimism in fans?

There is a never-ending deluge of posts here trying to identify problems with the team, coaches, and players. It really appears that we are looking for things to be critical about.

Now, I don't care for ridiculous homerism. The Commanders fans who think they are going to the Super Bowl every year are absurd.

But optimism seems to me to be a requirement of being a fan. It can be guarded optimism ("this is going to be rough, but I'm sure hoping we are as good as I think we can be"). But there has to be optimism---certainly before the season even starts.

Life is hard. It can be a grind. We are in a constant struggle with stress, competition, obligations, and lack of time. People get worn down unless there are outlets.

Sports are a release. Being a fan is about enjoying cheering for something.

None of us are employed by this team. None of us are invested in this team. Being a fan is purely optional. And if you are not excited about the team or at least hopeful for the best, why would you be a fan? It makes no sense. No rational person cheers for a bad ending or a car wreck. We cheer for the hope of success.

So where is the optimism? What is with the never-ending, pathetic, and obnoxious constant hand-wringing over every single thing about this team?

In a perfect world, I'd change things about this team. But I enjoy watching them and cheering for them. I am hopeful that everything comes together and this is our season to cross that hurdle. I am eager and excited about our potential.

Again, I am not calling for extreme homerism. But there is an enormous difference between extreme homerism and the extreme pessimism we see here daily.

This is a call to stop it. Stop worrying about this team. Focus on the things to be excited about and get excited about this season. We have the potential to be good. So quit running everything into the ground and look at what we have to be thankful for as we enter the season that gives a chance to be the winner.

I 2nd your call to stop.

Keeping your guard up won't help you if the team fails. You're either a fan or you're not. And if you're a fan you're going to hurt just the same if they do fail regardless of your guarded optimism.

I'm a realist. Many of my posts scream homer, but I'm not. I'm an optimist and that comes off as a homer at times.

But I know when a team has the goods and this one does. We have true star players at key positions on this team. The kind of guys that make a difference and win games.

The roster as a whole has no significant weaknesses.

My suggestion to those who have doubts would be to do some real homework on the competition.

Take the best 5 teams as you see it and go see what the local media and fans are saying. See if they have holes or question marks. I think you'll feel a lot better about our chances.

 

[tomson75]

bbgun keeps all of the homers and lemmings in a well in his basement...

 

[Doomsday]

I am optimistic, but I am also weary as I have gotten sucked into the Jerry Jones hype machine a few too many times.

I really think we have a good team, but I dont wanna get too carried away too early in the season.

 

[Doomsday101]

I am optimistic, but I am also weary as I have gotten sucked into the Jerry Jones hype machine a few too many times.

I really think we have a good team, but I dont wanna get too carried away too early in the season.

Come on, don't put a toe in the water jump on in. :laugh2:

 

[CIWhitefish]

I too am optimistic every year including this one. I think it's a personality thing. Some people can only have 'fun' being negative. I myself can't enjoy something unless I find the positives. Dallas is like all other 31 teams this year, they have a chance. That's all you can ever ask for each year and why sports are great!

 

[ZeroClub]

The unlucky ending of the Seattle playoff game.
The loss to the Giants in the playoff game.
The final 65 minutes of game clock from last season.

These were very disappointing events, particularly those last two.

It isn't surprising that the wind has been taken out of some fans' sails.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

What ever happened to optimism in fans?

There is a never-ending deluge of posts here trying to identify problems with the team, coaches, and players. It really appears that we are looking for things to be critical about.

Now, I don't care for ridiculous homerism. The Commanders fans who think they are going to the Super Bowl every year are absurd.

But optimism seems to me to be a requirement of being a fan. It can be guarded optimism ("this is going to be rough, but I'm sure hoping we are as good as I think we can be"). But there has to be optimism---certainly before the season even starts.

Life is hard. It can be a grind. We are in a constant struggle with stress, competition, obligations, and lack of time. People get worn down unless there are outlets.

Sports are a release. Being a fan is about enjoying cheering for something.

None of us are employed by this team. None of us are invested in this team. Being a fan is purely optional. And if you are not excited about the team or at least hopeful for the best, why would you be a fan? It makes no sense. No rational person cheers for a bad ending or a car wreck. We cheer for the hope of success.

So where is the optimism? What is with the never-ending, pathetic, and obnoxious constant hand-wringing over every single thing about this team?

In a perfect world, I'd change things about this team. But I enjoy watching them and cheering for them. I am hopeful that everything comes together and this is our season to cross that hurdle. I am eager and excited about our potential.

Again, I am not calling for extreme homerism. But there is an enormous difference between extreme homerism and the extreme pessimism we see here daily.

This is a call to stop it. Stop worrying about this team. Focus on the things to be excited about and get excited about this season. We have the potential to be good. So quit running everything into the ground and look at what we have to be thankful for as we enter the season that gives a chance to be the winner.

The Ravens and Eagles took it away.

 

[poke]

i think its because everybody wants to pretend like they are smarter
and more perceptive than anybody else.
they think if they point out a potential weakness, then when it arises
they can thump their chest and say " see how smart i am " .
they have quit being "fans" and started trying to become the equivalent
of hardcore sports investigators.

if thats their pleasure then more power to them.
i will continue thinking that every time my team takes the field they will win.
i will be wrong several times a year.
i will do it again next year and the year after that..........

as my old daddy always said..."it takes all kinds" and "it would be a boring
world if we all thought alike ".

 

[sonnyboy]

The unlucky ending of the Seattle playoff game.
The loss to the Giants in the playoff game.
The final 65 minutes of game clock from last season.

These were very disappointing events, particularly those last two.

It isn't surprising that the wind has been taken out of some fans' sails.

I'm not making excuses, because the goal is a SB. None of us will settle for less.

With that said, you have to admit to yourself a few things. Those seasons you made reference to we're pretty exciting.

How'd you like to be a raiders or lions fan the past 3 years.

Nothing takes the wind out of your sails more than losing every fricken week and having no hope to compete with next weeks opponent.

Been there, done that. I'll take late season heart break over 5 wins and no hope.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

i think its because everybody wants to pretend like they are smarter
and more perceptive than anybody else.
they think if they point out a potential weakness, then when it arises
they can thump their chest and say " see how smart i am " .
they have quit being "fans" and started trying to become the equivalent
of hardcore sports investigators.

Exactly. To some people, the more negative you are, the cooler you are.

I think we can all pick out those people. There's a well-known group of them around here.

 

[kmp77]

Not everyone on here is Charlie Brown. After years of no playoffs and seasons like the "13-3"....you start questioning if Lucy will pull the ball away on the next try instead of just blindly running for another try. All we've done since the 95 superbowl is miss the playoffs and whiff in the playoffs. Until this team proves they can do otherwise, alot of people on this board will be cautious and not overrate this team. If we didn't win it all when we went 13-3, I don't see how you can just assume we will win it all this year when we haven't taken a huge step forward. But I do hope we do have the talent and all we needed was experience and a few years to mature. We'll see. The last few years have ripped my heart out so I'm personally cautious on how much I get my hopes up. I'm sure many others on the board are the same way and many of other other posters just rag on them for being negative nancies.

 

[CIWhitefish]

i think its because everybody wants to pretend like they are smarter
and more perceptive than anybody else.
they think if they point out a potential weakness, then when it arises
they can thump their chest and say " see how smart i am " .
they have quit being "fans" and started trying to become the equivalent
of hardcore sports investigators.

if thats their pleasure then more power to them.
i will continue thinking that every time my team takes the field they will win.
i will be wrong several times a year.
i will do it again next year and the year after that..........

as my old daddy always said..."it takes all kinds" and "it would be a boring
world if we all thought alike ".

Preach on....