Thread: Urlacher tackles fans, media in defense of Smith

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

but again, if the Bears put out a shitty product, are you going to eve root for another team? If the players come right out and tell you that they don't like you, are you going to root for another team?

SHOULD Urlacher of said what he said? Probably not. Does it really matter that he voices his thoughts on fans? Not at all.

I think in this day and age, with our internet, cable and satellite TV, and all access sport packages, there is a much greater risk they could do just that...no longer are fans tied down to only locate broadcasts and local media coverage of their local teams...It used to be hard to root and follow a non-local team...not anymore...today a fan can watch and follow almost any major sport team regardless of their location almost as easily as if they lived in that teams host city... I follow a team from London, and I watch 99% of their games and receive almost the exact same media coverage as someone who actually lives in London...I could just as easily follow the 49ers or the Steelers as I do the Bears...Of course, I won't...I am 40 something and too invested to change now...but is that as true for a new or younger fan?...their options are almost limitless and their loyalty is far less entrenched than mine...

Major teams like the Bears have certainly benefited from the globalization of their sport; they can suffer from it just as easily...

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I think in this day and age, with our internet, cable and satellite TV, and all access sport packages, there is a much greater rick they could do just that...no longer are fans tied down to only locate broadcasts and local media coverage of their local teams...It used to be hard to root and follow a non-local team...not anymore...today a fan can watch and follow almost any major sport team regardless of their location almost as easily as if they lived in that teams host city... I follow a team from London, and I watch 99% of their games and receive almost the exact same media coverage as someone who actually lives in London...I could just as easily follow the 49ers or the Steelers as I do the Bears...Of course, I won't...I am 40 something and too invested to change now...but is that as true for a new or younger fan?...their options are almost limitless and their loyalty is far less entrenched than mine...

Major teams like the Bears have certainly benefited from the globalization of their sport; they can suffer from it just as easily...

Yeah, I agree.

My problem is that I come from a family that are generational Bears fans - going back forever. My wife and kids now, are fans. Heck, even my cat wears a Peppers jersey when we watch the games. I've been a fan for over a half-century. So I just couldn't bring myself to change teams. Believe me, I've thought about my pitiful situation (I'm a life long Cubs fan too). How sad is that?

But I completely agree that other fans are not as dysfunctional as I am, and can move to another team. I see that all over our area. Whatever team is hot, then THAT is the team they cheer for. Green Bay, Steelers, Giants, Pats......whoever is the flavor-of-the-year, they get a jersey and blow hot air about the lowly Bears.

Benj,
I don't know if you have any kids, but I have two. One thing I've learned is that as unique and different as I have always thought my kids were, when you talk to other parents, they have the same problems, difficulties and trials that we had with our kids. I think the same can be said about us adults, as different as we think we all are, we are also strangely similar. If I become frustrated with the Bears and their ways, I can quit watching, quit going to games, quit buying merchandise, etc. Now, the Bears and Urlacher do not care about old 4DaBERS, but when 1/2 million fans start feeling like myself, and doing the same thing, then they care. I understand your argument about switching teams and I agree, I can't do that. If I could, I would be a STL Cardinal fan right now, but I'm stuck for life. While I can't a switch teams, I can certainly become indifferent, which is exactly what I became toward my Cubs for about two decades. That indifference is just as bad as switching.

Having said all that, I do NOT attend Pro Football games anymore. Too many drinks and assholes that I refuse to subject my family (or myself) to, and those are the people that are booing. Honestly, I do not blmae the fans, but I think the booing is low class; I do not blame Urlacher, but I think his response is ungrateful. I think both parties are in the wrong, but since one is getting paid large and one is paying large, I believe the one receiving should defer to the one giving. Just my opinion and I'm done with this topic as I think you suggested, this is all rather meaningless anyway.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Would you rather they lied to you or told you how they truly felt?

Lied to of course...I love this team (privately held, for profit, corporate interest), I bleed Orange and Navy (spend hundreds if not thousands of dollar a year to prove how much a fan I am), I respect and admire these players (millionaire contractual employees who hold no loyalty to me as a fan or the team they play for).