Hockey fans are the problem
There is nothing redeeming about the “please like my sport” mentality of hockey fans. I do it all the time. Hits are harder in hockey than football. More hand-eye coordination than baseball. Better athletes than basketball. I get it. But, the isolating nature of fans is at an all-time high. We yearn for coverage, then bash whatever outlet decides to even utter the word puck, or fight. It’s a subculture of self-loathing consumers of a sport most of us grew up watching and falling in love with. The hatred that sparked rivalries on the ice has spilled over into a social media outcry unlike any other sport.
I love hockey. My wife, friends, coworkers, we all have that in common. My dog is named after Steve Yzerman for god sake. The second I voice an opinion that differs from another fan, I’ve either never played the game, or don’t understand it. It’s not everyone, but it’s more than just a few bad apples. It’s not based on cities, history, or accomplishments. The unyielding support fans show for their team is counteracted by the innate desire to make other fans feel like absolute garbage for whatever way their allegiance lies. Hockey twitter is toxic, I’ll just come right out and say it. A community that comes together so elegantly and has inspired so many heartwarming stories, is disgustingly quick to judge your fandom based on one sentence that might shatter the illusion that they’re the biggest fan they know.
Opinions are for everyone
We have a right to our opinion on our teams, this sport, what goes on off the ice. But the thing that is lost on so many of us is that EVERYONE is entitled to an opinion on the matter. For some reason, a reason I have yet to understand, the visceral response to a hockey opinion only has two degrees. Overwhelming agreeance, or over-the-top bashing. The inability to have civil conversations about our teams, or certain players, is what turns new fans off from the sport. Whether it’s our nostalgia, or pessimism, the need to be right overshadows a logical thought process. Speaking of which, it isn’t 2008 anymore, find a new Crosby joke.
I love you, hockey fans. We keep this sport on TV, and continue to fight to get it the respect it deserves. It’s a beautiful game. Fast, hard hitting, intelligent, and these players can do things on skates most of us can’t do in shoes. Just because a player has had run-ins with the department of player safety, doesn’t make him any less talented. Brad Marchand is a top forward in this league, and we all hate him. That doesn’t make discrediting his talent okay, and Bruins’ fans alike don’t need to fall on their sword to defend him either. He’s just one example, because every player that has a similar history is either talentless, or gutless. I understand we want players to be clean, talented, and likeable. But, you’re naive if you think it’ll always be the case.
Threatening what we know
Every generational talent that comes along is immediately put into one of two categories decided by us, the fans. Transcendent, or overrated. Sid, Ovi, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews to name a few. Whenever one gets close to challenging a record, or accomplishment of one of our past favorites, it becomes time to discredit their every move. We’re better than that. Truly, the players deserve better, and we can show loyalty without using other player’s faults as a crutch. It is perfectly okay to be from Montreal and be a fan of Patrice Bergeron. You can hate him when they play Boston, but parading your disdain for him on social media doesn’t make you a bigger Habs fan than anyone who isn’t voicing negativity.
It’s not always black and white
There’s no exact science to fandom. We yell, chant, argue, debate, celebrate achievement and wallow in failure. There is, however, a wrong way to show your love for your team. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you by saying I’ve never disrespected another team or fan base. I’ve been more vocal about the stench of Philadelphia fans and teams for almost a decade, I’m very much guilty of everything I’ve mentioned to this point.
As we move forward, there is a more appropriate way to welcome new fans. It’s not about who they affectionately root for, it’s the fact that they want to be a part of what is overall, a great sports culture. Bring people to the game by explaining tradition, and helping them grasp rules and concepts. But when I say tradition, I mean the positives. Don’t insult a new Rangers fan by immediately mentioning their Cup drought. Better yet, show them the storied history of the original six, and what it means to wear one of those sweaters. Love the game, and the community that comes with.
We can all be hockey fans
Passion doesn’t have to breed ignorance. I can’t overstate that. Like I said before, cheering for the Habs doesn’t mean you have to shit on Bruins fans at every turn. It’s not lost of anyone that a certain aspect of tradition is bitterness. That said, it doesn’t have to be portrayed as hate. Love your team, but don’t project hatred towards other fans for doing the same. I’m a Blackhawks fan, so most of you can guess the type of response I get to most of my work. The most immediate response is “Oh, the Hawks? Probably since 2010.” Not the case, but it brings me to a good point.
STOP WORRYING WHEN FANS BECAME INTERESTED IN THE SPORT.
If you live in Vancouver, and haven’t paid much attention to the Canucks until now, that’s fine! Having a reserved attention span towards a product that isn’t worth your time and money is not a crime. Yes, commitment is a big component of being a fan. It is NOT the only component, though. If we were more accepting of new hockey fans, and fan bases (Vegas) then even more fans would flock to the sport.
Think about why you love hockey. Is it the finesse? Show your friends McDavid and Pastrnak videos. Tenacity? There’s a lifetime of footage on current and former enforcers you can put on display. There’s an outlet for every aspect of the sport, but for some reason hockey fans explain their reasoning via what not to like. Bandwagon fans are annoying, but the belief they’re hurting the sport is another attempt at proving how big your fan-dick is.
The Solution
Say it with me: I will respect the sanctity of being a hockey fan without disrespecting other communities within the sport. It’s simple, really. We can do better, all of us. Hockey fans at Belly Up, readers, die-hard fans, and casual onlookers. We can continue to attract new viewers, and support the team we live and breathe for. This is meant to be positive, it’s not a test, or a challenge to the type of fan you are. We can all be the same type – better – and I promise you, our enjoyment will skyrocket. If ratings don’t go up, or ESPN continues to ignore us, it’s out of our control. Just be a supporter, become a resource for people getting into hockey. Most importantly, remember why you became a hockey fan in the first place.
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