A REAL Saints fan remembers how we tried to resurrect the careers of Kenny Stabler and Earl Campbell. A REAL Saints fan knows about how we drafted Russell Exleben as the #15 overall pick. He was a punter/kicker who couldn't kick a FG to save his life. We wasted a first round draft pick on a punter! A REAL Saints fan knows how we could have won 2 or 3 Super Bowls had we had a REAL offensive coordinator in the place of Carl "Brillo Pad" Smith.
Hello?! Welcome to the world of sports. Teams ALWAYS, ALWAYS have more fans when they're doing well. It's not a mark on Saints fans. Besides which, Saints fans have had more of a reason to quell their emotional attachment to the team over the years than just about any other pro sports franchise. Be grateful for the support when you do get it, don't complain that you didn't have it all along.
Let's see all of your posts during the Ditka/Ricky and Haslett/Brooks fiascos. Were you driving the wagon then too? I put up with the Saints crap for 35 years before I got tired of investing emotion in a franchise that didn't give a crap about the "true" fans. I am now, very warily, watching and enjoying this team, but as long as Benson is there, I am not going to consummate this relationship. Don't throw stones, my brother.
I wasn't even posting on the net during the Ditka Days. I have been on the bandwagon since the Dome patrol days. I can remember shaking my head as Bobby Hebert is yelling at his WR cuz they ran the wrong routes. As for Ditka/Ricky, I got the Ricky jersey in the closet, even bought the damn dreadlock wig at one of the games I went to. Haslet/Brooks, hell I had tear down from my eye when we won the playoff game. Then spent the next few years crying cuz brooks couldn't throw a touch pass to save his life. Yes I have been on this bandwagon as far as I can rememeber watching the Saints. My parents gave up on them and always asked why I still watch them. Fairweather Fans- I'm referring to the co-workers that grin as if to laugh at you when you get excited cuz they won on Sunday even though they have no shot at a playoffs. And they say that they will alwasy suck as long they are in LA. Yet now they come to me and start "How bout them saints? Man they could win it all." Don't get me wrong, I hate Benson as much as anyone. But I will always love the team.
So you'd just rather them not cheer for the team at all? CC was right, this is sports, where teams are popular when they're good and not so much when they're bad. Yes, a true fan will always stay with the team no matter what, but you're always going to have the ones that jump on and off the bandwagon. With the Saints, though, it's kind of understandable because of all the heartache the team has caused throughout the years. But there is nothing wrong with more people getting excited about the team. The Saints are getting respect now because of a great coach and a team that shows a will to win - something past teams didn't have, thus they got no respect. You gotta earn your stripes in the NFL and if the Saints can stay consistent over the next few seasons, we'll get those stripes.
