I have always been a Saints fan and had season tickets during the down years and gave them up because of the drive after LSU games is too early in the morning when you are in college. But I think a lot of the disdain before they turned out a better product was the crap New Orleans fans had to deal with from Benson. I do not think many fans just gave up and never followed them but it was a headache always talking about Benson when the Saints subject came up.
You make some good points, but just a few rebuttals: You don't think there are a lot Patriots fans that weren't fans when Dick MacPherson was head coach and they were going 1-15? The same could be said about the Red Sox and Celtics. Now, what's the difference between Boston and New Orleans? Market size. The Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics may have more diehards than the Saints and Hornets do. But I submit to you this is as much a product of sample size as it does with loyalty. Take a look at Miami. The Marlins have won two world series and they still can't get people in the stands. Why? Market size. The Cowboys draw from the entire state of Texas, which includes Dallas and Houston (two VERY large cities). They could have there bandwagon empty and STILL have enough people to fill the stadium just due to sheer numbers. Covered above. I will add that because the Cowboys had won Super Bowls, there fans can (and still do) carry the delusion that they'll see something great every season. If you're a Saints fan, you're dealing with doubt more often than not and it can be hard to motivate people to spend their money in that circumstance. I can't deny that the ticket sales fluctuate in relation to the record of the team. I just argue it has as much to do with the size and financial health of the state as it does with loyalty.
Saints fans are great, and some of the most loyal. They probably have the same amount of bandwagon fans as anyone else when they become good. I will agree that those on the wagon are a little bit more annoying than other fanbases, but at least they show up unlike Rays fans.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3579129 Fantastic read about Shockey. I think the "lockerroom cancer" talk seems to be really overblown. Let's hope he likes New Orleans for a while, we could use him here long term.
Keep me posted... How's the experiment going, calculator man? 8-5 compared to 6-1. even you should know that's a big difference.
