Fans: Are We Fanatic About What Matters?

We, the fans, alone have the power.  Think about that.  Let it sink in. 

I’ll revisit this below.

We all find ourselves complaining about something—whether it’s within the arena of sports or not.  Too many times I've caught myself complaining:  Why am I stuck at this dead-end job?  I hate feeling weak and looking flabby.  I wish I had []! 

Complaining not only accomplishes very little, after your throat tires from grousing on, the same "objectionable" conditions remain.  Thus, I looked inward.  What am I bringing to the party, so to speak? 

At my job, I endeavored to find ways to optimize how we do things in our department and proposed moderate changes.  Since my efforts were rebuffed, I simply found myself another job (this, of course, was before today's non-depression recession).  On that vein, I no longer wanted to feel physically weak and flabby, so about two years ago I bought some dumbbells and have been exercising at least three times a week. 

As an aside, feel free to make fun of me here if you like, but it's immaterial to the discussion at hand. 

In a separate post, Andrew Nuschler laments, or complains about, a concern shared by many a Plebeian.  This unease, though perfectly understandable, is misplaced. 

Analogous to the situation in which I was previously stuck, I again looked inward.  Do I really need to continue the cycle: (1) laying down $20-30 for nosebleed seats, another $20 for food and drink (hey, I get hungry!), and maybe a hat or jersey, depending on the temperature of the money that's burning through my pocket; (2) yelling at my “beloved” team's players for being the bums that they are; and (3) bemoaning the greedy players for not earning their multi-million-dollar salaries. 

Instead, I began asking myself, “Wouldn’t I take that money?” 

Need I answer the rhetorical question? 

Clearly, then, it’s the owners’ fault!  Indeed.  However, how do these greed merchants earn a profit?  That’s right!  We, the fans, are the consumers that drive their secondary endeavors.  Team owners usually own more than one team or business.   

Mr. Nuschler, and other fans, don’t seem to have any problem about Tom Cruise’s success.  Sure, we laugh at, perhaps disparage, him for sticking his Scientologist nose where it doesn’t belong.   The couch-jumping actor can buy and sell Mr. Rodriguez five times over! 

On Ticketmaster.com, or any other Web site of its kind, it costs $300 a pop for concert tickets (at least three times the face value)!  Perhaps, unlike at a theatre or concert hall, it is socially acceptable to "boo" (ie. said bellower will not be summarily ejected and looked down upon by his fellow patrons).  However, our collective ire—sports fan and non-fan alike—toward Alex Rodriguez, Jay Culter, and their brethren.   

That’s right.  Sports, movies, and other forms of entertainment should be treated as such. 

It’s incumbent upon you, the fan, to voice your displeasure.  Sure, you can write a well-written blog (for the record, the aforementioned article piqued my interest for good reason). 

However, do you really need to go to the game?   The only way owners will actually strain to listen to our, the fans', concern(s), is via profit margins. 

As for me, I’ll continue to watch my sports from the comfort of home, with minimal expense and anguish. 

Laugh at Cutler’s pedantic nature, don’t lament it.