The Dimishing Fan

There are a lot of people who have theories. I’m not one of them. I’m not a deep thinker, and in general, I just don’t care that much.

But lately, as I’ve been seeing Jerry Jones’ painfully stretched face all over television as he promotes the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, I’m working on one. Here’s the premise and I’d like your thoughts.

When I was growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, despite being in Redskins country I was a rabid Cowboys fan. My heroes were guys like Harvey Martin, Charlie Waters, Roger Staubauch, Tony Dorsett, Tony Hill, Robert Newhouse, Randy White, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and the list goes on.

But then, as Skip Bayless tells it, Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys and did Tom Landry a favor by sending him packing against his wishes. But he also ushered in a culture of lunacy: his early success, which was designed by Jimmy Johnson, deluded him into thinking he understood player personnel. The coaches came and went, knucklehead players were brought in, and the team became about one thing and one thing only — Jerry Jones.

So you know what I did? I quit the Cowboys and I did it in a Super Bowl year. But I’m not so certain this is unique in today’s NFL, which remains my favorite sport despite now not having a favorite team.###MORE###

So over a fifth of Jack, I began considering these factors:

• Owners like Jones and Daniel Snyder of the Washington Redskins (who has been suing his longtime fans) are driving fans away more frequently.
• It’s not just owners. Knucklehead players like Plaxico Burress, Terrell Owens and others are hurting the perception that fans have of teams. I’ve heard a lot of people say things like, “I’m turning away until that guy is gone.”
• Fantasy Football tends to create a more intense interest in individual players, as opposed to teams. We’re checking player stats instead of wins and losses.
• Going to the games was historically one of the strongest connection points between fan and team. But as game tickets continue to get more expensive, fewer fans of modest means — who tend to be more passionate than the country club-esque fan — can afford to attend games and thus the connection weakens.
• Losing causes a natural rate of attrition. How many Lions outside of the four in Detroit are still around?

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe today’s NFL has the same connection with fans that it’s always had. But I know I don’t have it and I’m curious if I’m alone.

Carry on.

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