Only been able to skim responses but one stood out to where I think it said one poster didn't have a problem with bandwagoners, etc.
I'm pretty much the same way, and no matter how much people in here might not want to admit it, Wings fans have their fair share as well. And bandwagoners aren't necessarily a bad thing. You have to start liking a team sometime, and I started liking the Wings and watching hockey in the mid-90s when they were hitting their peak and good, does that make me a crappy fan since I started liking them primarily because they played well?
I don't care about bandwagoners, I don't get hot and bothered over fan chants and the like as long as they don't hurt anybody. Is "Detroit sucks" silly? Sure, but they could say thousands of things worse or degrading. Not worth getting too pissed off at. I went to Nashville for a game a few seasons ago, the game the Wings got slaughtered 8-0. Despite that, not one bad experience with Nashville fans. Now, do I think Tootoo is a scumbag and the Tootoo whistles are silly? Of course. But he's a fan favorite there and probably always will be no matter how much we think he is low, and I'm pretty much fighting a losing battle if I try to convince Nashville fans that he is dirty. Not worth getting hot and bothered over and the Tootoo whistles are part of the fan experience there. Cool, I have no problem with that. And I didn't have one encounter with Nashville fans acting over the top or harassing despite the big win.
Basically, just don't be a d**k towards other teams fans outside the stuff I just said or like I referenced in my original blurb about Chicago Bears fans being a'holes to Saints fans recently, and don't disrespect an athlete who did a whole lot for your organization. I know all Blackhawk fans weren't like this but it is a damned shame that Chelios had to correct them and tell them off, it should have never come to that.
EDIT: It's bascially stuff like this which makes me dislike Philadelphia fans, in all sports in general, fair or not. They always get a bad rap for just being a'holes when there is no reason to be one.
Edited by SouthernWingsFan, 19 December 2010 - 09:52 PM.