What makes a good fan?

[Dave Gray]

At the Dolphins/Pats game, I met my fair share of idiot fans of both sides.  On the other side of that, though, we parked and tailgated next to a van full of Patriots fans.  They were all dudes in their mid-30s, drinking and even smoking a little pot in the back.  They grilled and cheered other Pats fans coming in, etc.  But they were within the limits of what was appropriate.

They all got together to take a photo, and I noticed, so I offered to take the picture for them.  I said that it was the least I could do after we kicked their asses today.  They laughed and said "ooh".  Then, instead of "Say Cheese", I said "Say Ricky!".  And they did.

Then, they thanked me, we joked a little bit about the game, I wished them good luck, and that was that.  After the game, we didn't have any weirdness at the car or anything like that.

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At the Saints game this year, a guy was there with his son.  He cheered for his team and talked about his players with his kid and other Saints fans.  He and I chatted a little bit about the players, then when the game was over, I shook his hand, told him good game, and wished him a safe flight home. 

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The point is, I feel better in having those experiences (in both a tough win and a tough loss) than chanting "na-na, hey-hey goodbye" or having it chanted at me.  And there's nothing less hardcore about these guys -- a whole group of dudes who flew across the country for a game.

[jtex316]

I am going to be 100% honest and serious about this, and I am completely NOT just trying to be an asshole this time, I completely promise.

Dolphins fans - as a whole - are probably in the top 5 worst NFL fans in the entire league. As a whole, Dolphins fans are all in your face, calling you names, insulting you, and getting into fights with you, in the parking lot, in the stadium, outside the stadium, and everywhere in between.

When I was at Bucs vs. Giants, 2007 Wild card playoffs, the fans there were extremely well behaved, and of course we got comments and little trash talking here and there - well within acceptable limits. As the 4th quarter rolled around and it was obvious that the game was over for the Bucs and their season was over, we didn't get insulted, stuff thrown at us. In fact, we had more "Congratulations - please beat the Cowboys and go all the way" than anything else.

Same situation in Carolina and Atlanta - fans behaving well within acceptable fan limits and in all 3 Giants wins, fans were very very good and surprisingly good

During 2003 when the Giants were miserable, Tampa Bay kicked our asses on Monday Night Football. The fans did not taunt or jeer.

Now let's take the average home Dolphins game, and I've been to a lot of Dolphins games, including playoff games. Fans do not respect the game. They stand and make noise on offense and sit quietly on defense. They tell fans of other teams that they suck, their family sucks, and their kids suck because they are jets / bills / pats / vikings / gator fans. When the game is over - especially after a dolphins win - it's on in the stadium tunnels and they don't let up.

Also - I keep hearing accounts of other friends, co-workers, and others who ALWAYS have a personal story about a Dolphins game and how unbelievably surprised and upset they were at the behavior of [insert idiot dolphins fan doing something stupid and picking a fight].

It's kinda hard to justify this behavior, given the fact that the Dolphins are not themselves known to be a dirty or hard-nosed team, and given the fact that they have been quite mediocre for quite some time now.

I just don't get where it comes from, but it's definitely a problem that is not prevalent in most other NFL stadiums or fan bases. Walk around Raymond James stadium, Bank of America stadium or the Georgia Dome and see the fans interact with you, talk a little healthy trash, and the congratulate you and NOT taunt you on the way out. Walk around LankShark Stadium and you're lucky to not get into a fight or be taunted - win or lose - on the way in or out or in between.

Dolphins fans - as a whole - do not make good fans.

[CF DolFan]

I've seen many games in Tampa ... both as a Dolfan and a Buc fan ... and I would have to agree with you jtex.  I also agree with Dave that it is more fun to experience the game with other fans than to challenge their manhood.  I've never understood that.
 

[Sunstroke]

I think what makes a decent fan is the same thing that makes a decent person. Be passionate and dedicated...but temper it with a good bit of restraint and respect for others.

[StL FinFan]

I think what makes a decent fan is the same thing that makes a decent person. Be passionate and dedicated...but temper it with a good bit of restraint and respect for others.

W-o-r-d

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Honestly as a season ticket holder for the Cards I have a lot of fun with the friendly ribbing of the oppsing teams fans. Both tailgating and in the stadium. Again it is all friendly though and I think that makes half of the experience. It always good to shake hands after a tough loss or win. It is fun to talk to fans of other teams and see if they are as passionate about their teams as you are yours. Yeah I have run into my share of assholes on both sides of the fence but like Dave I have met a lot of really cool people who just happen to cheer for a different team and wear different colors than I.

[Frimp]

At the Atlanta game, there was this Falcons fan sitting near me, and the whole game, he was taunting. I think he watched our group more than he was watching the game. After the game was over, I was shaking hands with the Falcons fans as they left. This guy got to me, and yelled "F*** no I'm not shaking your F***ing diseased hand!" I stood up, and his friends wisked him away before I could respond.

[TonyB0D]

jets fans are by far the worst!

[David Fulcher]

At the Atlanta game, there was this Falcons fan sitting near me, and the whole game, he was taunting. I think he watched our group more than he was watching the game. After the game was over, I was shaking hands with the Falcons fans as they left. This guy got to me, and yelled "F*** no I'm not shaking your F***ing diseased hand!" I stood up, and his friends wisked him away before I could respond.

That happened to you at the Atlanta game, Bill?  That sucks.  I have to admit, I didn't have the same experience.  Most of the Falcons' fans around me were pretty pleasant and were just doing "friendly" taunting.  As a matter of fact, the true asshole around me in my section was a Dolphins' fan.  The guy was pretty much trash, you could tell from the get-go, but still, I was embarassed as a fellow Dolphins' fan by how this guy was acting.  The only problem I had was that when we were leaving, going down one of the spiral rampways, one Falcons fan going the other direction (for whatever reason) got somewhat close to my face and my girlfriend's and said, "Dolphins still suck, y'all!", but even that I couldn't be too pissed off about because...well, we did kinda suck that day.   

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

What makes a good fan?

*** strong motor

*** large blade

*** rotates

*** quiet

Oppps wrong question. 

[fyo]

*** strong motor

*** large blade

*** rotates

*** quiet

Oppps wrong question. 

You're wrong.

[MaineDolFan]

Dolphins fans - as a whole - are probably in the top 5 worst NFL fans in the entire league.

I have never been to a game in Miami.  I have been to a ton of other places, however.  I have attended games (either as a fan or media member) in most other NFL cities.  I have a hard time believing Miami fans are worse than:

1:  Philadelphia.  I once saw the Philly riot squad brought into the seats behind the end zone.  They have a judge and jail - at the stadium.  Hands down the worst behavior I've ever seen out of sports fans occured in my three trips to cover Patriot-Eagles games.

2:  Oakland.  Raider fans are brutal.  They fight with fans of other teams, they fight with each other.  They are flat out cruel.  They chuck D cell batteries at the players on the benches, I've seen them fight police officers. 

3:  New York.  Jets, not Giants.  I've seen fans dump beer on kids and women.  Not fun.

4:  Cleveland.  I'm sure that the fact that the fans know they are going to watch their team beat like they stole something before the game ever starts doesn't help.  Cleveland is a tough city and the football fans are brutal.  For some reason this doesn't translate to the baseball fans.  Maybe they are more used to losing.

5:  Denver.  Walk into that stadium with something other than a Bronco jersey on and tell me how your experience went.

Now, as I said, I've never been to Miami.  My bosses didn't think I would actually work on that road trip (they were right) and wouldn't send me.  But I have a really hard time believing Miami fans are worse than those five towns.  Could be wrong, though.