From Bandwagon to Bitter Bus

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST in Feature Stories

As we head into the stretch run one thing is starting to become glaringly obvious. Well at least it is to me. It will be a long, long time before this franchise finds itself back in the dark days of years past. The changes are obvious on the court and now we are all going to see some changes off the court as well. No I don’t mean changes to the front-office or ownership, or anything like that. What I mean is this team is no longer going to fly under the radar and what it is to be a Raptors "fan" is going to change.

For years now there has been little talk about this franchise except how dysfunctional it is, how no player wants to be in Toronto, and how this team is simply destined to lose. When ever I mentioned my passion for Raptors basketball it was generally met with a snicker, a laugh, or a quick and simple reply - "They Suck." I am sure many of you have experienced the same thing.

Of course comments like those have been harder to come by as of late. In fact, lately when I talk ball with people from work, other friends, or simply the occasional sports fan, the conversation now usually starts with "Hey did you see the Raptors’ game last night?" and generally ends with "This team is starting to look really good." I mean just this Friday my father called me from Halifax after the Lakers game to talk Raps ball and the game’s finish! Seeing how my father has never been a big sports fan but yet somehow is now drawn to watch Raps games, it became crystal clear to me that the Raptors, and how people view this team, is really changing.

In some ways it is exciting. It won’t be too long before ESPN and ABC start doing Raptors games again. When this team makes the playoffs, and at this pace wins the Atlantic, there will be a new found spotlight on CB4 and the rest of "Team International." Imagine if this squad goes a couple of rounds!? The momentum would be huge. Suddenly the Raps will be a hot ticket in town. The days of buying under-priced scalped tickets will be long-gone and the ACC will be filled with an electricity not seen since the playoff years that feel like ages ago. There is no doubt, times are a changing.

Of course in some ways it is bitter sweet for the hard-core fan. Everyone loves a winner. That’s just reality. In some ways you can’t blame folks for shifting their attention away from the Raps during the losing seasons, although for whatever reason, no matter how much the Leafs struggle, the city of Toronto still seems to live and breathe the Buds. Now, however people are coming back to Raptors ball. There is a new-found interest. People are, getting on the bandwagon. There’s no doubt it is great for the franchise, for people who make $$ of the Raptors’ success, and for the future of basketball in this country.

So why is it then that there is a little part of me that is bitter about this new revival of interest? I have no real attachment to the team. I watch the games and I get into them and yes, I write about them. Not for profit, not for exposure, but simply because I like to. Watching this new squad grow is exciting and that really should be the end of the story. In a weird way though, I feel like I have the right to be enjoying this success more than those people who are getting on the bandwagon now. More than those same people that will now make it tougher to get a seat at the ACC, the same people who said "They Suck," and the same people who lost interest when the going got tough. I have a feeling I am not the only one that has this feeling. In some ways I believe that the hard-core fan has the right to enjoy this success more than anyone else. I mean we are the same people that had to sit through seasons of Hoffa blocking less shots than Milt Palacio, hoping that Omar Cook could solve the PG issue, and seeing the bench lined with guys who couldn’t get an NBA gig in any other city. Like I said, I don’t have an attachment to the team...formally...but my commitment as a fan I believe gives me the right to enjoy this new-found success a little more than everyone else.

Maybe the feeling I have about this success is not so strange. I am sure this happened with the New England Patriots, the Calgary Flames during their run, and other franchises who had tough years and fought their way back (I guess Yankees fans over the last decade can’t appreciate this.) Maybe it is just natural. The thing is I want this team to succeed. Although I will miss the hardcore debates about high draft picks and the like, I guess in the end I am ready for people to jump on the bandwagon. It’s time. We, the hard-core fans deserve a winning squad and finally we are getting what we deserve.

For me it’s just too bad that when everyone starts piling on the bandwagon it will be impossible to determine who has been on this bus since day one, and who is just along for the "ride." I don’t want to single anyone out, but it is hard to appreciate the good things in life without experiencing the bad and once the Raps catch on, it will only be a hand-full of people who will really truly appreciate what’s taken place. Of course seeing the ACC packed during the playoffs will ease my apprehension to a certain degree and my intention is not to say that the bandwagon is slowly turning into the bitter bus for me...I just think that over the next 20 games or so, provided this team is still building momentum, it is the last opportunity for the hardcore fan to enjoy it before the rest of the NBA, and fans really start "jumping on."

HOWLAND

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Comments

Having played at the school yard, watching NBA since the Knicks won with Willis Reed, Bradley, and Frazier; and a Raptor fan since the beginning. I can see your point. But there's a saying in the Gospel according to St. Matthew: "the last may be the first". I'd say the more fans the merrier. Great post as always though.

by TFan on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Take heart, Howland, as well as the other hardcore Rap fans. You guys are like those Cleveland Indian fans from the "Major League" movie. Remember how they used to sit alone in the bleachers and beat the drum? Sure they enjoyed the extra leg space and the pride in knowing they supported their team through thick and thin.

And when the Indians started winning, and the bleachers were once again packed with supporters, who was leading the team cheers? Those same fans. It will be just as exhilarating for you when you hear that deafening chant of "LET'S GO RAPTORS!!" filling the ACC again, bro. Maybe not from readily available, discounted seats. But take solace in the fact that those same fair-weather fans are unknowingly cheering you in a way. Because if it wasn't for the solid fan base that supported the Raps through the tough times, we may not have had a team to enjoy with such optimism today.

by Hen on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Remember the Indians had some incentive to win....they got to peel a peice of the owner's clothing off each time they won. Now I don't think that we have anyone who could fit that role, (unless they could lure Norma Wick to pose...hehe Just a funny thought.

I'm out!

Fresh 1

PS. I also remember that there was some kind of a worship voodoo thing the big guy used for his mojo. (Maybe Fred Jones can learn something to help him!!!!)

by Fresh 1 on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I didn't start following the raps until they made the playoffs and have stuck with them since so rest assured many of those new to the bandwagon are going to hang around even if MLSE go back to its old ways. I mean if it wasn't for the colangelo hiring how long could the franchise have even stuck around?

by PayMoPete on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Great post, Howland. The Raptors have turned their misfortunes into fortunes. If the Raptors do make it past the 1st round, imagine what the media will be like. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

by Sandeep on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Brian Colangelo was on with Stelick & Landry this AM @
www.fan590, 12 minutes talk re Rap's status.

by Johnn19 on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Sorry guys, we don't allow profanity on the site and we will remove those comments that have language that may be questionable.

by Howland on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

I admit i'm one of those to quite recently jump on the bandwagon... I've been only following the Raps this season (and just barely last season), but i have a good reason: I'm spaniard :)

However, i've become surprisingly quite attached to rooting for this team, to the point that i'd rather watch the Raptors winning with the spaniards playing poorly than watch the Raptors losing with the spaniards doing great (see Grizzlies).

I can imagine that i'll still be quite a raptor fan even after the spaniards leave in a future, this team feels somewhat different: the unselfish superstar, the international feel to the game... and of course this excellent website!

by Sergi P on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

For the record - I was the first person to post a comment on this blog ever!! That's no bandwagon. Perhaps raptors' fans are getting more and more educated/excited because of your site! I used to just watch the games - now I am an educated fan.

Remember the games at skydome??

I've also been a hardcore oilers fan since the days of Cujo / Doug Weight so I went through this bandwagon thing last year too.

The Raps bandwagon is a bit bigger though because there is no team out West. This is Canada's team. If they do well the national media pays attention (like the jays) ... and in Spain and Italy too ;)

by utes on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

The eventual success of the Raptors will be all the more enjoyable because of the process and the drama. Chris Bosh should derive great satisfaction from the fact that this team is being built around him practically from scratch.

Team owners with deep pockets can sometimes buy a winning team. Building a winning team from the ground up is more difficult - and should be more rewarding.

Players can get instant gratification by joining winning teams, but it is surely more rewarding to have to earn success.

by David on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Let them come. The more exposure the better for this team. They will never have the attention the Leafs get but perhaps the Raps can become more then just a passing fancy.

by Dan on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Bigger bandwagon means more revenue, means the suits will spend money to keep the money rolling in. If you really want people to know you are an old timer, pull out your pin striped Oliver Miller jersey

by PuckHead on Feb 12, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Just know that bandwagoners will never have that same feeling of pride that you and the rest of the hardcore raps fans are feeling right now. sure they can talk about the game and enjoy watching it, but will never ever feel the overcoming adversity and battle for respectability part that we are feeling right now. Raps not like the leafs, who have been mediocre to somewhat good over the last 30 years. we're the original underdogs, and we're coming up. If you watched this team grow from nothing, to what it is now, the reward is within and will never be duplicated amongst the bandwagoners. Get off that bitterbus, and enjoy it for all it is worth.

by davers on Feb 13, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Stoudamire, Camby, T-Mac, Vince, and NOW – Bosh & Bargnani. Having been a Raptor fan since day one, it’s refreshing to see a cohesive unit come together like the current Raptor unit designed by Bryan Colangelo (my pick for GM of the year). Although previous years were marred with bad draft choices, bad team morale, and a lack of talent, today’s team deserves fan appreciation as W’s pack seats and spark conversations. In a sense, the average Torontonian may not have vast basketball knowledge- but the newly-built Raptors of 2006-2007 have once again sparked interest in a city starved for sports success. Having experienced the "they suck" response for the last 4 years, it’s truly refreshing to gain insight on Raptors basketball with fans old and new. Having attended two playoff games against Philadelphia in 2000-2001, die-hard or not- we may have the loudest arena in the NBA hands down. Hopefully this current trend of success will unite Raptor fans once again in the bowels of the ACC come playoff time.

by Rapz4Life on Feb 14, 2007 12:00 AM EST reply actions