As most of you know, I was the public address announcer for the Anaheim Ducks from 1997 to the Stanley Cup Championship year of 2007. Today I enjoy the post-season battle with the common Ducks fan. This is the best time of the year, by far!
Throughout the years I bemoaned the chemistry in the former Arrowhead Pond-now-Honda Center. No matter who the Ducks played at home, there would always be a lot of fans wearing the jersey of the visiting team. It's the worst when the Ducks play the Redwings.
I need confirmation on this from folks who follow teams in other cities, but something tells me one would feel pretty uncomfortable wearing a Ducks jersey at "The Joe." I imagine if I visited Detroit and wore a Ducks jersey to a game, I'd be visited by an endless parade of locals who would "insist" I change my attire.
For Ducks fans, I ask you, go ahead, make it uncomfortable for those who would disrespect the home ice of a team that, in it's short career in the NHL, has one of the best rates of post-season appearances, and an even better success rate.
Come on people, "Our House" means "OUR HOUSE." You either abide by the host's rules, or you don't eat.
Oh, a note for the Ducks ticket sales folks: Do you have to sell glass seats to Redwings fans? To me, that's a lot like providing aid and comfort to the enemy. This is war, right?
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This is unfortunate, but it does seem that everyone in Ca is from somewhere else (except me). I notice this same thing at most sporting events I have attended her in the OC or San Diego. The only place I attended where it appeared to be uncomfortable for someone to wear the other team's colors was at the LA Coliseum during the Raider days. It seems that the OC is just too "nice" to infer to opposing teams fans that tehy should not wear the opposing colors.
ReplyDeleteWant to keep the other team's fans from the glass seats? Convince the season ticket holders to actually use their seats instead of being greedy and selling them to the highest bidder.
What sour grapes because the Ducks don't enjoy the same national popularity. The Redwings have been a franchise for over 80 years and they have earned the support of fans.
ReplyDeleteYour call to arms is an endorsement of harrasment and violence against other fans because they wear their teams jersey?
Obviously you have never been to the Joe because other teams fans do wear their colors. Detroit fans appreciate rabid supporters even if they are with the other side.
A sports fan who loves their team understands this but there's always a jerk at every game.
In response to anonymous:
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been around as long as the Red Wings, so naturally, we have a while till we'll have national popularity. But Anaheim HAS earned the support of numerous fans. What's unfortunate, is that even after winning a cup and being a successful team, we still lack respect in the media and among other hockey fans. I think it all boils down to respect, and it is very disrespectful to try and impose one of your traditions on us at our home arena. Keep the octopus at Joe's and just enjoy the game.
I follow the Ducks around the US/ Canada and proudly wear my Ducks gear. When I get heckled, I go "Yeah? Well I AM from Anaheim".
ReplyDeleteThat usually shuts them up.
I have just as much right to cheer my team in another arena, just as much as the other team's fans.
Unlike Wings or LA fans, I don't act like a jerk like them, or go out of my way to F*Bomb the home team fans. That's just class-less.