ESPN Top 25

[StangEsq]

After watching last year's games, I think I would've rather seen Wake... not to be a pessimist, but I am one who is not looking forward to seeing Eaton's @ss contributing to a spanking in his hometown with half the arena cheering for OK St.

[StangEsq]

We had a top 10 Wake in Moody last year and still nobody showed up. This is not a basketball town. Heck, it's not a football town. Sometimes it's not even a winner's town. It's a "where's the scene" town. Unfortunately, the average "Dallas fan" -- a pejorative in my dictionary -- doesn't show up for anything that doesn't have a jumbotron that they can appear on looking like a hooker or a hooker's date. They also don't have a radar for college sports unless the other team is from within the Texas border or maybe across the Red River. You could bring in frickin' Duke or UConn and the Dallas fan would still go to some meaningless early season Mavs game instead.

People in Dallas (unlike cities such as Lubbock) have other entertainment options. If Dallas fans had a college team that was a consistent Sweet-16 threat, they'd go out to see them... just like they do for the Stars or the Mavs (when they're winning), or like they did for the Rangers when they were winning division titles. Getting blown out by perennial doormats like Rice and Louisiana Tech doesn't help our cause much.

Dallas is usually near the top of SI's top sports cities. If you want to see fans that sucque, try attending any sport in Atlanta.

If we build it, they will come.

[DiamondM]

I don't care what "rankings" say about how good of a sports town it is -- it's not. Just because you have a lot of choices to watch sports doesn't make it a "sports town."

People started showing up to Mavs games BEFORE they started winning because Cuban made it the scene for Dallas tarts. Then the Mavs started winning. I don't know how exactly Cuban accomplished this, but he did.

I went to at least one game down the strectch at the Ballpark this year when they still had a chance at the West, and while it was more full than usual, it wasn't close to a sell out. And while watching a part of the Cowboys game on tv last week (the Cowboys are not my team, so I see no reason to actually set foot in that Hell hole, Texas Stadium), I turned to my husband as said "Are they in Pittsburg" because the crowd noise sure made it seem like it. And last year, TCU had a top 10 team for a good part of the year (shouldn't have been ranked that high, but that's another story altogether). Did they sell out in this "football" crazy state? Nope.

But let's assume for the moment that you are correct, that the Dallas fan shows up for winners, um... I think you've proven my point about the sorriness of the Dallas fan. They are bandwagoners, they are copy cats, they are fair weather, they go where it's cool to be. They don't really care much about any team, except that they feel "in" by rooting, half-heartedly, for the "in" team. The Dallas fan doesn't live or die with their team, they trade it in for the next hot thing.

And even when they go to games, they have no idea what to do when they're there. In a so-called "sports town" you'd think the Dallas fan would at least know how and when to make noise at a game and not need some screeching announcer or a noise meter to tell them when to get loud. I was never asked to sit down or looked at funny for yelling at a Kansas City Chiefs game.

[MustangStealth]

Then the Mavs started winning. I don't know how exactly Cuban accomplished this, but he did.

I'll give you a hint: it starts with "D" and ends with "owitzki"

PS Nobody has ever questioned that you know when and how to make noise

[DiamondM]

Oh, Stealthy... I know how the Mavs started winning, I just don't know how Cuban turned Mavs games into the meat market of the century even before the Ws started coming. I think he made lots of trips to the Men's Club to offer Mavs Platinum Club tickets in exchange for their Stars tickets.

[jtstang]

Wow, you sure have a problem with good looking chicks hanging out at the Mavs games. You ever been to the Boulevard? You got a problem with that scene too?

As for your comments regarding "bandwagoners" being a problem and "making your point" tell me this: Is there anything wrong with a consumer expecing some entertainment value for their dollar? Because I was at part of the La Tech game this past weekend, and there was none--this team has become unwatchable. The basketball team really needs to show some competitiveness this year to avoid losing even more of its meager fanbase too.

[LA_Mustang]

DiamondM, outside of the NE (NYC, Boston, and Philly), all cities are that way with their sports teams. If the team is winning, people show up. If they lose, people don’t. It’s not just Dallas. And if you think people in Dallas only go to games to be seen, that’s true for the most part, but go to a game in LA and you will see another level of that type crowd. Say what you want about Dallas sports fans but there are a lot and they are knowledgeable. There’s a core group of Stars fans that are some of the best and most loyal fans anywhere. BTW, Dallas is considered a great sports town because it has great, high profile owners. Jones, Cubes and Hicks do their best to put together a winner.

StangEsq, you’re right, Atlanta is the worst sports town ever.

[PK]

Is there anything wrong with a consumer expecing some entertainment value for their dollar? Because I was at part of the La Tech game this past weekend, and there was none--this team has become unwatchable.

Oh I don't know about that jt...I thought it was pretty intertaining watching Kennedy stiff arm that defender down the field for about 10 yards or so and watching Chase make that catch on that long pass, bounce off of a couple of defenders and drag another one down the field for about 5 yards. We are close to being fairly good if we would just stop shooting ourselves in the foot on every other drive. It's those stupid mistakes that drains the fun out of the game.

[jtstang]

We are close to being fairly good if we would just stop shooting ourselves in the foot on every other drive. It's those stupid mistakes that drains the fun out of the game.

My point exactly. The brief fun of watching the TE stiffarm play you mentioned was more than offset by the penalty which negated it. But for the record, I don't subscribe to the theory that our football team is close to being fairly good. Sorry, PK.

[PK]

For the record...you didn't have to make your for the record statement, I already knew that. To think otherwise would ruin your persona. BTW, watch out for those double negatives...you might confuse some people.

[jtstang]

Thanks PK--I confused myself for a minute there...of course, that's not too hard to do.

[DiamondM]

Actually jtstang, I don't have a problem with it. I thoroughly enjoy tartspotting, especially when they are trying to look cute navigating the grassy Boulevard in their inappropriate footwear. It's great fun.

We've all got our own opinions, just like you know whats, but mine just happens to be that there is a difference between a spectator and a fan. Dallas is full of spectators. I choose to be a fan. And, despite your whining, you seem to have chosen that too.

[OldPony]

No ---Dallas is not as good as other sports towns. Denver beats Dallas by a mile with the Broncos and the Avalanche when they are good or bad and so does KC. Please note that neither are on the coast. That wonderful place of Buffalo beats them all. Dallas just likes new and shiny. Bring the top team in America and dress them in SMU unis and you will draw 45,000. Look at the last time it happened. Hint-1983. Cuban is a marketing genius otherwise no one would care about the Mavs. They didn't before. Atlanta and Dallas are probably in the worst 5 for NFL football. The Cowboys thru history have been better than the fans unlike many, many markets. As a sports town- Diamond M is right. dallas sucks.

[jtstang]

We've all got our own opinions, just like you know whats, but mine just happens to be that there is a difference between a spectator and a fan. Dallas is full of spectators. I choose to be a fan. And, despite your whining, you seem to have chosen that too.

I think you confuse whining with observational posts which tend to call out others, such as yourself, for further explanation of your you know whats...

[LA_Mustang]

OP, what is your definition of a good sports town – attendance? fan involvement during the game? knowledgeable fans? team performance? entertainment value? championships? media coverage?

I don’t see how can you say Dallas sucks as a sports town? This city has all four major sports. They are all competitive. Attendance for all is above average or better (‘boys have sold-out over 100 straight games, Stars sold-out over 250 straight between 99-03, Mavs have a long sell-out streak going, and before this year despite finishing last four straight years the Rangers drew above the league average). Media coverage is thorough and usually fair. Great owners that want to win. Interesting personalities over the years - Cuban, Jones, Big Bill, Jimmy Johnson, Switzer, K. Johnson, Prime Time, Irvin, Rodman, Nash, Nick the Quick, A-Rod, Mikey Mo, Eddie B. There is always something interesting happening or going on. Not to mention, there's an unbelievable high school sports scene.

Tell me why you think it sucks? Because it IS a social event at some games? Some fans ARE fair-weather? I hate to tell you but that happens everywhere.

BTW, when have the Broncos, Avs, and Chiefs ever been really bad?? I cant remember when.