Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ain't Gonna Happen

From Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times' new Dodgers Blog:

As spring training grows near and the opening of a new season beckons, I have one request of that certain element of the Dodgers’ faithful … grow up.

Specifically, Dilbeck is referring to the ubiquitous "[name of opposing team/player] sucks!" chant, calling it "a black mark on the sports culture of Los Angeles."

I happen to agree with this sentiment, but L.A. sports fans are constant. They love the Dodgers, Lakers, USC football and UCLA basketball. They expect the Lakers to compete for the championship every year. They show up to Dodger Stadium three million strong a year, win or lose.

At Dodger games, they play with beach balls, do the wave and boo the opposition (and former Dodgers). And they do the sucks! chant. These fans want nothing more than winning and entertainment, and they spend a lot of money. They, and their behavior, are as much a part of L.A. as palm trees and actor-slash-waiters.

Lamentably, the chant is here to stay.

first photo from Dodgers Top Buzz

24 comments:

Greg Zakwin said...

Don't forget the blow-up dolls Orel.

BoysofSummer said...

LOL...it's amazing how long the blow-up dolls actually float around for also. As for the "sucks!" chant, we're not the only ones I have heard use this chant around baseball and while it may sound a bit childish and not very creative it's simple and direct. You're not gonna hear any Jack Kerouac inspired poetry at the stadium being used to slam the opposing team lol. At least we're not like Mariners fans, that has got to be the most vanilla crowd I have ever been around! Love the ballpark though.

Orel said...

@KK "Don't forget the blow-up dolls Orel."

No complaints about those.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

What, no love for my Los Angeles Kings?????

Turrrrrrrrrr Coooooooooooo

We taunt the goalies.

what_difference_does_it_make said...

What a great way to start off as the new L.A. Times blogger by insulting his audience... I get the point that he's trying to make but insulting his readers, calling them 4th graders and Neanderthals isn't the way to make a point...

Casey Lombardo said...

Chanting--even semi-vulgar chanting--is fine with me. I could do without the beach balls and the wave, though.

Wesley Vento said...

I'll take the beach balls, gang violence, childish name calling and, yes, even the wave over the cheese & wine crowd up in SF.

Josh S. said...

But the Giants DO suck. It's not like we're slandering them or anything.

Steve Sax said...

I'm with Josh S. (and the rest of you (which is probably why we have such a great community here at SoSG in the first place)).

The Giants do suck.

As long as we don't get violent or drunken-angry or inappropriate around small kids (and I feel like I'm fit to judge this point), I don't mind the verbal abuse of a second-rate opponent.

And hey, we don't throw batteries.

If I can get my crap together, I'll post on this later.

Wesley Vento said...

I'd like to remind the panel that the Padres also suck.

Nostradamus said...

I have no particular issue with the chants, other than they lack real inspiration.

Heckling should really have more panache.

Nostradamus said...

@BoS

In related news, I'll be performing my Dodger-Giant-rivalry themed version of "Howl" for selected audiences at the stadium during the first homestand.

Nostradamus said...

^Yes, I know it's Ginsberg. It just seemed funnier that way.

Kyle Baker said...

The Jints do suck big donkey dongs; it's an indisputable fact according to gospel.

What a lame blog entry for Dilbeck. it just helps feed stereotypes of Dodger crowds. And it leaves out the idea that other teams have far worse fans. Cubs bleachers, anywhere in Phiwwy, Yankees, etc... It also loses sight of the fact that suck chants and other "Neanderthal" or "4th grade" behavior is for better or worse part of everyday life for many people. They just happen to be at the ballgame exhibiting such behavior. But they're doing the same thing at dinner at Chili's.

Kyle Baker said...

Is it coincidence that I paraphrased Howl in a comment yesterday?

Orel said...

In other words, you beat him to it?

Nostradamus said...

@dusty

How funny. It was totally a coincidence. I haven't been haunting the internets for the last few days.

Orel said...

I'm a fan of the "Beat L.A.!" chant at Lakers-Clippers games.

Kyle Baker said...

Damn, Mr. C, that's downright weird. Check my post on Lasorda playing fantasy baseball. I changed "negro streets" to "Roto sheets" even, and was very pleased with my handiwork.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I was saying "boo-urns"

Dave said...

Compared to the vitriol Giant fans spew at Dodger fans up here, "Giants suck" is barely a kindergarten taunt.

Now let's quit clutching our pearls and having the vapors and get back to hating the Giants.

Kyle Baker said...

That's what I'm sayin', Dave! Right on.

And while we're on the topic of sucking, the new LA Times Dodgers blog sucks!

Eric Karros said...

Hey, I actually remember that guy in the photo and even the game itself. I was there, it was several years ago.

The guy was actually yelling, "Bonds, your hitting ability, while statistically impressive when compared to historical norms, is invalidated by your alleged drug use, and thus begets no respect from me! Likewise, your team fails to impress or inspire me!"

"...and why I'm yelling this at the guys rolling out the tarp, I don't know!"

Nostradamus said...

@dusty

Booth review has determined your superseding beat poet reference to be acceptable.

Well played, sir.