Is It Miserable Being a San Diego Sports Fan?

by John Gennaro on Mar 2, 2011 8:44 AM PST in San Diego Chargers Media Coverage

El Capitan does what he can to bring a championship to San Diego, even if that means pitching a few innings. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The other day, Forbes Magazine came out with it's annual Top 5 Most Miserable Sports Cities article that is pretty much an excuse to rile some people up or place pity on those who are asking for it. Here's how they pick which cities make the cut:

We scored each city on the number of times one of its teams has lost in the postseason, adjusting the misery points to give the most weight to losing in the final round (World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Final, Stanley Cup Final) and doling out progressively fewer points for losing earlier playoff rounds. We also factored in the number of years since each city’s last title (31 for Seattle), and the ratio of each city’s cumulative seasons to championships won (Atlanta, for instance, has compiled 153 MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL seasons while winning one championship, the 1995 Braves). And to keep the playing field even, we limited the contenders to cities with at least 75 cumulative seasons in the four major sports leagues.

You're wondering how this ties into San Diego, right? Well, the city is credited with having four professional sports franchises over the last 75 seasons (Clippers and Rockets included) and have compiled just 1 championship (1963 AFL Title) in the last 93 professional seasons. Ouch. Depending on your viewpoint, that could either be better (a better ratio) than Atlanta or worse (2 less professional teams currently means long winters).

Forbes' system ranks San Diego sports fans as the 5th most miserable, coming in behind Seattle, Atlanta, Phoenix and Buffalo. There is no doubting that San Diego is viewed as a "little brother" town that can not compete and can not bring in championships, even when the Chargers and Padres are winning division titles. This reputation, and our ranking on this annual Forbes list, will surely follow the city forever until at least one of those teams gives us a reason to have a parade down 5th Ave.

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I wouldn't put much thought into it.

Too many people pick a “favorite” team based off of recent or past success. During the Patriots 17-0 season I saw dozens of Pats flags pop up around my area (DC). A guy I know wasn’t even into football when I met him 6 years ago. After learning how good his hometown team was, he decided to become a “real fan”. Also, you can tell when Cowboy and Steeler “fans” blurt out “we got X number of rings, where are yours?!?” Uh, same place yours are. Not on your hand. If I cared about the quantity of championships from past teams, I’d be a fan of a new team every few years or so. “I’m a fan of the Lakers, Steelers, Yankees, whoever wins the most stanley cups in that ice skating and boxing sport, Real Madrid, Manchester United, UCLA, and Tiger Woods!”

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say s--- or f--- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."
Vacation notice: I'll be in a different part of the world from March 5-13

by Superduperboltman on Mar 2, 2011 8:57 AM PST reply actions

But I would agree that there is a certain misery

Not only from lost opportunities (i.e., one and done in the playoffs) but also from the sheer number of lousy teams this city’s fanbase has to endure.

But moreover is the “choking” aspect. This city’s sports franchises can’t seem to handle prosperity! Building up the hope of the fanbase, only to smash it to pieces! We’ve seen it with the Chargers countless times, the Padres as recently as last freakin’ year, and now the Aztecs have the bug. Come on, does anyone really expect the Aztecs to go farther than one round in the NCAA tournament?? No — because they’re from San Diego! Hell, they probably won’t even get past UNLV in the conference tourney!

We all whine about “East coast bias,” but whenever one of our teams has a chance to really prove something… misery.

by Andy (allfield) on Mar 2, 2011 9:31 AM PST reply actions 2 recs

I disagree with this top 5 rating.

I think it fails to take into account the experience of being a fan and the quality of the fans. Also I think regular season quality should count!

IMO the Padres Petco experience is one of the best all season long due to weather, the fans, and the park. And speaking of football, I’d rather be in San Diego watching the chargers lose in the playoffs than in (say) cleveland watching an abysmal team lose in the freezing cold. I know Qualcomm is outdated but i HATED going to football games in december in ohio, imagine doing so in Chicago! Screw that.

by the-dude on Mar 2, 2011 9:31 AM PST reply actions

Just out of curiosity

what is it about Padres fans that you like? Their ability to disguise themselves as empty seats?

"When the going gets tough... TheGrandHatching pops in later." -- WG

by TheGrandHatching on Mar 2, 2011 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

"The fans"

Really? The fans at petco add to the experience? Do you mean when they sit quietly until all the scoreboards start to flash ‘MAKE NOISE’ then the cheer until the pathetic home team goes 1-2-3?

by Zak S on Mar 2, 2011 11:46 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

5 sounds about right

but surprised Cleveland was not in the top five. The longer the championship drought continues, the more I think it will never happen.

"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.

by L Magico on Mar 2, 2011 11:49 AM PST reply actions

Same

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Mar 2, 2011 12:18 PM PST up reply actions

At least Cleveland has a Championship drought

sadly as a fan of San Diego teams the drought can’t even get started yet.

by JeromeB on Mar 2, 2011 1:00 PM PST up reply actions

Did you not read the story?

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Mar 2, 2011 3:39 PM PST up reply actions

My poem wasn't good enough for you, huh?

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Mar 2, 2011 12:35 PM PST reply actions

Poetry and Sports don't mix

I wish I weren’t such a snob as to appreciate the madness of it all, but then BFTB wouldn’t be BFTB….would it?

Also, didn’t see your FanShot until after I published this. I’m not omnipresent, unfortunately.

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Mar 2, 2011 3:40 PM PST up reply actions

Take it up with the mighty Casey.

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Mar 2, 2011 4:31 PM PST up reply actions

The premise holds academic interest,

but the execution is flawed. Every year I see this from Forbes, I wonder why a magazine of that caliber has to present something so asinine.

First, I have to question their criteria, even recognizing the criteria are subjective. Other things being equal, who is more miserable: a fan of a team that didn’t make the playoffs, or a fan of a team that made the playoffs, but lost. I would say the former, especially if it’s been years and years since the team had a winning season. I think Lions-fan is more miserable than Jets-fan, because the Lions haven’t made the playoffs in eleven years, and lost every game two years ago. Yet, the Jets rack up misery points for losing in the conference championship two years in a row. Preposterous.

I also question the notion that losing the Super Bowl is a more miserable experience than one-and-done. Baloney. I’d much rather see the Chargers in the big game and lose than to see them choke off another disaster against the Jets in the divisional round. Losing as the top seed to the sixth seeded Patriots was much more heartbreaking than getting trounced by the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

And as other people mention, how can you really be miserable when it’s 65 degrees and sunny for a game in December? Or 72 degrees with a nice breeze off the Bay in August?

Are Marlon McCree and Antonio Cromartie the same person? Just askin'.

by QLFixBoy on Mar 2, 2011 12:59 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

Nothing like the old beach, great weather and zoo fall back.

by JeromeB on Mar 2, 2011 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

We (San Deigo sports fans) just need to embrace it.

San Diego is a crappy sports town. We don’t support our teams all that well, unless they are winning, and none of our teams have never won a real championship.

We are the biggest city (population wise) in the United States to have never won a Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Championship or NHL Championship.

Face it we suck. If anything we should be a little pissed off that we didn’t finish higher than number five. I think we should have been at least top three.

by JeromeB on Mar 2, 2011 1:10 PM PST reply actions