My own sports fan woes

[JALMOND]

I follow quite a few teams in college basketball, enough that there is usually a couple that do well enough for me to pique my interest as the year ends. However this year has been difficult as it seems that I am backing a losing horse everywhere. Case in point, including the football teams...

1. Portland State Vikings football (FCS)---As you all know, 2-9 with no wins after the first week in October. I guess I should have seen the basketball struggles because of that.

2. Portland State Vikings basketball (DI)---Started the year on probation with a post season ban this year. I didn't really expect much from them (haven't really been disappointed either).

3. Minnesota Vikings (NFL)---Super Bowl contenders at the beginning of the year, now out of the playoff picture entirely and the stadium's roof collapsed.

4. Gonzaga Bulldogs basektball (DI)---They always play a strong non-conference schedule to begin the year, but they usually do fine with it. Currently sit at 4-5 with no one showing them any luv in the polls (worse start since 1989).

5. Rocky Mountain College Bears basketball (NAIA)---Just a couple years removed from a national championship, currently at 6-6 approaching a tough tournament in Chicago.

6. Augustana Vikings basketball (DII)---A late favorite of mine, having started to follow them last year after an athlete from my son's school plays there. Currently a bright spot at 5-3.

7. Portland Trail Blazers (NBA)---Picked by some to challenge the Lakers, now Oden is gone and the team's superstar, Roy has ailing knees. Also can't close out teams, having lost 6 games after entering the fourth quarter with a lead.

I guess to add insult to injury...

8. Oregon Ducks football (FBS)---A team that I really do not like for various reasons is playing in the FBS's national championship game. Maybe I can swallow my pride. GO DDDUUUU(oh, I can't say it).

[Shellin]

This seems like a fun thread.

1. Washington State Cougars (FBS)---Suffering through one of the worst 3 year stretches in FBS history (at least among current BCS conferences). 5-32 (2-25 PAC-10) with two of those wins coming over FCS teams and one of them over 2008 Washington, the only team in the history of the PAC-10 to go winless. We did look a bit better this season and have a QB and skill players on offense that should be able to put up points next year, so I'm cautiously optimistic...of course, I graduate in May so my last 3 years as a student I got to see all of that garbage.

2. Seattle Seahawks (NFL)---We're in the NFC West, which is so painfully bad that we (in theory) still have a chance to go to the playoffs at this point at 6-7. Unfortunately, all 7 of our losses are by 15 or more points and we close out the season with Atlanta, Tampa Bay and St. Louis. It's looking like this will be our third straight year missing the playoffs, and even if we do somehow sneak in I'm sure we'd get killed in the Wildcard Round.

3. Seattle Mariners (MLB)---Finished 85-77 in 2009, closing out the season strong. The additions of Cliff Lee, Milton Bradley and Chone Figgins had me pretty excited for the 2010 campaign. Not only did the M's have the worst offense since the creation of the DH but they lost 101 games, my favorite player in the history of all of sports retired on a sour note (Ken Griffey Jr) and Dave Niehaus, the M's legendary play-by-play announcer, passed away back in November. At least King Felix won the Cy Young...

4. Seattle SuperSonics (NBA)---Hijacked to Oklahoma City where they now have two of the most exciting young players in the league in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Currently 17-8 while I now have no NBA team to pull for anymore.

5. Montana Grizzlies (FCS)---Missed the playoffs for the first time since I started following the Griz (I got a season ticket with my parents back in 1994). Seemingly turned the ball over 246 times over the course of the season and gave up nearly that many big returns on special teams. Also lost to Montana State for only the fourth time in my lifetime.

6. Washington State Cougars (DI)---This is the one bright spot for me in sports as the Cougs are currently 7-1 with the lone setback being a 5 point home loss to #6 Kansas State (a game where our best player had a really off shooting day). We have one of the highest scoring duo's in college basketball this season in Klay Thompson (Top 3 player in the Pac-10) and Faisal Aden (a JC guard who can create his own shot, something we were sorely missing last year) and one of the best young PGs in the nation in Reggie Moore. We absolutely murdered Gonzaga down in Pullman last week, 81-59, in a game where we were up 30 until we put all of our human cigars into the game. Barring some injury we'll finish in the top 3 of the Pac-10 this season (with Arizona and Washington) and could get an NCAA bid if we do well in our Hawaii tournament over Christmas (likely games against Mississippi State, Baylor and Florida State/Butler).

[tampajag]

1. Southern U - hired new coach and had lots of controversey (most fans wanted Doug Williams). Then he proclaimed the team would go 12-0. Won the first game then lost 5 straight. Won homecoming and then lost 4 straight including the Bayou Classic to finish at 2-9 worse record in school history.

2. Southern basketball: only won one game against a D-II. Looks like another year missing the SWAC tournament.

3. Dallas Cowboys: a nightmare season, although the team improved losing Romo and Phillips.
Thank goodness for Jimbo Fisher getting the Noles back on track and the FSU basketball team is doing well too

[89Hen]

1. Delaware Blue Hens - Hosting a national semifinal game on Saturday

2. Philadelphia Flyers - ended Penguin's 12 game win streak last night to take over the #1 spot in the NHL standings

3. Philadelphia Phillies - re-acquire Cliff Lee to add to their already impressive pitching staff

4. Philadelpha Eagles - trade Donovan McNabb in the off-season much to the shagrin of the rest of the league, but have one of the leading candidates for league MVP step-in and find themselves 9-4 and in first place in the NFC East, while McNabb is one of the lowest rated QB's

But hey, I lived through many down years too.

[93henfan]

1. Delaware Blue Hens - Hosting a national semifinal game on Saturday

2. Philadelphia Flyers - ended Penguin's 12 game win streak last night to take over the #1 spot in the NHL standings

3. Philadelphia Phillies - re-acquire Cliff Lee to add to their already impressive pitching staff

4. Philadelpha Eagles - trade Donovan McNabb in the off-season much to the shagrin of the rest of the league, but have one of the leading candidates for league MVP step-in and find themselves 9-4 and in first place in the NFC East, while McNabb is one of the lowest rated QB's

But hey, I lived through many down years too.

Same boat with you.

I attended UD as an Eagles fan and saw the Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys win Superbowls while I was there. I watched the Phillies lose the World Series in spectacular fashion in '93. Watched the Flyers lose (I've lost count) a bazillion Stanley Cup Finals in my lifetime. Saw Eric Lindros' entire underachieving career. Hell I even watched a Philly horse, Smarty Jones, kick ass and then lose the Triple Crown in the final eighth of a mile. Smarty played along with the Philadelphia theme.

If you ever wondered why we Philadelphia fans have adored the Phillies (and Delaware fans the Hens), it's because it's been a torturous past 25 years.

[bonarae]

I have some bright spots here and there...

Harvard Crimson football - season over, we're happy even with no Ivy title to show ourselves
Harvard Crimson men's basketball - 5-0 at home, and played tough at Michigan (we lost after they rallied 19-1 in the 2nd half) - Fact: We have no seniors this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder - currently 2nd in their division (Utah is 1st)
Chicago Cubs - sad spot: not much improved (only Pena got their call), more lost than replaced
Chicago Bears - blanked out by the Pats, otherwise fine and in a position to win NFC North

[89Hen]

Oklahoma City Thunder - currently 2nd in their division (Utah is 1st)

Wait a minute... how in the hell does one become an OKC fan?

[bonarae]

Oklahoma City Thunder - currently 2nd in their division (Utah is 1st)

Wait a minute... how in the hell does one become an OKC fan?

Kevin Durant's potential to be a superstar in the next few years. That is all.

[FargoBison]

1. NDSU- Only FCS team to make the postseason in every fall sport. The men's basketball team is 6-3, wrestling team beat some ranked teams a week ago, women's basketball team beat SDSU(ending a 12 game losing streak). I think we are like 6-1 vs SDSU this year and 2-0 vs UND. Things are good on that front.

2. Minnesota Twins- Made the playoffs, opened a new stadium but they did lose to the damn Yankees again.

3. Vikings- Total collapse not only on and off the field, but the field itself.

4. Timberwolves- Ugh back to the lottery, only good thing is that they have some young players that can be fun to watch on occasion.

5. Wild- Looking pretty Mild this year.

6. Gopher Basketball- Tubby's squad is looking solid right now.

[clenz]

1. UNI football - epic playoff failure but still won a conference title in a year we were picked to finish 4th and started 9 new players on offense

2. UNI basketball - coming off a S16, struggling so far to find consistency but we have a very young team. It will get better.

3. Michigan football - hell of an offense. As good as the offense is the defense is that bad...probably worse. However, NYD Bowl so with a new DC it may get much better.

4. Detroit Red Wings - .5 game from the best record in the NHL at 20-7. 3rd in NHL in points.

5. Minnesota Vikings - epic failure that just got worse as T-Jack has been put on IR. Starting a rookie 6th round pick that has been playing WR the last couple weeks. Why the fuck did we trade Sage?

6. Minnesota Twins - great regular season only to bend over for the Yankmees again.

7. Orlando Magic - started real strong, but struggling in the last 10.

[clenz]

1. NDSU- Only FCS team to make the postseason in every fall sport. The men's basketball team is 6-3, wrestling team beat some ranked teams a week ago, women's basketball team beat SDSU(ending a 12 game losing streak). I think we are like 6-1 vs SDSU this year and 2-0 vs UND. Things are good on that front.

For UNI

In the calendar year 2010, seven programs in the nation qualified for the NCAA tournament in men's and women's basketball and volleyball...UNI, Tennessee, Ohio State, Florida State, Kentucky, Texas and Duke.

[andy7171]

Fvck all you all. I win this hands down!

Towson Football
Washington Redskins
Baltimore Orioles

I'm going to cry now.

[tampajag]

Wait a minute... how in the hell does one become an OKC fan?

Kevin Durant's potential to be a superstar in the next few years. That is all.

so when he leaves, do you go with him or the team?

[93henfan]

Fvck all you all. I win this hands down!

Towson Football
Washington Redskins
Baltimore Orioles

I'm going to cry now.

You win, Andy, unless we have any Cleveland fans here.

[MrTitleist]

Fuck you guys. Beat this.

Wyoming Cowboys football - 3-9 this year... lost to previously winless New Mexico. FInished the year by beating Colorado State 44-0.

Montana Grizzlies football - You guys know the story

Denver Broncos - Holy shit we spent a 1st round pick on Tebow.

Colorado Rockies - Doing fine until they lost 19/20 games or something like that to finish the season.

[Grizalltheway]

Fuck you guys. Beat this.

Wyoming Cowboys football - 3-9 this year... lost to previously winless New Mexico, and got stomped by a Bobby-coached UNLV FInished the year by beating Colorado State 44-0.

Montana Grizzlies football - You guys know the story

Denver Broncos - Holy shit we spent a 1st round pick on Tebow.

Colorado Rockies - Doing fine until they lost 19/20 games or something like that to finish the season.

FIFY

[MrTitleist]

/me kills you.

[bonarae]

so when he leaves, do you go with him or the team?

It depends on who's holding the reins as player(s) after Durant leaves the team.

[JayJ79]

[For UNI

In the calendar year 2010, seven programs in the nation qualified for the NCAA tournament in men's and women's basketball and volleyball...UNI, Tennessee, Ohio State, Florida State, Kentucky, Texas and Duke.

that makes it the ONLY Division I team in the country to qualify for the 2010 NCAA tournaments in MBB, WBB, womens volleyball AND football.

[Gil Dobie]

NDSU Bison - Nice first playoff run in FCS, See FargoBison's Post

Nebraska Cornhuskers Football - Lost Big 12 Championship Game

UCLA Bruins Basketball - Usually completitive

Green Bay Packers - Playoffs spiraling out of reach with Rodgers health

LA Lakers - Defending NBA Champions

Chicago Black Hawks - Defending NHL Champions

Detroit Tigers - Missed playoffs with second half collapse