CSNbbs

So the Bucs are in the A-Sun tourney final. And I want to go see them play and enjoy a malted beverage or two.

I head to Fanatics- home of the ETSU coaches show. Where I watched the Bucs lose to Clemson in the NIT two years ago. Where I watched the loss to Belmont last year with another guy who was- if you can believe it- more vocal and physically active than I was.

But if the giveaway that this wasn't a good sports town evident by the guy rooting for Belmont at the bar (whom we got on with my line "YOU SOLD OUT YOUR TOWN!" which completely shut the lowlife up) I now walk into Fanatics.

I'm a little late. Tip off has already begun and . . . .

No TVs on the ETSU game.

None.

And except for one family eating dinner the place is empty.

You'd think with all the advertising they do Fanatics would advertise the hell out of this. Come early- stay late kind of thing.

"Oh, we'll put the game on for you."

Guess what, I didn't stick around to wait.

Knowing that the same fate would have met me at Baileys, where the sound on the TVs must be kept off, and not wanting to go to Beef O'Bradys because the food there is terrible- I headed to Knights- the new sports bar right off campus where Buck's Pizza used to be.

A very light menu there, but all kinds of malted beverages. I enjoyed one that I swear had coffee grounds in it that was brewed here. Surprisingly, it did not make me want to sell out my town.

Regardless, while there were some people there- I counted the crowd to be at 25.

Most were college students who, although interested in the game because they went to ETSU, almost assuredly would have been there if the game wasn't on as they sat at tables away from the TVs.

One guy had on a Georgia T-Shirt and an Alabama hat. That made no sense whatsoever.

I finally wound up leaving and listening to the end on the radio. I wanted to hear Jay's call of the clinching and, to be honest, couldn't take the fact the resturaunt was so empty.

I guess winning the right way means without those pesky fans who just get in the way.

Quote:No TVs on the ETSU game.

*THAT* is unbelievable and likely unforgivable. Makes me want to call them and complain and I wasn't even there! INEXCUSABLE!!

Should have come to Nashville to watch it with the rest of us.

True that. I desperately wanted to. Sometimes, though, things in life are just out of one's control......

I don't agree that its all Johnson Cities fault. I put the blame square on paulie, mullins and the a-suck. Johnson City and the surrounding Tri-cities used to support ETSU basketball rather well. The attendance at home and away games was very good. You saw ETSU hats and shirts everywhere. Our fans traveled better than anyone in the Socon. The ETSU fan attendance was by far the best of any school at the Socon tournament. Fans bought every ticket available for NCAA games. All that was good for the fans and fan support was ruined by the paulie and mullins, not Johnson City.

I have attended every tournament and everygame that ETSU played at home and many away games for many years. After ETSU joined the a-suck, my support has dwindled every year as has many faithful Buc fans.

I have always made tickets available to my friends and work staff. I have not had one request for tickets the past two years whereas in the past, everyone wanted tickets. These people didn't all at once become bad sports fans, they just don't care for the sports product that ETSU is providing.

I consider myself a good sports person but will not give my time and money to anytype of sports endeavor that does not deliver the goods as promised. My support has nothing to do with where I live.

OH, I didn't mean it was all JC's fault. I certainly agree with what you're saying about paulie and mullins (and thank you for continuing to use my "non-capitals" designations for them). And it is beyond appalling to go to stores all around and see a sea of orange and usually NO Blue & Gold. That is sickening to me.

(03-10-2009 10:46 AM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote: [ -> ]OH, I didn't mean it was all JC's fault. I certainly agree with what you're saying about paulie and mullins (and thank you for continuing to use my "non-capitals" designations for them). And it is beyond appalling to go to stores all around and see a sea of orange and usually NO Blue & Gold. That is sickening to me.

Or even heading to Lowe's in Elizabethton and seeing a neon sign for UT, Tennessee Titans, and even APP STATE, but nothing for ETSU!!!!

I see everyone's still on the App bandwagon.

fan1-Where did the App comment come from?

(03-10-2009 02:14 PM)ETSUfan Wrote: [ -> ]Or even heading to Lowe's in Elizabethton and seeing a neon sign for UT, Tennessee Titans, and even APP STATE, but nothing for ETSU!!!!

fan-1 I hardly call pointing out that other teams apparel can be bought in local stores could be called jumping on the APP bandwagon. Was the statement true or not? If it was true, its just another example of the local businesses and fans disconnecting with the ETSU sports program.

Wow, you are totally missing the point. I'm not saying he is on the bandwagon, I'm saying all these local businesses and people who never went to App but love them since they are good are. GEEZ..

I think the ETSU following would like more of those sort of people to follow the Bucs.

FYI I am NOT a fan of App State (although it is a neat campus). I was there cheering on ETSU ever step of the way when we wiped the floor with App State. It just broke my heart when I walked in there and saw the App State stuff and no ETSU stuff.

(03-10-2009 04:47 PM)PittsburghBucs Wrote: [ -> ]I think the ETSU following would like more of those sort of people to follow the Bucs.

I don't want bandwagon ETSU fans. You either like us in the good and bad times, or you don't like us at all. Thats the way I feel.

fan1 - Who are you refering to when you talk of loving Appy? I despise them. They were one of our biggest rivals and we theirs. I am jealous of their adminstration support, their sports program, their facilities, their fan support, their community support and their media support.

Sweet mother of God, read the posts. I am done backtracking.

(03-10-2009 04:50 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-10-2009 04:47 PM)PittsburghBucs Wrote: [ -> ]I think the ETSU following would like more of those sort of people to follow the Bucs.

I don't want bandwagon ETSU fans. You either like us in the good and bad times, or you don't like us at all. Thats the way I feel.

There are bandwagon fans in every sport and of every team.

Some sports are totally comprised of them. Who is your favorite professional boxer? What is his record?

Unless you're the boxer's mother, everyone's favorite boxer has a winning record.

But to a certain degree YOU have identified yourself as a bandwagon ETSU fan.

When was the last time you took an interest in the baseball team?

Oh I see, since I don't care for baseball that makes me a bandwagon fan. Okay.

Actually, to the administration the only "real" fans ETSU has attend the tennis matches and go to the golf tournaments.