Coping

[SSJunkie68-69]

The Washington Nationals have sucked for the past 4 years. They are 40 games below .500 this season and it isn't improving. Got a nice new ball park but the team can't field a winning group.....Should of kept Frank Robinson instead of dumping him the way they did....Attendence is dropping this year which isn't good. When Camden Yards opened back in '91, used to head over to Charm city to watch the O's quite a bit. That stadium was always at or near capacity for the following years....Not so with DC's new stadium. Unless the wins start coming the fans are going to stop going. The owners of the team have already with held rent payments to the city....it's just gonna get worse~

[GenOne]

Try being a business owner in DC and having to pay a "Ballpark Fee" to pay for the damn place ....

[travlnz28]

I'm a Dodger fan so I've experienced the ups and downs over the years. However, my true devotion is to a team that has had one of the worst records in Hockey over the last 40 years- the Los Angeles Kings. It has been very tough hanging in with a team ownership who settles for last place teams while raking in money year after year and playing well under the salary cap. As always GO KINGS!! (there would have been way more exclamation marks after that a few years ago).

[CC Rider]

How do I cope? I don't pay any attention to baseball anymore.

If Camden Yards wasn't such a nice ball park, I won't go at all.

[Salvatore]

Thats the problem Rick. The real fan is losing interest. More teams have a losing record than not. I used to love the old Senators but yet another losing team forever.

[Xplantdad]

Hey...at least you don't have the Diamondbacks!

That's why I am a long time Angels fan...after so many years of sucky teams(and crappy owners)...the Angels are finally doing okay!

[Salvatore]

Yes they are. A good owner and a Norristown, Pa. coach. My old home town! The home of the Zep! Again, The Cubs just lost again! The Phillies are unbelievable. Just mail us the Pennant!

[Bill Pritchard]

Many of the teams you're discussing here may have problems due to being unable to draw fans because of their poor performance. The Chicago Cubs have no such issues...the ballpark is always full and team promo items fly off the shelves, no matter how crappy the team is in any given year. Hence, they really have no motivation to produce a 'winner'

I pretty much quit being a fan of any baseball back in the 80's after all the stupid strikes And I feel that players and team owners were equally culpable ....all the $$$$$ has made them lose touch with reality.

[RamAirDave]

Twins fan here, so I've endured both ends of the spectrum and some in-between.

Two WC rings in 87 and 91. Then a really tough era through the 90's. Talk of contraction. Thankfully that didn't happen.

But now it's just frustration. Contenders to make the post-season, but not really WS contenders. Being a small-market team, when the talent develops, they're often traded off and starts the cycle all over again. A ton of good young talent, but can't keep 'em.

At least they aren't basement-dwellers anymore... I guess...

[J PAUL]

Sam,

I have got four words "THE BIG RED MACHINE." I believe the Cincinnati Reds of the mid 70's were the best of all time!