And that is a Fan.....

Ok, yep!  I am back on my soap box again. 

Ever wondered about the whole idea of being a fan?  Question becomes are you a true fan, a fair weather fan, a sports fan, a band wagon jumper?

Seriously, ask yourself that.

Here are some of the best quotes I have heard recently and you throw them into the category they outta fit.

(1) In a conversation I had just last weekend with someone I knew attend Texas Tech football games, I posed this question:   "How will Tech do against Kansas State this weekend?"  The response I got was spot on.  "We're going to win!"  Then I asked the dumbest question to date.  "Why do you say that?" and the young lady replied, "Because I always think we are going to win!"  The conversation continued with the concept that she did not typically talk football with the other football fans in her life as all she knew is she thought her team was going to win.  Made no difference where or who or how they were playing.  They were going to win!!  Right On!! 

(2) While visiting with a fan outside Levelland's Lobo Stadium on Friday night after a 21-to-nothing loss to Lubbock Cooper, I heard this statement.  "I sure wish we would have won tonight but I am so proud of the way our boys played.  We will get the next one for sure."  No that was not a comment being uttered from a coach working directly out of the losing streak handbook.  That was a fan off record (or so they thought).  After that statement, they went on to tell me how the volleyball team would knock off a district leader on Saturday. 

(3) With baseball season nearly ended, a discussion ensued with a gentleman and after praising the play of the Texas Rangers and explaining to me how the would win the World Series, they went on to explain how much better the Astros would be next season.  What?  Really?  The Astros are going to get better?

I have been in the radio sports business for 17 years, played competitive sports since I was five and have been a fan forever so it would seem.  I have coached, officicated, played, announced and cheered. 

I wear my reality cap a lot as a writer and announcer but I wear my fan cap too. 

No sercert around here that I am a Kansas City Royals fan, a Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, and a fan of all my area high school teams and as a fan I balance my reality factor and my true fan factor.

I always think the Royals will be a contender next year.  I always think the next play, the next game or the next season will be better than the last.

Point of the matter is this, what is wrong with just being a fan. 

Thinking your team is always the best.  Thinking it is always gonna get better.  Thinking that your quarterback or your pitcher is going to do it all.  Thinking your coach is just great and will do better.

NOTHING!

Look, even if you don't know the most about sports, still just be a fan.  You don't have to know the most to be a fan.  Sometimes I suffer under the burden of knowledge knowing that my Royals may not make moves to get them in the hunt for 2012.  Knowing that the Nebraska loss to Wisconsin means no chance at a National Title.

Get out your team's flag, whoever that team is and fly it proudly.  Wear your team jersey around if they are ten-and-oh or oh-and-ten.  It is those fans who are the truest fans of all.

Just more deep thoughts from a shallow mind and thanks for your time.  Be good to each other out there.

Money and Markets Win MLB!

Oh yes, we have all heard it!  Baseball has come down to just money spent and market size!!!! EVIL EVIL EVIL FEAR FEAR FEAR!!!! 

Whatever.......

Ok lets take a peak.

Top Ten Payroll Teams 2011: New York Yankees $202,689,028 Out During ALDS
Philadelphia Phillies $172,976,379 Out During NLDS
Boston Red Sox $161,762,475 Failed to Make Playoffs
Los Angeles Angels $138,543,166 Failed to Make Playoffs
Chicago White Soxs $127,789,000 Failed to Make Playoffs
Chicago Cubs $125,047,329 Failed to Make Playoffs
New York Mets $118,847,309 Failed to Make Playoffs
San Francisco Giants $118,198,333 Failed to Make Playoffs
Minnesota Twins $112,737,000 Failed to Make Playoffs
Detroit Tigers $105,700,231 IN ALCS

So in case you didn't notice three of the top ten made playoffs and two are already out.  Where do the three that are still in fall in......

St. Louis Cardinals 11th Ranked at $ 105,433,572
Texas Rangers 13th Ranked at $ 92,299,264
Milwaukee Brewers 17th Ranked at $ 85,497,333

Ok so it must be market size!  That has to be it right.

Ok how about the top five markets in the MLB:
(1) New York Yankees   OUT IN ALDS

(2) New York Mets         Failed to make playoffs

(3) Boston Red Soxs       Failed to make Playoffs
(4) Chicago Cubs            Failed to make Playoffs
(5) Detroit Tigers            IN ALCS

The market system works like this:
Huge Markets ---  The only team is the New York Yankees.....wow.....yeah their own catagory!
Large Markets ---  

New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.   Two of seven made the playoffs and only one remains.

In case you wanted to know, the St. Louis Cardinals qualify as Above Average Market while the Rangers and the Brewers as just average market.

Well it must be those over paid cry baby bonus babies Right!!!!

Ok how about the top 20 paid players in the MLB:

This table refers to the salary for 2011 alone, not the overall average value of the contract. Salaries listed are according to the USA Today salary database.

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, $32,000,000
Vernon Wells, Los Angeles Angels, $26,187,500
CC Sabathia, New York Yankees, $24,285,714
Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees, $23,125,000
Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, $23,000,000
Johan Santana, New York Mets, $21,644,707
Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies, $20,275,000
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers, $20,000,000
Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies, $20,000,000
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies, $20,000,000
Carlos Beltran, San Francisco Giants, $19,325,436
Carlos Lee, Houston Astros, $19,000,000
Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs, $19,000,000
Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs, $18,875,000
Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels, $18,500,000
Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants, $18,500,000
Jason Bay, New York Mets, $18,125,000
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners, $18,000,000
Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox, $17,000,000
A.J. Burnett, New York Yankees, $16,500,000

Ok, of that list of 20, just one, Miguel Cabrera of Detroit is still playing baseball.  Yes all other 19 are sitting on the couch at home cashing checks.

So now wait, is this pointing that good solid players playing as a team, with good coaching and solid owners win games?