The Fan Voice: "Dwight And I Agree, Too Much Green!"
By Live or Die Magic | January 23th, 2009
My first thought when I walked into the O-Rena on Thursday night for the Magic vs. Celtics match-up was “wait, is it St. Patrick’s Day already?” The number of green t-shirts, hats, and jerseys was appalling and they seemed to stick out even more than the greater number of white and blue apparel being worn by the Magic faithful.
Things only got worse once the game started, as the Boston fans turned out to be nearly as loud and boisterous as the Magic fans. It was incredible to hear the noise and the roar of the crowd every time Boston made a shot or every time a foul was called on a Boston player. Talking to a fellow Magic Message Board member who sits in the upper bowl, I found out it was even worse up there, where the green was even more concentrated.
Now, I know that Orlando is a popular tourist destination, even in this time of recession, and that there are plenty of folks from New England that would rather travel down here and deal with our current 30 degree temperature than the sub-zero temperatures that are typical in that part of the country. I also know that Orlando is a transient city home to many transplants from the Northeast. And yes, I will even acknowledge that Boston is the current team of choice for many an NBA fan that does not hold allegiance to a particular geographical area. But I still find it incredible how many non-Magic fans made it into that building last night.
Another person who apparently finds it to be incredible is Magic center Dwight Howard. After the game he appeared quite frustrated by both the sheer number of Boston fans in attendance and also by how loud they were. He wondered aloud if we were in Boston or Orlando?!
On my way home from Amway Arena, I was left with lingering thoughts on how much it seemed to bother him. Perhaps it was especially surprising considering that he had only just found out tonight that he broke the record for NBA All-Star voting, not to mention the fact that the Magic had the best record in the league going into the game. I would guess that most superstars would expect to always have the home court on their side. It's one thing to see a number of LeBron jerseys in the crowd in Philadelphia, Detroit, Phoenix, or even LA, after all, this is a star-driven league and all teams must deal with seeing the big star's names on the backs of those attending their games. But last night, the pro-Celtic crowd had a measurable affect on the game and on the Magic players.
As a Magic fan, it pained me to see it and it pained me to know that it bothered our players. Unfortunately, I still remember the sting of losing Shaquille, and therefore it is scary for me to think that there might be any reason, no matter how trivial, any of our players would be disgruntled in their NBA home.
Seeing as how we have a good chance of seeing Boston in the playoffs, I cringe to think of how loud the Boston fans might be when the game really does count! So, the solution is to ensure that in a potential playoff situation, the Magic fans buy up all the playoff tickets quickly. I would also implore any season ticket holder who has to sell their tickets for whatever reason to make sure that the tickets are being purchased by a Magic fan. After all, don't we owe it to our players to make sure they can tell when they are on the road or at home? If our Magic guys earn home court advantage, its up to us fans to follow through and give it to them!
This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9258 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
It made me sick. You couldn't tell the difference between our defensive stops and their made baskets.
I am sick of this transplant garbage, if Boston is so great go back, I don't want to hear about it in my hometown. I wasn't born in this state either but I live here and support my team.
The amount of BS that I had to hear on the way out last night was as sickening as the game. Most places when you lose you have an entire building full of people that are sharing in your misery. I had hallways full of green trash.
If you are a season ticket holder and sold/gave your tickets to a Boston fan, you should not only be drawn and quartered, you should be fed your own rectum after a night of eating Indian food.
As for the playoffs, there were not as many Det fans as there were Bos fans last night but there were enough. I can't wait for the day that we have enough people in this city that are loyal to the place they live so that this isn't as big of an issue.
I often wonder, if my Grandmother had miraculously sprouted a pair of testicles whilst my Grandfather was alive, would I then have to also refer to her as Grandfather? -rtillaree
Posts: 10068 | Location: Trying to figure out why the Fan Voice Blog gets 10 views and JJ/Carlos/Jameer/SVG sucks threads get a million views | Registered: February 15, 2006
The better the Magic play, the more bandwagon fans will fill the arena, and the less tickets there will be out there floating around for bandwagon fans of other teams, and snowbirds, out of towners, and misplaced northerners who come to root for their teams.
If you notice, the sea of green was a small pond in past years, because Boston sucked. Now they are back on top, and the bandwagon and closet fans come out of the woodwork.
There is one way to shut them up.
Win.
************************** "You're just like Rashard Lewis: cold blooded." ~Kberto
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Former A-10 standouts and Associated Press National Players of the Year Jameer Nelson of Saint Joseph's and Xavier's David West have been named to the NBA All-Star team and will square off Feb. 15 in Phoenix, Ariz. It marks Nelson's first All-Star selection, while West earns his second straight honor.
Posts: 6498 | Location: Perpetual English Confounder | Registered: July 10, 2007
Regular season games tend to get more of this than the playoff ones. The tickets are easier to come by and their fans have longer to plan for it (travel, hotel rooms, getting tickets, etc.).
A Jan. game in a warm weather tourist destination is ideal for out of town fans to target and plan a vacation around. When the Bucs played in the NFC Central and tickets were easy to get, their stadium used to fill up with fans from Chicago and Green Bay who would flock down for a week away from cold weather.
My guess is teams like Milwaukee don't have this problem as much because no one would want go to Milwaukee to see their team play when Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, and even Atlanta have better weather and more to do outside of one game.
That being said when buying tickets for FSU from season ticket holders many ask beforehand to make sure your an FSU fan and not whatever rival they are playing. Magic fans need to do the same.
Posts: 6521 | Location: Amway Arena Lot 3 waiting for the next game | Registered: February 23, 2006
Well, watching the game on TV, our crowd seemed just fine we would actually execute a play.
Half-way through the second I found myself thinking, "Man, I feel for the home crowd". Our team deserved every bit of those Boston cheers, they just played flat out pathetic, until the last minutes. It was like this when DET typically comes to town, and I agree on Bhnole's assessment the advantages of traveling to ORL.
Yeah i remember going to a detroit vs. orlando game and there were so many detroit jerseys in the crowd and people screaming SHEED! everytime he shot the 3. Watching the game on t.v. it didn't even seem like people were cheering for either team but i guess they drown out most of the noise on the telecast. I already bought tickets to the March 25th game vs. Boston so there's at least 2 seats that won't go to Boston fans.
Posts: 572 | Location: Florida | Registered: June 29, 2006
I think another issue here is the number of people that grow up in Orlando as Magic fans and, frankly, GTFO.
Orlando is nowhere near as cool/nice a city as it was back in the early and mid 90's. Areas like Waterford Lakes attract tons of residents that couldn't care less about the hometown team. In all seriousness, without any hispanic presence on our team a very large chunk of Orlando's population has no interest in our team - by percentage fellas. Rest assured I know there are plenty of hispanic fans.
And residents of other areas seem to generally leave Orlando. I mean, I honestly wouldn't be caught dead living back in Orlando after leaving to get a degree at UF and further moving on. After all, how many people on these boards actually live anywhere near Orlando - within an hour to attend a game on a whim or to justify season tickets.
So who is left? I wish I had a picture of the front-row folks at our game - a bunch of dapper looking folks sitting in the Mercedes seats and a ton more folks generally looking confused as to why they are at the game in the first place.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MilitaryMagic,
Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16: It made me sick. You couldn't tell the difference between our defensive stops and their made baskets.
I am sick of this transplant garbage, if Boston is so great go back, I don't want to hear about it in my hometown. I wasn't born in this state either but I live here and support my team.
The amount of BS that I had to hear on the way out last night was as sickening as the game. Most places when you lose you have an entire building full of people that are sharing in your misery. I had hallways full of green trash.
If you are a season ticket holder and sold/gave your tickets to a Boston fan, you should not only be drawn and quartered, you should be fed your own rectum after a night of eating Indian food.
As for the playoffs, there were not as many Det fans as there were Bos fans last night but there were enough. I can't wait for the day that we have enough people in this city that are loyal to the place they live so that this isn't as big of an issue.
what a whiner
While I agree with the original post to you I say suck it up. Orlando doesn't need more angry people and really it is not like it was the end of the world. The Magic played like crap, blaming it on the Boston fans is for losers and whiners no matter how annoying they might have been. Our players didn't make shots and Stan should have known Pierce would go off being guarded by Hedo.
I have been fired and still a Magic fan and smile even through losing to Boston who we should have beaten handily had we played halfway decent. So suck it up
Originally posted by MilitaryMagic: I think another issue here is the number of people that grow up in Orlando as Magic fans and, frankly, GTFO.
Orlando is nowhere near as cool/nice a city as it was back in the early and mid 90's. Areas like Waterford Lakes attract tons of residents that couldn't care less about the hometown team. In all seriousness, without any hispanic presence on our team a very large chunk of Orlando's population has no interest in our team - by percentage fellas. Rest assured I know there are plenty of hispanic fans.
And residents of other areas seem to generally leave Orlando. I mean, I honestly wouldn't be caught dead living back in Orlando after leaving to get a degree at UF and further moving on. After all, how many people on these boards actually live anywhere near Orlando - within an hour to attend a game on a whim or to justify season tickets.
So who is left? I wish I had a picture of the front-row folks at our game - a bunch of dapper looking folks sitting in the Mercedes seats and a ton more folks wearing sweat pants and generally looking confused as to why they are at the game in the first place. Frankly - people who are only there because there isn't much else to do in town.
Military Magic, this is the first time I can ever remember being upset and/or disagreeing with something you wrote.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9258 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Originally posted by MilitaryMagic: I think another issue here is the number of people that grow up in Orlando as Magic fans and, frankly, GTFO.
Orlando is nowhere near as cool/nice a city as it was back in the early and mid 90's. Areas like Waterford Lakes attract tons of residents that couldn't care less about the hometown team. In all seriousness, without any hispanic presence on our team a very large chunk of Orlando's population has no interest in our team - by percentage fellas. Rest assured I know there are plenty of hispanic fans.
And residents of other areas seem to generally leave Orlando. I mean, I honestly wouldn't be caught dead living back in Orlando after leaving to get a degree at UF and further moving on. After all, how many people on these boards actually live anywhere near Orlando - within an hour to attend a game on a whim or to justify season tickets.
So who is left? I wish I had a picture of the front-row folks at our game - a bunch of dapper looking folks sitting in the Mercedes seats and a ton more folks wearing sweat pants and generally looking confused as to why they are at the game in the first place. Frankly - people who are only there because there isn't much else to do in town.
Well, I for one grew up in Orlando, went away for college, and then moved back upon graduation. I pay **** good money each year for tickets. I live less than 10 minutes from Amway and can't remember Orlando being worse than it was in the 90's... It's not the greatest city in the world, but it is certainly not as poor as you portray. As for your Hispanic rant... No comment.
Posts: 5566 | Location: The Magic Castle | Registered: November 16, 2006
Originally posted by MilitaryMagic: I think another issue here is the number of people that grow up in Orlando as Magic fans and, frankly, GTFO.
Orlando is nowhere near as cool/nice a city as it was back in the early and mid 90's. Areas like Waterford Lakes attract tons of residents that couldn't care less about the hometown team. In all seriousness, without any hispanic presence on our team a very large chunk of Orlando's population has no interest in our team - by percentage fellas. Rest assured I know there are plenty of hispanic fans.
And residents of other areas seem to generally leave Orlando. I mean, I honestly wouldn't be caught dead living back in Orlando after leaving to get a degree at UF and further moving on. After all, how many people on these boards actually live anywhere near Orlando - within an hour to attend a game on a whim or to justify season tickets.
So who is left? I wish I had a picture of the front-row folks at our game - a bunch of dapper looking folks sitting in the Mercedes seats and a ton more folks wearing sweat pants and generally looking confused as to why they are at the game in the first place. Frankly - people who are only there because there isn't much else to do in town.
Well, I for one grew up in Orlando, went away for college, and then moved back upon graduation. I pay **** good money each year for tickets. I live less than 10 minutes from Amway and can't remember Orlando being worse than it was in the 90's... It's not the greatest city in the world, but it is certainly not as poor as you portray. As for your Hispanic rant... No comment.
"I have no interest in the in the Magic because there arnt enough white players on the team."
Imagine if I really meant that.. I would be labeled a huge racist.
Excusing the other comments expecially due to the fact that I am hispanic and I follow the team regardless of anyones race or ethncity.
Their were way to many green shirts in the arena, but their were more magic fans it is just none wanted to cheer and it was sickening, when the Boston fans started cheering, lets go Boston, every magic should of been chanting Lets Go Magic!!!
Posts: 6302 | Location: Driving the bandwagon its gotten lighter | Registered: January 06, 2006
Men this is so unfortunate for the home team and its players. Where are the fans when you need'em? I was at the game lower bowl seats rooting for the Magic and it just seemed celtic fans were louder more intense more into the game ..i had like 6 of them in front of me and one guy wouldnt shut up. I was making noise myself..But a visiting teams fanbase louder, more cheerful, excited, than a whole bunch of magic fans at Amway Arena?!?!?
I apologize for upsetting both the few of you that responded to me (LoD, WPMagic) and the many silent others that were probably offended. I did not mean to personally dump on the citizens of Orlando and, in particular, I feel bad that I made comments that in hindsight are very insensitive to a very large part of these boards and the city as a whole - as well as unfounded. I mean that.
On the flip side of that, to dive right in, is it fair to say where there were enthusiastic fans waving the P.R. flag a big piece of the arena's atmosphere of the last few years is now missing? Would you imagine as many Turkish fans would show up at our games if Hedo walks after this season? Or if Redick left, another contingent of fans would move on from the team! The targeted fan bases of the Magic tend to be some of the most passionate fans both at the games and otherwise.
Where are the rowdy, passionate fans in general? The family friendly nature of the latest rendition of our team, and its squeaky-clean image does not appeal to a large section of the modern day NBA audience. A generation of new NBA fans, the ones who should be replacing our aged fan-base from the 90's, is attracted to every "next Michael Jordan" there is, and the commercialization of stars in the NBA continues to be based around hip-hop culture and urbanization. Our team, on the other hand, is built around Dwight Howard's sense of humor and a bunch of good guys that play good basketball. For people that are already big fans of the Magic or the NBA as a whole, it's a dream come true. But how can a team with no sex appeal generate interest where it died off (and rightfully so) in the waning years of the T-Mac era? Even our bandwagoners, who have come on board lately by selling out the arena, are weak at heart, as evidenced by a sold out arena with a large percentage of them Celtics fans. In other terms, Dwight Howard did not set the all-star voting record because of Orlando fans, he got it because of fans across the country filling out their ballots who know D12 is far and away the best center in the east.
It's not like this is anything new. I remember our playoff matchups against Detroit and just how many Detroit fans bellow "DEEEETROIT BAAAASKETBALLLLL" in the councourse. That D12 is frustrated with our fanbase shouldn't surprise anyone... this has been brewing for a while now. How many times have posters here agonized over how quiet so many fans are at the arena? That they aren't even basketball fans - what basketball fan tells other more passionate fans to "sit down and shut up"?! What I'm saying is this is a byproduct of the city of Orlando.
Now, I grew up in Orlando for 22 years and watched it go from a relatively small city to the sprawling mecca of tourism and expansion it is now. I have many good memories of my friends and family in Orlando but I have a lot of bad memories watching areas of the city deteriorate and be continually ignored while unabated expansion and spending continued in areas that didn't have positive effects for the existing citizens of the city and county. When I was but a wee lad, not 10 years old, there were all sorts of new museums, the new arena, new hospitals, a new science center... the list goes on about all the wonderful things that started cropping up in a relatively smaller Orlando. But for nearly 15 years everything was focused not on the citizens, but on money grubbing expansion of tourism and population to support the expanded tourism industry. The whole city focused away from itself - by the time I was 18, the coolest places to go were freaking downtown disney and universal city walk.
As a stark example, it boggles my mind that the new arena had a strong chance of being located on I-Drive instead of in the city center. And that the city was seemingly willing to give up the team! These are big quality-of-life measures for Orlando - it is a huge positive that they both stayed in-town for the residents. But as an ex-resident, I can only shake my head that there are so many apathetic people in Orlando nowadays. The new arena wasn't just for the Magic - it's so much more than that (arena to attract world-class acts, new performing arts center, citrus bowl improvements to keep football relevant in the city) and people just couldn't get on board. The small-time thinking of "we're better off without the Magic than building a new arena" just absolutely kills me about Orlando, as if spiting the Magic was somehow a positive action. The complete lack of enthusiasm on the issue, for so many years, bothered me. I can only imagine being a player on the team as the city agonized over such a seemingly common-sense thing to do.
This isn't about what I want to see in Orlando and on the court for our team. This is about what the city wants and desires. A sports team is a symbol of the city and is a great facilitator to bring a community together. It inspires pride in the city and provides for some interesting conversation among avid fans! Because of the general lack of community in Orlando, and all the the decisions that have led to that, interest in supporting the hometown team simply is not strong in Orlando.
While the city itself is having a revival around the city center the past several years, and there's a lot more to do around the city now than go to pleasure island and I-drive, genuine interest in our team is not revived. I am ashamed as a Magic fan and as someone who tells people I grew up in Orlando that our city of over a million can only put about 10,000 Magic fans, half of whom are not there to be basketball fans, into a sold-out 17,000 seat arena for such a big game. I can only speak from my own experiences and, as an avid fan that no longer lives in Florida, I am one less active, loud, supportive fan in the O-Rena during a big game against the title-defending Celtics.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MilitaryMagic,
No sweat Military....thanks for taking the time to explain yourself further.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 9258 | Location: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog Pimp. | Registered: February 09, 2006
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