Lakers Fans Follow Kobe's Advice, Forget About Game 1

On Friday, I headed downtown to check out the mood in Los Angeles. I expected more Lakers colors than I found, and learned that that only really happens on game days.

almost 3 years ago Josh Tucker 10 comments 0 recs |

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That’s shite. I’ve worn the same Lakers shirt for a week now because it’s my only one (with “Lakers” on it, i.e. I have. Other. Shirts). Big disadvantage for us: LA fans, in LA, aren’t psychotic enough. Imagine if Utah was in the Finals right now. Every Mormon in Salt Lake, Provo etc. would be wearing Jazz gear from head to toe and carrying a machete.

by Dex248 on Jun 6, 2009 2:18 PM PDT reply actions

Couple of things

a) There’s just to much going on in LA. This isn’t Cleveland or Salt Lake City or Oklahoma City. Once the game ends, people have a million other things to, none of which is anticipating the next game (at least not right away).

b) LA is too spread out. There’s no one gathering spot for everyone, and even if there were, downtown would not be the place. There’s just nothing to do there during the day besides work.

c) This franchise has been there done that, and so has this city. In the last decade the Lakers have been to 6 finals and won three of them. The car flags were out in force in 2000, because just like Boston last year it had been a long time since we had won one. Now? If the Lakers don’t win the fans still have recent memories and future expectations to dwell on, not the fortune of on particular team in one particular year.

d) Lastly, there’s just too many damn people in LA, and the percentage of fans looks considerably smaller as a result. Wait until the parade, and you will see just how many Lakers fans there are out there (it also helps that it’s free, unlike the games)

by Sideout11 on Jun 6, 2009 2:55 PM PDT reply actions

My response to this....

a. yep.
b. yep.
c. yep.
d. yep.

Other than that everything you said was wrong.

Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny

by pslakerfan on Jun 6, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions

My naivete astounds even me. My idealism.

by Dex248 on Jun 6, 2009 6:54 PM PDT reply actions

Besides, I’m sure Salt Lake’s machete laws are a lot looser than LA’s.

by Dex248 on Jun 6, 2009 6:56 PM PDT reply actions

However, though I’ve never attended a game at the Staples Center, I’ve heard, from viable sources, who have attended games in that place, that fan savagery isn’t quite up to par comparatively.

by Dex248 on Jun 6, 2009 6:58 PM PDT reply actions

You have to sit up in the nosebleeds, way way up in staples, to find the real hardcore loud fans.

by intuitive on Jun 6, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

One more: having lived in SLC, I can say regarding a) at least, that people there also have things to do between games. I think a) is the weakest of the lot. But the others are ironclad.

by Dex248 on Jun 6, 2009 7:01 PM PDT reply actions

DIdn't mean to imply that they don't

But in smaller cities like SLC there is a much greater chance that the majority of the people can put aside other distractions and rally around a single event such as the playoffs. That could never happen in LA, whci has the attention span of a 2 year old

by Sideout11 on Jun 6, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

That is very true. More like LA has the attention span of a thirty-something constantly in flight or fight mode, SLC that of twelve- or thirteen-year-old in holy shite mode. I can say that because I’m Mormon, so it isn’t bigoted.

by Dex248 on Jun 7, 2009 2:09 PM PDT reply actions