Comments on: Pacers’ Hill not happy with lack of fan support in game versus the Lakers

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:06:57 +0000

The Indiana Pissers should move to Cincinnati or Columbus. Players will feel free and they can even use the public bathroom and water fountain.

While your at it, send the Colts to L.A.

Colt players would enjoy being in the 21st century.

By: mytthor

mytthor — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:57:52 +0000

I’m a laker fan, and I’m far from a bandwagon fan, but if you don’t think that there are a lot of bandwagon Laker fans, you’re even dumber than I though. And I didn’t think that was possible.

By: mytthor

mytthor — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:56:06 +0000

Well there’s just not room with you hogging the whole thing.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:54:11 +0000

If Stern had half a brain in his head he’d keep the Kings in Sacramento and move the Pacers to Seattle. The Seattle area strongly supported the Sonics until the team was run into the ground.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:50:58 +0000

I’m wondering what it says about you that you follow a league that you think is 95% chumps.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:48:13 +0000

If supporting a team for longer than you’ve likely been alive, then I guess I’m a band wagon fan.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:45:54 +0000

The Lakers won one title in L.A. (they moved there for the 1960-’61 season) before Buss bought the team in ’79. The team was in the Great Western Forum from ’67 to ’99. By the way, it was only called that from ’88 to ’03 with the naming rights purchased by Great Western Savings & Loan, a rarity in sports at the time.

In that span the Lakers missed the playoffs three times (out of a total of five times in their history). Four times they finished under .500 (yes, they made the playoffs in ’92-’93 @ 39-43). Attendance was regularly well above 90% capacity, usually in the 96%-99% range. Two exceptions were ’93-’94 at 83% and ’94-’95 at 90%.

The building, known to locals as the Fabulous Forum, is now owned by Madison Square Gardens, Inc. How ironic.

Although the Lakers experienced a phenomenal period of success during Buss’ tenure as owner, they were still quite successful attendance-wise during Jack Kent Cooke’s ownership. There may have been fans cheering for the opposition, but it was hardly anything like that experienced by other cities when the Lakers visit.

One L.A. team did have to experience the feeling of every game seeming to be on the road: The Rams. After Robert Irsay traded the team to Carroll Rosenbloom for the Baltimore Colts in 1972, Rosenbloom built a team good enough to go to the Super Bowl in 1979. They won seven straight NFC West championships during the ’70s.

Unfortunately for Rams’ fans, Rosenbloom drowned just prior to the ’79 season and his widow, Georgia Frontiere, inherited 70% ownership. She promptly fired the brain-trust that had made the Rams contenders, including stepson Steve Rosenbloom, and subsequently the team suffered through many years of mediocrity. Oh, they had occasional success, but L.A. sports fans are fickle and demand consistent winning or they take their entertainment dollars elsewhere.

The combination of the Rams moving to Anaheim (’80) and the Raiders moving into the Coliseum (’82) reduced attendance for Rams games further. The original fan base was divided by those two moves and by the Raiders winning the Super Bowl in ’83.

Many Angelenos are transplants from other states and they often purchased single-game tickets to see their hometown teams when they came to Southern California. The result, especially on TV, was effectively that of a road game for the Rams. Frontiere publicly stated that she thought fans should sell out the games so she could afford to put a better product on the field. The fans thought the opposite (put a decent team out there and we’ll buy tickets) so she moved the franchise to St. Louis.

While I remember hearing louder cheers for Ram opponents in games at Anaheim Stadium, I can’t ever recall much cheering for Laker foes at the Forum, even in their few poor years. Lots of empty seats, but not much support for the opposition.

By: badintent

badintent — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:22:35 +0000

no, just straight up Idiots that watch Laker games to see more idiots called celebrities in the front row. You know , adults that hate their own life and pretent to be someone else. They’re called actors and have one thing in common with 95 % of all NBA players, get busted broke when they are washed up, and get on Repo man show.

By: badintent

badintent — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:17:14 +0000

OK, you’re Walking Dead

By: badintent

badintent — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:15:02 +0000

@frankiebooboo
Best post of the year ! amazinG !!! JimmyKimbel and Jay Leno , move over, here comes frankie !!!

By: kavika6

kavika6 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:27:48 +0000

Come back to San Antonio, George. You’ll remember what real fans sound like.

Don’t worry, IF the Lakers make the playoffs the Spurs will take care of them in the first round.

By: glink123

glink123 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:04:58 +0000

Move the team to a bigger city that is capable of supporting their team. Indianapolis is too small for an NBA franchise.

By: jerrybussrightfulheir

jerrybussrightfulheir — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 02:32:11 +0000

Watching the game yesterday I was surprised how loud the crowd was cheering for the Lakers. Pretty sad when arguably the 2nd best team in the east can’t get love from their fans.

I don’t think that happened last year against the Heat, correct me if I’m wrong.

By: cflip376

cflip376 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 02:30:36 +0000

He didn’t say it immaturely and was respectful, so don’t get the whole “grow up” type comments. Can’t really blame him for being frustrated either, their 2nd in the East but have one of the worst attendance ratings in the league being the 26th. You cant tell me you wouldn’t be frustrated with something like this despite doing so well this year and the last.

By: Punk

Punk — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 01:54:57 +0000

As a fan of Indianapolis sports I know two things happened at roughly the same time.

1. The brawl
2. Colts -Patriots rivalry

Well that was a no brainier. There is only enough money to strongly support one team. I pick the football one.

By: kb2408

kb2408 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 01:53:57 +0000

^^ Wake me when LeBron has more than one or two titles.

By: omahakidw

omahakidw — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 01:37:28 +0000

The problem is , the LAKERS collectively could`nt hold LeBrons jock period !!

By: clevelandschronic2

clevelandschronic2 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:58:44 +0000

Jus look at it this way pacer fans. You’ll be going further than the fakers will in the playoffs especially with poor old mamba crying foul about his ankle! not to mention the drama queen DH12 or the im softer than tissue paper pau gasol. Lots and lots of bandwagon faker fans will be crying right along with kobe.
Btw lakers have the most bandwagon fans out of anyone and its not even close. All faker fans are a Bunch of front runners.

By: surly1n1nd1anapol1s

surly1n1nd1anapol1s — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:56:44 +0000

Sorry George, I’m an Indy resident and Pacers fan. I didn’t attend the game. However I do pay local taxes and have eaten out three times since Friday paying 9% sales tax so your building is funded from the deficits that Pacers Entertainment Group cannot fund. Perhaps the billionaire Simon family could stop paying you a lesser amount to avoid the consistent deficits your organization produces.

By: mahhelo

mahhelo — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:41:21 +0000

If you want to drown out opposing fans it’s very simple – give them nothing to cheer about.

By: gmsalpha

gmsalpha — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:24:42 +0000

It’s mentioned that this Pacers team is far removed from the one involved in one of the worst brawls in sports history. And do we remember who that particular player on the Pacers team was? Mr. Metta World Peace, he of the Lakers.

Interesting bit of coincidence.

By: yellscreamgohorse12

yellscreamgohorse12 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:20:59 +0000

George Hill is 100% correct. I understand Lakers fans are everywhere but sitting in my office at the fieldhouse , I would hear the crowd cheer and look at the TV expecting to see that the Pacers had scored…but nope. I was hearing Lakers fans. This AM I overheard a conversation while getting my coffee that sums up the ignorant opinion that people here in Indy, who obviously aren’t even following the team, have formed. When asked by the cashier what happened to the Pacers last night, the guy she was talking to said ‘ I dunno, they lose?’ The cashier responded ‘yeah but it was close’ The guy responded ‘ oh well at least they actually made a little bit of effort’. I wanted to ask the guy if he has even watched a single game or if he is stuck in the Jamal tinsley pacer days.

By: decimusprime

decimusprime — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:15:52 +0000

Ive been a true Lakers and Dodgers fan since I was old enough to really pick a favorite team. Even when MJ ruled the game… Im loyal through the good and bad. Don’t hate because you hitched your wagon to perennial losers. So much of the history of the game has Lakers fingerprints all over it…logo…records galore from players throughout time…Purple & Gold.

By: 2bemoore43

2bemoore43 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:57:46 +0000

noahbird March 16, 2013, 6:12 PM EDT

Colin Cowherd theorizes that this mid west city is a touch racist. I’ve noticed in my handful of times in Indy that the community is pretty segregated.

i thought the race card expired @ end of Mayan calender.

By: kb2408

kb2408 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:56:38 +0000

Hey, frankie, my dictionary defines zealot as a fanatic, or someone who is full of zeal, what does yours say?
@lakerluver, most of the guys on this site are Laker hating trolls.

By: jhuck92

jhuck92 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:49:36 +0000

It’s not just the Lakers who have this level of bandwagon fans. The Heat played at Washington earlier this season (while John Wall was hurt) and Wizards player were booed at their own free throw line. I’m pretty sure it was the same game where some fan tried to high five both RG3 and LeBron, but got turned down both times.

By: frankiebooboo

frankiebooboo — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:42:50 +0000

Umm… I’m guessing you posted this comment from the grave then.

By: lakerluver

lakerluver — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:37:55 +0000

I’ve been recently called a zealot. Well, if I am, I’m not alone. There are millions of LAKERS zealots around. Just go to any arena and you’re sure to see some.

By: lakerluver

lakerluver — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:35:28 +0000

@baymac
No, the bandwagon fans are Heat fans, clown. The LAKERS and Celtics have long histories of winning basketball. I mock Celtics fans because most of their titles were won fifty years ago but even I acknowledge that they are great fans. And like most LAKERS fans, C’s fans are long time fans. I’ve been a LAKERS fan my whole entire adult life. Magic was my favorite player way back in his MSU days, thus whatever team drafted him would’ve become my favorite team. I have had only one fave team since 1979. Let’s say for argument sake, the Clippers win the next five titles and the LAKERS are a lottery team. I still would not jump ship. True fans stick with their team through the good and the bad. I was a fan for SHOWTIME and I was a fan when the likes of Kwame, Smush and Elden Campbell donned the PURPLE AND GOLD. I say Heat fans are bandwagon fans because where were they prior to the big 3 forming? Everybody knows Florida is football country. As soon as the Heat’s era is over that arena will be half empty again.

By: fanofevilempire

fanofevilempire — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:29:34 +0000

I’m a Laker fan and I’m not a B**ches.
Thankyou