BOYCOTT WIZARDS TICKETS!

[montestewart]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JMichaelCSN/status/747596943019302912[/tweet]

Jeez, why in the world would a front office "commit" to having two mediocre starters? Wow. You mean to tell me there's no desire to upgrade? Ernie just feels like he's 'set' at the 4 & 5? What a lazy sonofab*tch! I guess this fool wants to blow his wad on overpaying some bench guys so he can be done by July 1st @ 5pm. I'd actually be okay with going the bench route if I thought they would be smart/frugal & creative about it & add young talent. But no, Ernie as always will blow his wad early on aging, injury prone vets that he has outdated scouting reports on so he use the rest of the time to sit on his fat ass.

This franchise is a laughing stock for good reason. No desire to really compete, they'd rather do just enough to maintain the appearance of competence ... Until things really get bad & fans really stop showing up, I gather Leonsis has little impetus to change status quo. I feel sorry for John Wall who will have wasted a good portion of his career here. If it wasn't for him, the front office would have a much harder job striving for mediocrity.

If your currently still buying season tickets to this crap... let's face it, your getting played for the fool. I went to at least 10 games this past year and paid less than half price for great seats. I'm talking $100 for floor seats that cost over $300. If your paying for season tickets your basically throwing away your money to guys that don't feel they need to provide you with the best product possible. We need to demand better and it has to start with the season ticket holders.

From "2016 Offseason Thread -- Not (just) #KD2DC" thread
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1414029&start=700

[montestewart]

Have read this awesome board for many years, but never posted. But today I just had to vent.

With the Wizards, there's usually two sides to the coin. For instance I'd agree that the Morris trade was stupid, but you can at least argue the opposite side. For Ernie, that sort of deal is beautiful, because a really accurate assessment of the deal will take a few years to become apparent, since there's the question of who would that #1 pick have been, and how would he have turned out.

But the current state of this team is unambiguously a disaster, and there's just no two ways about it. It's a profound strategic failure. If Ted isn't careful here, we're can look forward to at least 4-5 years of, at best, a struggle to make the playoffs.

In hopes of signing a guy who won't even talk to them, the Wizards emptied the cupboard, leaving only 5 players under contract, at a time when 15 teams have max cap space. Every team has pressure to fill seats and be competitive now. But the supply of decent free agents is small. It means that it's guaranteed that for the next couple of years free agents will be overpaid versus what you'd pay for them after things settle down. Way overpaid.

The Wizards obviously should have stocked up a year ago with market-priced talent, so they'd have had trade assets because they'd have what are now decent contracts to sell. If KD had been willing to come here, there would have been no problem making room.

But here we are. Five guys under contract in a year when every free agent will cost a ton.

Looking forward, I would worry that Wall won't return when his contract is up. That's almost assured. There's no way the Wizards will rise above mediocrity for the next couple of years, after which Wall should have no reason whatsoever to think that things will improve. After all, this is a team that's kept one of the worst GMs in the NBA on board forever. It's clearly a team that can't conceive and execute on a realistically achievable strategy.

This is 100% on Ted. Ernie is just what he's always been- a guy who is pretty darn good at saving his own skin at the expense of the team.

Ted, just stand back and look at this disaster. Five guys under contract in the priciest free agent offseason ever. Is there any ambiguity about what all these years of Ernie has achieved? I never thought I'd say it, but Snyder is soooooo much better as an owner than you. Ernie persuaded you to go all in on this free agent class. How's that working out? Will there be consequences?

I'd have fired Ernie years ago, but given the current situation, I'd fire him... today.

And last thing, Ted. Ernie, ever interested in saving his own skin, will surely overpay now for some over the hill free agent, so as to achieve a year or two more of mediocrity. Then Wall will leave, you will fire Ernie, and it'll be a complete reboot, while you keep pay for the last 2-3 years of free agent underachievement you bought this summer. Unless you prevent your GM from doing anything stupid this summer, you're looking at no less than 5 years of suckitude. Good work, dude. Give Ernie a raise.

I've kept season tickets through years of this. No more. I'm voting with my wallet. See ya.

From "The Amazingly Sucky Theodore Leonsis Thread"
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1073782&start=1240

[dckingsfan]

I am happy I have been boycotting the Verizon Center during the Grunfeld era

Although I will be happy to return a year or so after the new GM.

[montestewart]

Ernie and Terd can f*%$ right off. I haven't been to the Verizon center in over 2 years and it won't be changing anytime soon.

From "Re: Jason Smith, 3 yr/$16M deal"
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1462174&start=40

[McFilthy]

I am tempted to buy an Otto Porter shirt, but want to maintain the boycott of Wizards items until a new GM. Someone talk me out of it.

Also, I am parting with two replica jerseys: A Wizards Rip Hamilton jersey and U of MD #3 jersey (Juan Dixon's number, but doesn't have a name on back) - both are size XL. PM me if you want either of these jerseys for free to my brethren on this board. I am trying to reduce clutter, which includes getting rid of things I never wear.

[montestewart]

I am tempted to buy an Otto Porter shirt, but want to maintain the boycott of Wizards items until a new GM. Someone talk me out of it.

Also, I am parting with two replica jerseys: A Wizards Rip Hamilton jersey and U of MD #3 jersey (Juan Dixon's number, but doesn't have a name on back) - both are size XL. PM me if you want either of these jerseys for free to my brethren on this board. I am trying to reduce clutter, which includes getting rid of things I never wear.

How about a DIY t-shirt with an Otto Porter pic and the caption "Otto-matic says 'EG Sux!'"

[Kanyewest]

I am tempted to buy an Otto Porter shirt, but want to maintain the boycott of Wizards items until a new GM. Someone talk me out of it.

Also, I am parting with two replica jerseys: A Wizards Rip Hamilton jersey and U of MD #3 jersey (Juan Dixon's number, but doesn't have a name on back) - both are size XL. PM me if you want either of these jerseys for free to my brethren on this board. I am trying to reduce clutter, which includes getting rid of things I never wear.

How about a DIY t-shirt with an Otto Porter pic and the caption "Otto-matic says 'EG Sux!'"

Perhaps I should take my Michael Jordan jersey that I got at 90% off, remove the 3 and Jordan.

[pineappleheadindc]

Yup - a couple of days ago, my usual Wizards account manager called me about partial season tix. Told him I'm not interested so long as Ted has Ernie in charge. And to tell his boss that my frustration is starting to metastasize into a rejection of Ted himself...even if he, one day, fires Ernie.

With Comcast SportsNet, nacho cheese Doritos, and a cold Blue Moon on my couch, I have no reason to directly put any of my hard-earned money into Ted's pocket.

[pineappleheadindc]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want to buy season or partial season tix again this year.

I'm not doing it.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want to buy season or partial season tix again this year.

I'm not doing it.

Stay strong Pine!!!!

[montestewart]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want to buy season or partial season tix again this year.

I'm not doing it.

Millions for rim protection, but not one cent for tribute!

[pineappleheadindc]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want at least a partial season plan this year. On one level, it feels like some sort of marital trap and I worry that she's going to want a new car of out this. On the other hand, I do enjoy the sport of NBA basketball -- watching it live in the arena.

Bottom line is this: Guys help me. My resolve to boycott the Wizards is weakening at a very brisk pace.

[montestewart]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want at least a partial season plan this year. On one level, it feels like some sort of marital trap and I worry that she's going to want a new car of out this. On the other hand, I do enjoy the sport of NBA basketball -- watching it live in the arena.

Bottom line is this: Guys help me. My resolve to boycott the Wizards is weakening at a very brisk pace.

[fishercob]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want at least a partial season plan this year. On one level, it feels like some sort of marital trap and I worry that she's going to want a new car of out this. On the other hand, I do enjoy the sport of NBA basketball -- watching it live in the arena.

Bottom line is this: Guys help me. My resolve to boycott the Wizards is weakening at a very brisk pace.

I am here to help.

1) Sabbaticals are healthy. They allow you some perspective. If what you learn is going to these games in the same seats -- or whatever psychic benefit you derive from being a STH -- is indeed really important to you, then you will have gotten something out of it. And perhaps you'll learn that your time and money is better spent elsewhere.

2) You can go to any game you want. The secondary market is so damned soft that you can often get good seats for pennies on the dollar. Buying them from other STH's keeps more money out of the org's hands.

You can come over to my house the night of the home opener. If you're still in cabin john, I'm like 10 minutes away

[AFM]

Is that invitation open to the whole board?

[fishercob]

Is that invitation open to the whole board?

Um.....no.

[AFM]

Is that invitation open to the whole board?

Um.....no.

Too bad. I already called my uber. See you in 10, papa.

[Zonkerbl]

So I'm not alone...

[dandridge 10]

My wife keeps asking me if I'm sure I don't want at least a partial season plan this year. On one level, it feels like some sort of marital trap and I worry that she's going to want a new car of out this. On the other hand, I do enjoy the sport of NBA basketball -- watching it live in the arena.

Bottom line is this: Guys help me. My resolve to boycott the Wizards is weakening at a very brisk pace.

Pine, you and I basically have had the same conversations with our ticket reps. After 20 years as a season ticket holder, I called it quits too and my ticket rep has called me numerous times this summer to convince me to go in on a partial season or to share tickets with someone else that does not want a full season. Each time, I have told him that I will not buy any season tickets until Ernie is fired and Ted demonstrates that he is truly committed to building a winning team here. As Fishercob said, just buy a ticket on the secondary market if you want to go to a game. It will likely be much cheaper as I have zero confidence that the team this year is going to be good enough to make it a hot ticket. My guess is that by X-mas we will be able to get tickets in the lower bowl center section for half the cost of what season ticket holders are paying.

Stay strong my Wizards friend. There has to be more season ticket holders like us. I know a few that sat around me that were taking the same position. The only way Ted will listen is if it hits him in the pocketbook.

[DCZards]

I find pro basketball extremely entertaining...and the Zards are my team. So, yes, my wife and I will continue to have Zards’ season tickets. Because going to see our favorite group of players ball (and root like hell for them to win) is what we love to do.