Bill Simmons: It's OK to switch from Knicks to Nets

[Bill Bradley]

The psychological effect of basically swapping Lin and Jeffries (a guy who left his heart out on the court every night) for Ray Felton because the owner feels betrayed (even though its management's fault) cannot be overstated. Linsanity is the epitome of what I like about basketball- players playing as a team instead of iso ball, the whole being better than the sum of its parts. Now we are looking at the opposite- a lot of players with great potential but they will never reach it because they are lazy, out of shape malcontents that only care about getting theirs and being stars. I can identify with Linsanity, but I can't identify at all with a team and management full of underachievers. I don't need to sign on for several more years of mediocrity just because the owner is a child. I hated when Isiah Thomas was running the show but I'm increasingly getting the feeling that he is still in charge.

For those who say that people aren't "real fans", get a life. You are not worth arguing with if you think being a fan of a team is so life and death important. We all have choices on where to spend our time and money, and fans don't need to just bend over every time management shoves a crappy product down their throats.

Truth is, it would be very hard for me not to keep following the team. That's why I post these kind of posts- it's a lot more likely I will stay away once I make a public declaration. I doubt I will be a fan of anther team. I will probably just try to watch games and just won't be as into the NBA as I have been.

[Stun704]

I'm not from the US, so before I came here, I was a fan of the Lakers, Edmonton Oilers, I think the Yankees and the Buffalo Bills. It took me almost a decade to become a fan of the Miami teams, and only because I've spent so much time living here now. I can understand allegiance to the local team, but I can also understand changing allegiance.

Being a fan is about passion. As time goes by, your passion changes for certain things. I found I started rooting for the Miami teams more and more as time went by, so I started repping them. Changing allegiance isn't something you necessarily have to make a firm decision on and do suddenly. It can be a gradual thing too.

I got no problem with it. I know it's frowned upon, but if you can look at it as an outsider, it's easier to understand why it happens. PEACE.

This explains everything, I knew you were a bandwagon fan. PEACE.

Switching teams is only justifiable if your team moves away

[Tuff Gong]

Ridiculous. I don't care if the HEAT go 0-82 and there is an expansion South Florida NBA team that goes 82-0. I wouldn't even consider it.

And ownership/management isn't an excuse. I feel the same way about the Dolphins and how screwed up they are in that respect, but I'd never turn my back on them.

A fan is a fan no matter what. Bill Simmons has lost all of my respect.

[wigglestrue]

Fair weather fans are the scum of the earth. Why not just bounce from team to team whoever is going to win? then you can always be a winner!

If you can't hang with your team during bad times, then you lose your fan card.

Yep.

It's not like the Brooklyn Nets are an expansion team, or being moved from Florida or Oregon. The Nets have been right next door for Knicks fans to jump ship to this whole time. Anybody who switches in these circumstances is a wretched poser.

I find Simmons fun to read sometimes. But I hate his ideas about fandom, I really hate how he presents himself as the grand arbiter of fan integrity, and I most of all hate the fact that he is still somehow supposed to represent Boston. I wish he'd switch. Clippers, Lakers, anything but Boston.

[MannyRam99]

Hahahahhahahahahahahahaha


No.



IF I'm going to switch teams (which I never will), it certainly won't be the Nets.

why is your username NetsFanCheryl?

[Jmonty580]

real fans dont switch teams, its just not an option period. Switch to a Nets fan? LOL thats hilarious. I hated the Nets when they had kid, Kmart, and Richard Jefferson and they were beating up on us, why would I switch now? Switching teams isnt an option for a real true fan of any team ever.

Now that doesnt mean I dont find myself turning on the tv in the morning hoping to hear on the news that the Dolan family plane went down in flames and the Knicks are being sold now. That just affirms my fandom.

[Kobeskillz]

All those years when the Celtics were the crappiest team in the NBA before Garnett and Allen he didn't stop being a fan. He's full of crap.

Knick fans should not jump ship no matter how crappy their franchise has been the last 10 years.

[wigglestrue]

The psychological effect of basically swapping Lin and Jeffries (a guy who left his heart out on the court every night) for Ray Felton because the owner feels betrayed (even though its management's fault) cannot be overstated. Linsanity is the epitome of what I like about basketball- players playing as a team instead of iso ball, the whole being better than the sum of its parts. Now we are looking at the opposite- a lot of players with great potential but they will never reach it because they are lazy, out of shape malcontents that only care about getting theirs and being stars. I can identify with Linsanity, but I can't identify at all with a team and management full of underachievers. I don't need to sign on for several more years of mediocrity just because the owner is a child. I hated when Isiah Thomas was running the show but I'm increasingly getting the feeling that he is still in charge.

For those who say that people aren't "real fans", get a life. You are not worth arguing with if you think being a fan of a team is so life and death important. We all have choices on where to spend our time and money, and fans don't need to just bend over every time management shoves a crappy product down their throats.

Truth is, it would be very hard for me not to keep following the team. That's why I post these kind of posts- it's a lot more likely I will stay away once I make a public declaration. I doubt I will be a fan of anther team. I will probably just try to watch games and just won't be as into the NBA as I have been.

I can sympathize with that. You won't be switching to another team, though, no matter what. You know it, Bill. You'd feel too dirty. However, I see no problem with a fan disowning his team, temporarily or permanently. Sometimes it's called for. One of the few avenues a fan can try to combat dreadful ownership/management. But before you totally give up, I'm sure some of you NY guys will think of something creative to try to shame Dolan into oblivion, a grassroots PR war, something. Good luck, sincerely.

[C-izMe]

I was a fan for the 9 years we sucked. The first basketball memory I have is losing in the Finals. The best Knicks player I've seen suit up was David Lee. Think imma jump ship when we have three players better than him? Just because Dolan sucks? Lolololololololololololololololololololol

[Hambone93]

Jesus christ I have never seen more pride in being a goddamn sheep.

I'm from seattle, I wasn't an NBA fan until about two years ago. I wanted the Mavs to win it all last year, I wanted the heat to win it all this year. I love the game of basketabll, I don't worshnip some franchise that would buy and sell me in a minute and would have zero qualms about screwing over their fanbase for enough profit.

call me bandwagon, say I'm not a real "fan", at least you can't call me a pretentious ass-hole that's proud of having absolutely no independent thought.

[MannyRam99]

I was a fan for the 9 years we sucked. The first basketball memory I have is losing in the Finals. The best Knicks player I've seen suit up was David Lee. Think imma jump ship when we have three players better than him? Just because Dolan sucks? Lolololololololololololololololololololol

You just dissed Alan Houston really bad.

[bwgood77]

Hahahahhahahahahahahahaha


No.



IF I'm going to switch teams (which I never will), it certainly won't be the Nets.

why is your username NetsFanCheryl?

[C-izMe]

I was a fan for the 9 years we sucked. The first basketball memory I have is losing in the Finals. The best Knicks player I've seen suit up was David Lee. Think imma jump ship when we have three players better than him? Just because Dolan sucks? Lolololololololololololololololololololol

You just dissed Alan Houston really bad.

The only years I remember Houston he was always hurt and not that good anymore.

Jesus christ I have never seen more pride in being a goddamn sheep.

I'm from seattle, I wasn't an NBA fan until about two years ago. I wanted the Mavs to win it all last year, I wanted the heat to win it all this year. I love the game of basketabll, I don't worshnip some franchise that would buy and sell me in a minute and would have zero qualms about screwing over their fanbase for enough profit.

call me bandwagon, say I'm not a real "fan", at least you can't call me a pretentious ass-hole that's proud of having absolutely no independent thought.

How do I have no independent thought? When you stick through the tough times it just makes it that much better when you win. I was so excited when the Knicks made the playoffs (even though we got swept) I was about to buy tickets to a game (I didn't matchup with when I was visiting though). Rooting for whoever is winning isn't fun at all.

[wigglestrue]

Jesus christ I have never seen more pride in being a goddamn sheep.

I'm from seattle, I wasn't an NBA fan until about two years ago. I wanted the Mavs to win it all last year, I wanted the heat to win it all this year. I love the game of basketabll, I don't worshnip some franchise that would buy and sell me in a minute and would have zero qualms about screwing over their fanbase for enough profit.

call me bandwagon, say I'm not a real "fan", at least you can't call me a pretentious ass-hole that's proud of having absolutely no independent thought.

You're bandwagon. You're not a real fan.

If you've never had a favorite team, then you're free (according to some Simmons-like rulebook) to root for whatever teams, whenever, or just players, or refs, or whatever floats your boat. The debate on this thread only really applies to people who start with one allegiance, then switch. A real allegiance, not whatever it is you do.

[Archerbro]

after going through all those tweets, it actually doesn't sound as bad as just the op title.

but yea if knick fans are going to "convert." now's the time, don't do it later on.

[vergogna]

relocating the knicks in new jersey would be magical

[HeatFanSince87]

BS! Simmons is a loser! No real fan would ever switch teams. Pathetic to even think that and him saying that shows he isn't a true fan. I have dealt with piss poor management from the Phins for a decade. As a fan, you deal with it.. And hope it changes. I'm supposed to become a fan of a rival team? Pathetic logic on Simmons part.

How can you even fabricate being a fan? Like u just wake up one day and the feelings are suppossed to be gone, or changed?

[Archerbro]

to be fair, the one thing I always hear from knicks fans when someone is just getting into the nba. they always warn and say, " don't become a knicks fan"

[Archerbro]

BS! Simmons is a loser! No real fan would ever switch teams. Pathetic to even think that and him saying that shows he isn't a true fan. I have dealt with piss poor management from the Phins for a decade. As a fan, you deal with it.. And hope it changes. I'm supposed to become a fan of a rival team? Pathetic logic on Simmons part.

How can you even fabricate being a fan? Like u just wake up one day and the feelings are suppossed to be gone, or changed?

did you even read all his tweets he's got a good argument here.
and it has to do with the owner more than anything. one thing for poor management, but when an owner makes it worse (ala carmelo trade). and a new team is coming in the same area.


Look, I get it what people are saying- "u never turn on ur team," but i can completely see Bill Simmon's side of it.

[VCRJKidd15]

relocating the knicks in new jersey would be magical

Soon the Knicks will be called the "Manhattan Knicks"