Why do we Cheer for the Hawks?

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri May 25, 2012 7:26 pm

Seriously. I cheer for all the ATL teams for the most part. But there are specific reasons why in most cases. I can't really think of too many reason why I cheer for the home BBall team? I mean:

-There is no history of success. It's been almost two decades since they won their division. And in their 44 years in Atlanta, they've never made it past the 2nd round.

-There are no Hall of Famers attached to the team anymore. Sure we have Dominique as an announcer, but there's no Hank Aaron type player in the Fron Office ala the Braves.

-There's not really any recent or future success on the Horizon. We are average now. We were average in the 90s. We rebuilt through most of the 2000s just to get back to mediocre.

I cheer for the Braves because of 1 WS win, 14 straight division titles, a plethora of All Stars, 5 surefire Hall of Famers and my all time favorite baseball player. (Chipper)

I cheer for the Falcons because of an owner commited to winning. The magical ride to the Super Bowl in 1998. The Michael Vick experience. (The good year(s)). Years of poor decisions and bad luck that are almost laughable in retrospect.

But I cheer for the Hawks because of...Geography?

How about you guys?

Post #2 » by **ATL Boy** » Fri May 25, 2012 7:37 pm

There really isn't reason why a fan cheers for his/her teams, most of the fans on this board are not bandwagon fans like alot of the Heat fans are. (not on this board, just in general) There's just a special connection to this team for me at least, I can't explain why I love this team, the ownership is the worst in the NBA, our star player who grew up here wants to leave, and the coach is incompetent but I just can't turn my back on the team that I've loved for so many years.

theatlfan · Post #3 » by **theatlfan** » Fri May 25, 2012 8:23 pm

Because Love is Blind.

Geaux_Hawks · Post #4 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Fri May 25, 2012 11:19 pm

Hometown team. They represent for the state of Georgia..

SAUCERY_SWEET · Post #5 » by **SAUCERY_SWEET** » Sat May 26, 2012 12:29 am

Simply because, they represent our region and have Atlanta on their jersey. Nothing more or less.....I don't cheer for individuals of the team. I cheer for the entity that is a whole and makes it complete. I actually root for any team in Georgia whether college, Pro or whatever. :nod:

azuresou1 · Post #6 » by **azuresou1** » Sat May 26, 2012 2:50 am

I really don't know why... I don't even live in Georgia. I actually don't have a good reason for why I started following us.

parson · Post #7 » by **parson** » Sat May 26, 2012 3:28 am

Theodore Sturgeon wrote:Why must we love where the lightning strikes, and not where we choose?

MaceCase · Post #8 » by **MaceCase** » Sat May 26, 2012 11:54 am

My parents were a foreign journalist and embassy worker and then I was sent back stateside to live with my half brother who was an army captain at the time so I can lay claim to most teams in any geographical location if I wanted.......unfortunately I picked each team I liked at the age of 10 and stuck with them ever since as a matter of principle.

If I could go back in time I'd tell the 10 year old me he's an idiot for picking the Hawks, Eagles and Mets as his favorite teams but then tell him he's a true fan for sticking it out with those misfit outfits.

Post #9 » by **ATL Boy** » Sat May 26, 2012 2:07 pm

MaceCase wrote:My parents were a foreign journalist and embassy worker and then I was sent back stateside to live with my half brother who was an army captain at the time so I can lay claim to most teams in any geographical location if I wanted.......unfortunately I picked each team I liked at the age of 10 and stuck with them ever since as a matter of principle.

If I could go back in time I'd tell the 10 year old me he's an idiot for picking the Hawks, Eagles and Mets as his favorite teams but then tell him he's a true fan for sticking it out with those misfit outfits.

At least the Eagles look promising this year

MaceCase · Post #10 » by **MaceCase** » Sat May 26, 2012 2:50 pm

ATL Boy wrote:At least the Eagles look promising this year

Say that every year :lol:

Post #11 » by **ATL Boy** » Sat May 26, 2012 2:59 pm

MaceCase wrote:
ATL Boy wrote:At least the Eagles look promising this year

Say that every year

I'm not really an eagles fan so I don't follow them, I do know that they say that about the cowboys every season

jagstang76 · Post #12 » by **jagstang76** » Sat May 26, 2012 5:16 pm

It's interesting this topic came up, because I've been asking myself that and wondering if I could change my allegiance. I started seriously following the Hawks back when they blew up the team and drafted Josh Smith and others. It was a horrid time to be a fan of the team, but I loved watching/thinking about the rebuilding process. I honestly think it has a lot to do with Smoove for me. He's always been such a dynamic athlete that's exciting to watch (especially this last season). I never saw him as a star, but someone I could really be a fan of. I will be watching this offseason very closely, because I have a feeling things might change for me as far as the Hawks go. Either they will figure something out and make this team better, or they will let Josh go and start down the rebuilding path again. Perhaps they will bring in someone worth being a fan of again for me. We'll see.

BossAus · Post #13 » by **BossAus** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:23 pm

Because I'm a masochist.

evildallas · Post #14 » by **evildallas** » Thu May 31, 2012 12:06 am

jagstang76 wrote:It's interesting this topic came up, because I've been asking myself that and wondering if I could change my allegiance. I started seriously following the Hawks back when they blew up the team and drafted Josh Smith and others. It was a horrid time to be a fan of the team, but I loved watching/thinking about the rebuilding process. I honestly think it has a lot to do with Smoove for me. He's always been such a dynamic athlete that's exciting to watch (especially this last season). I never saw him as a star, but someone I could really be a fan of. I will be watching this offseason very closely, because I have a feeling things might change for me as far as the Hawks go. Either they will figure something out and make this team better, or they will let Josh go and start down the rebuilding path again. Perhaps they will bring in someone worth being a fan of again for me. We'll see.

I feel like you a bit. I was a Hawks fan for a long time before, but I came back to the team when they drafted Josh Smith (trading for Isiah Rider ran me off initially). I've been a season ticket holder every year but 1 since (drafting Shelden Williams prompted me to sit out a season). Each year I think I'll wise up and move on but I can't seem to quit them. I've renewed my season ticket for next year because I think it might be the last real opportunity for the core of the roster.

Even when I decide to stop buying season tickets I am likely to stay a Hawks fan. I think the national media abuse to the Hawks and the Hawks fans has galvanized me. I want the team to succeed and I want to say that I toughed it out when they do. I want to be able to say FU to the media members who always claim there are no Hawks fans or that Hawks fans are horrible. I want to able say that I was a Hawks fan back then as well and every time you said that we had horrible fans you insulted me and I've never forgiven you, you worthless media scum. (I just imagined saying that to Michael Wilbon)

Post #15 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Mar 6, 2018 7:29 pm

I asked this question 6 years ago.

I'm bumping again for the new kids to add their 2-cents.

Why do you guys still root for this forgotten franchise?

I loved the Mutombo - Steve Smith Hawks of the 90s.

20 years later, I'm still a fan largely because of these guys. Despite a serious lack of payoff over the years.

graymule · Post #16 » by **graymule** » Tue Mar 6, 2018 7:50 pm

Because they ARE the Hawks and the Hawks ARE my team, that's why.

I am a fan of all Atlanta pro teams - I never did understand Hockey when we had a team in Atlanta and I don't
really understand Soccer but I still want the Atlanta team to win.

The Hawks, the Dream, the Falcons and the Braves I follow faithfully, whatever their record. The question
is, why not?

jayu70 · Post #17 » by **jayu70** » Tue Mar 6, 2018 8:00 pm

When I moved from my home country to GA for college, I adopted a fandom for all the Atlanta teams.
I can still remember my first Hawks game - I was so excited, telling everybody and anybody I was gonna see the Human Highlight Film. I got up that morning - The Hawks trade the HHF for one stinkin" freakin' Danny Manning. :banghead:

.
If that didn't turn off my fandom, nothing else will. Hawks are stuck with me.
I enjoy going to Philips to games, when the crowd is engaged it's awesome.

MaceCase · Post #18 » by **MaceCase** » Tue Mar 6, 2018 8:13 pm

Heh, since that post I’ve gotten a Conference Finals and World Series appearance to go along with a Super Bowl win from the teams I follow. I’m golden 8-)

.....well, Newcastle was relegated but you yanks..er..yank yanks don’t care for soccer anyway.

Spud2nique · Post #19 » by **Spud2nique** » Tue Mar 6, 2018 10:58 pm

TBS...thank God for TBS...I started watching the nba in 1982ish...I was living in Houston and was learning to play the game. Didn’t have a fav team at age 6... I did love the Rockets with Akeem n Sampson and co. Was very upset when they lost the finals to the Celts in 86. Saw the 85 dunk contest and started loving Nique and Spud. Found out I could watch them on TBS every almost! Been a fan for the past 33 years.

I love my Hawks and I can’t see myself ever even having a second fav team. I got close with the Sonics in 1987-97 due to players like Dale Ellis (one of my fav non hawks) GP and Shawn Kemp (early kemp not coked out later years Kemp), Detlef and Hawkins as well. Flirted but never had a second fav!

ATL HAWKS 4 Life!

macd-gm · Post #20 » by **macd-gm** » Fri Mar 9, 2018 2:35 pm

Born and raised in Atlanta. I ain't giving up. Plus having so many friends i grew up with be Lakers, Bulls, Cubs, Steelers, Cowboys fans despite also being born and raised in Atlanta just pisses me off. Hawks will triumph one day. If we can keep some consistency in coaching / GM i think we are on the right track.