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

[Tim_Hardawayy]

8 part tweet today on why its OK for Knicks fans to become Nets fans.

edit: fixed order of tweets

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

1. To the Knicks fans who keep asking: If you're going to switch allegiance to Brooklyn, it has to happen this summer. But I'm fine with it.

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

2. Here's the thing - Dolan is NEVER selling. The franchise will ALWAYS be screwed up. You have a 2nd NYC team and a legit excuse to leave.

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

3. If Celtics were in same situation (with a Dolan owner), I'd stop rooting for them and be an NBA widow unless there was a 2nd Boston team.

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

4. The important thing to remember - Dolan is a complete buffoon. You have a 12-year track record to examine now. He's an incompetent owner.

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

5. So you have to ask yourself... "Do I really want to spend DECADES of my life with my NBA fate tied to this guy?" You control that answer.

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

6. And if you're a diehard, loyal down-with-the-ship type fan, that's fine too... stay with the Knicks. Just saying you have an out here.

22h Bill Simmons Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

7. My buddy @housefromdc quit on Orioles because of Angelos (Dolan-esque). Baseball widow for years, now a huge Nats fan. Totally happy.

Bill Simmons ‏@sportsguy33

8. Last thought - I have a great deal of respect for Knicks fans (and NYK history + MSG). They deserve better than... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIiM91 …..

First, do you agree that if they change allegiances right now, as a fan, that's fine?

Second, do you think in 5 years, New York will become a Nets town instead of a Knicks town?

[Maritimer]

(a) Yes, I agree with his rationale. Switching between Cubs-White Sox or Yankees-Mets wouldn't be cool, but when you have a new team moving to the area, it's totally valid to switch allegiance if the reasoning is gross mismanagement and disdain for you as a fan. Of course, there's no switching back then. You have to be so fed up that you are unconditionally willing to go all in, even if the team you switch to bottoms out and misses the playoffs for years on end.

(b) No. The Knicks play too much of a role in the city's sporting history. The Nets can write their own story, and the two could end up sharing the spotlight as a rivalry, but I can't see the Knicks being supplanted.

[MannyRam99]

he's trying to convert Knick fans.

[Klomp]

Next time take the time to put the tweets the right way so we don't have to start from the bottom and read our way up

[Collymore]

It's more ok to switch to any other team. Switching to the Nets would mean your current team will become your worst rival in due time. Not that I care, I switch teams all day and usually root for 4+ teams at a time.

[omerome]

I will never switch.

[seren]

The team is coming to your neighborhood and the owner of the team you are a fan of is dumping sh*tting on you every given chance.

Can't blame people for switching.

[Bill Bradley]

I won't switch to the Nets but will be looking for a new team to root for if Lin isn't matched and the Felton deal is finalized. It's just the last straw from an organization that is rotten at its core. How can a long time Knick fan root for a team with James Dolan, melo, Amare, and jr smith as its main figureheads?

[Optms]

Real Knicks fans would never do that because real fans don't switch teams. Your team is like your dog. Yeah, you deal with their crap but that doesn't mean you'd toss them out because your neighbor offered you a miniature potty trained pinscher.

[Subway Token]

Hahahahhahahahahahahahaha


No.



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

[Next Coming]

Bills, Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays fan here saying you never switch teams. Even with incompetent ownership you stick through it. It's not all about winning for me.

[ChildOfKemp]

Real Knicks fans would never do that because real fans don't switch teams. Your team is like your dog. Yeah, you deal with their crap but that doesn't mean you'd toss them out because your neighbor offered you a miniature potty trained pinscher.

This. It's never okay to switch teams.

[LOJ]

Shots fired!

[Hambone93]

Newsflash: Your team doesn't give a single flying **** about you, so spare us your pretension.

just ask sonic's fans.

[Bill Bradley]

Real Knicks fans would never do that because real fans don't switch teams. Your team is like your dog. Yeah, you deal with their crap but that doesn't mean you'd toss them out because your neighbor offered you a miniature potty trained pinscher.

BS. As a fan you have a choice on whether you support a team or not. If you feel that your team is rotten to its core you can decide to spend your time differently. To use a more appropriate analogy, if your wife kicks you in the balls every morning it's ok to divorce her and find a better partner.

[Christophersp10]

10 years too late Bill Simmons. Knicks fans could have converted back in 2001-2004 when the Nets were one of the top teams in the NBA and the best team in the Eastern Conference.

[Mr Knick]

Did Bill Simmons, also write a article on why some NBA bandwagon fans should jump on the BIG Three bandwagon?

[NickPapagiorgio]

But wait, I thought the Knicks are going to be contenders this year!?

[Rockazoids]

I will never switch.

What he said. Nets can go off.

Hahahahhahahahahahahahaha


No.



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

This.

[LApwnd]

dumb, lakers could be bottom feeders for the next 10yrs and I'd still wouldn't root for the clipps