DOUG FRANZ

What is the definition of a true fan?

Jun 20, 2011, 10:46 PM | Updated: Apr 28, 2015, 2:00 pm

What is the definition of a true fan?

Unbelievably loyal?

Die-Hard?

Band-Wagon?

Watch every game on TV or listen on the radio?

Just a sucker?

The Diamondbacks had their largest weekend of the season this last weekend in terms of attendance. Almost 99,000 fans came to see the Dbacks and White Sox. The next highest attended series was the previous interleague series against Minnesota. Is this something to celebrate or cause for concern?

Is Phoenix finally a baseball city? Did the fans wake up and see the Dbacks close to 1st place and decide to show support?

Maybe it’s the documented proof of the success of interleague play? For the record, I’m against interleague play but I also accept I’m wrong. Fans have proven me wrong, however, showing through their ticket purchases they want interleague play.

I don’t think the ticket sales against Chicago and Minnesota prove either of those two things. I think it’s the age old problem in Phoenix. The White Sox fans who have moved to Phoenix bought enough tickets to make this the highest attended series this year. The Twins fans who have moved to Phoenix bought enough tickets to make that series the second highest attended series of the season.

Ted Miller, who blogs about the Pac-12 for ESPN.com, pointed out ASU football plays in front of more empty seats than any other conference team. He connects those empty seats as the main reason why major prospects from the state don’t stay in the state.

If you’re 17 years old and you go to a game at Auburn, Nebraska, USC and ASU, where are you going to go to school? Without actually saying this, I believe Miller is saying the lack of passion from ASU fans directly leads to mediocre results on the field.

Fans love honesty unless it is negative towards them or their team. I was a rogue voice and a maverick when I called the signing of Eric Byrnes bad for the money. Fans thought I was rebellious when I ripped the hiring of AJ Hinch as manager and went crazy on Suns owner Robert Sarver for not retaining Steve Kerr. I was also told I’m a homer because I don’t think Dennis Erickson or Ken Whisenhunt should be fired for their previous seasons. Truth is I just say what I think whether it benefits or stings one of our local teams.

Interestingly enough, if my opinion is anti-fan, I get ripped the most. I can’t thank you enough for listening to my show. The more people read my blog the stronger my job security. I wish I could make everyone happy with every opinion I have but that wish is not based in reality. I don’t say this to offend but state the reality: your expectations of the DBacks and Sun Devils will never be achieved unless you change.

Your support of the Arizona Cardinals puts instant pressure on them in a positive way. The Cardinals should expect to compete for Super Bowls every year because you are filling the building. They owe you the opportunity to compete for a championship. When the Cardinals struggle your voice should be heard because you are giving them the financial support to succeed.

Although Suns attendance has been down over the last two years, you’re undying love of that team makes them an underachiever. You have supported them and there should be more than one trip to the finals every 20 years.

The Diamondbacks, Coyotes and Sun Devils are completely different. Why would a free agent/recruit want to play in front of empty seats or a wealthy individual buy a team that can’t sell a winner?

The DBacks have won more division championships in a shorter amount of time than any other franchise in MLB history. Fans, however, say they don’t buy tickets because of color changes and one 100-loss season. The DBacks are a ½ game out of first place. The GM\manager have put a product on the field that wins. The ownership group charges in the bottom 5 in all of MLB for ticket prices but attendance ranks in the bottom third.

The Sun Devils are picked by almost every national magazine to compete for a division championship. With USC not eligible to win the division, the ASU/UofA game could be for the right to play in the first ever Pac-12 championship game. There is significant hype over this year’s ASU football team but have you bought season tickets yet? Have you looked into going to a home game?

The Coyotes were in an amazingly fierce battle for any seed, #1-#8 in the Western Conference and ticket sales didn’t go up until the last month of the season. Shane Doan is one of the classiest athletes in Phoenix history yet he hasn’t swayed 15K people to buy a ticket consistently.

I am in no way telling you where to spend your money. I think you have every right to not buy tickets to local sports teams. I don’t think you owe a measly talk-show host an explanation on what you’re doing with your money or why you don’t go to games. However, by not going, I think you lose the right to complain.

Why yell and scream at Ken Kendrick for not spending the money to get a big contract at the trade deadline when you’re not going to the games anyway? If you don’t want to hear someone tell you how to spend your money, why demand Kendrick lose money on a big signing?

If local kids like Prince Amukamara go to Nebraska because ASU doesn’t draw fans, why blame Dennis Erickson for not having talented kids? He would have the talented kids if you created an impassioned environment.

Judging by the recent history of the Coyotes, do you really blame Jerry Moyes for bailing on Glendale? Don Maloney has pulled off a miracle and the seats are still empty. If Jerry Moyes said he was selling the franchise to a market that cared about the product, explain to me a logical rebuttal.

I might be the sucker here. Growing up in the Midwest where sports is life is probably pretty sick. If I look at it logically, the West Coast attitude of laid-back non-support is smarter and definitely cheaper. I know I’m the one with the problem getting so bent out-of-shape when someone doesn’t hit the cut-off man. I’m the one who needs therapy when I question a 1st Quarter play call.

I know you’re more grounded in reality than I am. I also know it’s no fun to be that way. I think you missed an amazing Coyotes season which makes Maple Leaf fans want to throw-up. I think you’re missing a great Diamondbacks season that Twins fans would kill to have. I think you’re about to miss a fun ASU season that 20 schools in the SEC and Big 10 would die to have.

Fans have absolutely no responsibility to the teams they support, yet look at the most successful teams: Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Auburn, Alabama, Florida Gators, the Yankees. If you want to win like that, show ownership by showing up. If you can’t, I get it, times are tough but times are tough in every American city and other American cities win.

Expectations are directly proportional to attendance and ratings. If you want a Stanley Cup, World Series or Rose Bowl, I’ll see you at the game.

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