San Antonio Spurs Country

by Cliopatria

For those of us who are from or pledge our loyalties to long-standing, tradition-laden sports cities (Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Philadelphia, possibly Milwaukee and Cinci, and maybe, just maybe, San Francisco and L.A.) it is pretty easy to be paternalistic, even patronizing about fans in other cities. I mean, are there actually serious fans of the Indianapolis Colts, or the Seattle Mariners, or the Miami Heat? And if there are, I bet they are just as cute as buttons rooting for their little teams.

This is why it is weird to spend time in San Antonio, as I have been able to do at various times over the last several months. San Antonio is a great mid-sized city at the epicenter of Tex-Mex culture in the United States. It has one professional sports team, the Spurs, and people here are really into them. No, seriously, they are. Everywhere you go people have painted the windows of their cars or hung banners from their homes rooting on their heroes in white, silver and black. Sam's Club is selling Spurs cakes in addition to all of the usual clothing and regalia. It is like a giant eye-opener. I know several people here who actually schedule time around Spurs games. Spurs games! It's adorable!

Is it like this everywhere? I've travelled extensively and have lived in lots of places, but I have never actually met a Utah Jazz fan. I do not believe that anyone actually devotes their sporting energies to the Colorado Rockies. It is impossible for me to believe that people paint their faces to support the Jacksonville Jaguars. And don't get me started about some of the places where they put NHL teams (Nashville! Columbus!!). But this Spurs thing is shaking me down to my essence. All that I've ever believed is up for dispute. At this point all it would take would be to meet an honest-to-goodness Atlanta Braves fan (I've spent lots of time in Atlanta, and have been to games there, and have yet to meet one, so I'm setting the bar high, I admit) and I might do something truly crazy, like start taking a vested interest in the MLS (My knee jerks: Go Revolution!) or attend a professional lacrosse game (where white prep school graduates from Delaware and Maryland will sell you the entire seat, but you'll only need the edge!).

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Steven Heise - 5/16/2005

NISL is suprisingly fun to watch, especially at the X since they don't have any hockey there this year. Something which pains me deeply. MLS I have not gotten to see live but for one US Cup match which was quite entertaining as well, but I am biased since I've played and watched soccer for nearly a decade now.

Steve

Derek Charles Catsam - 5/16/2005

Steve --
Columbus has a great stadium. Catch a Crew game then go root against the Baby Yanks, as the Columbus Clippers also play in town.
dc

Steven Heise - 5/16/2005

I do give Packer fans credit as I am related to a couple to my eternal shame. And I know that they will probably continue to sell out games in even the leanest of years simply because they're the Packers. I'm just a Vikes fan and can't wait to see them go 1-11 ala Detroit some season.

As for the Crew the logical reason would be because they played an hour away from where you went to graduate school and would be the team you'd most likely have seen. I plan on making a match or two during my stay in Athens and while I hate hate hate the Crew I figure I'll be safe in the away fan section during a DC game.

Derek Charles Catsam - 5/15/2005

A college buddy was a big Atlanta sports fan. John Case. Good, bright guy. So I am a liar, and may actually have to root for MLS or indoor lacrosse.

dc

Derek Charles Catsam - 5/15/2005

I'll have to say that even in lean years, there will be that fifty year waiting period for Pack tickets. If that is not the case, I don't care where you are from or for whom you root -- scoop up tickets for games at Lambeau!
Why would I root for the Crew? If I ever catch the MLS bug (I'd be more likely to get into Premier League, or international soccer -- indeed, I fancy myself a bit of a fan of South African soc, er, football) how could I root for anyone other than New England?

dc

Oscar Chamberlain - 5/15/2005

Give Packer fans credit, they are loyal. I moved up here just as the Favre era began. They were rabid before it was clear they were going to have a real chance at success. And their games were sellouts in the lean years of the 70s and 80s. They may not chortle much for a while, but they will cheer.

Steven Heise - 5/15/2005

First of all you ought to be rooting for the Crew in MLS, since they deserve fans. Every Revolution fan is just there because its another reason to yell at New York/New Jersey fans. And secondly the Packers are going to be in for a pretty lean decade coming up I predict, let's see how many of their fans are running around Green Bay, let alone Minnesota, when that happens.

Steve

Derek Charles Catsam - 5/14/2005

Oscar --
I know that the Pack has a huge fan base -- one of the best in all of sports. And I guess that merans that it makes Milwaukee fall into the definite category. But still -- are there actually Bucks fans parading around in full regalia? I've been to a Brewers game -- I still have never seen a living, breathing Brewers fan. So maybe I should have added "Green Bay" to my list, but I didn't. And won't.
Texas is a huge sports culture with great sports fans, don't get me wrong. But is there anyone in the state who would not rather have their alma mater or their local high school win than, say, the Texans? I thought not.
dcat

Oscar Chamberlain - 5/14/2005

I grew up in Texas and now live in Packer country. Trust me, the folks up here are into the Packers, seriously into the Packers, obsessive-compulsively into the Packers. Some fans elsewhere may equal this, but none surpass this.

Having said that, Texans enjoy sports; they particularly enjoy winning (Texans aren't Cubs fans. They remember the Alamo; they don't want to relive it.)

Back in 1999, my wife and I were back in Texas for an extended trip. At the time, both the Dallas Stars (crudely stolen from our Minnesota neighbors to the west)and the SA Spurs were on their way to glory at the same time. Every hotel and nearly every friend we stayed with was focused on one or both of the teams. The one exception, hilariously enough, lived in San Antonio and hates all state-subsidized sports.

All in all it was fun, and Texans do have their own set of styles.