The Oakland Athletics Fan Complex
Jul 8, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris (36) scores a run against San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) during the eighth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
If I had a dollar for every time a fan of the team across the bay has asked me why I don’t root for their team now that the Oakland Athletics are out of the postseason, I’d be able to afford a seat in that team’s ball park. “But why don’t you just cheer for the Bay Area team?” “I’d want the A’s to win if they were in the postseason.” And, even my four-year-old son made the appeal, “Mom, I wish we could like the Giants.”
Of course everyone wants to be a fan of the team that is winning. But even a four year old gets it. You just can’t. So I wanted to explore the reasons why. Why can’t/don’t/shouldn’t Oakland A’s fans root for that other team across the bay?
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First and foremost, it seems the biggest reason why A’s fans just can’t bear to cheer on those guys in creamsicle uniforms is the people that “fill” their stands throughout the season, or claim to. We all know them. Those fans that know nothing about the Giants pre-2010. In fact, we know much more about their team than they do. We can rattle off their starting lineup, reminisce about their big players of the past and throw stats their way that leave them with puzzled looks. “Well we have the best park in baseball.” “At least we can fill our ball park.” And this is what apparently makes them the best fans in baseball?
I heard of a personal friend’s story tonight that highlights the sad state of fandom, especially those bandwagon fans. You should feel comfortable cheering on your team, even in an opposing team’s park. In fact, I feel respect is due a fan of the opposing team who will represent in hostile territory. But you may want to think twice over at the fancy AT&T (or whatever it’s called). A lone female Royals fan was booed and cursed at, told to get the f… out of a section at Game 4 in San Francisco. All I know is, that would not happen at the O.co. Maybe it’s because we’re so used to the melting pot of fans we see come through those gates, but it’s also because we respect fans of the game. I know KC hosted many SF fans last week and they commented on the hospitality of the city. Just so you know KC, don’t judge the whole bay area on a few Giants fans.
Then there are those fans that profess allegiance to the A’s, but if the A’s are out of the postseason, they will root for the Giants. What? Really? Do you think Yankees/Mets, WhiteSox/Cubs, Angels/Dodgers fans feel the same? No! You root for a team not a region! If you root for both teams then you are really not a fan at all. Sorry people, you need to pick a side and don’t you even think about wearing that hideous A’s/Giants hat!
Throughout this post season I’ve been called a few things by Giants fans. Bitter, jealous, a hater. Yeah so what. Maybe I’m all of the above. I can own it. I spoke my mind and felt the social media backlash. I also loved some of the posts I read that described our feelings as A’s fans. One explained it well when he said that seeing Giants in the post season again is like your rich brother finding a $100 after you just lost your wallet. I’m just slightly sick of seeing the same bay area team in the post season when the A’s have been fighting tooth and nail to no avail. So call me what you want. I won’t root for the other bay area team this post season, and if you don’t get it, well I’m sorry.