Good point.

Would I treasure every trip to Lambeau without hating guys like Warren Sapp and Randy Moss? Yup. Maybe I’m in the minority here, but there is a point to be made. There are sports fans, and there are sports fans. In spite of blogging about the Packers at 2am in April, I’m a casual fan. I go to one Packer game every other year or so. I get to Wrigley or County . . . err . . . Miller Park now and then.

Among people who take this sort of thing much more seriously, you may indeed be close to accurate with your statements. I think you characterize the ardent fan more so than the casual fan, Just a thought.

Now if we’re talking about teams – I think that’s more about rivalry. Rivalry is central to enjoyment of sports. The NFL would be a pale place without such things as Packers/Bears. I can’t imagine MLB without Boston/NY. I can’t tell you how much I hated the Cards when I was a kid.

I like your point about we as fans giving back the same respect as we receive. I think that’s why people find it hard to criticize the Pats, even though they win all the time. They built a team the right way, don’t give into individual egos and have an upstanding guy in Brady to be their leader…so we show them respect. We still love when they fall though, which is my overall point in that we as fans need that villain to hate.

Deep down, you probably love to hate the Eagles and their fans – it’s probably a highlight twice a year when your G-Men play them. I’ve got teams like that too and I’m sure Jeff does as well.

Anyway, this is an excellent debate and great points all the way around by you guys…this is what the site is intended to be for.

Great points Jeff…as a Giants fan I always hated the cowboys but I respected many of their players. They’ve been the villians my whole life going back to Staubach and Lilly. But the dislike I have for the cowboys is much different than the hatred I have for the Eagles because I find it difficult to respect them or their fans. I could root for the Cowboys if I had to but I want nothing but misery for Philly.

I think as fans, we tend to give back the same respect as we receive. Obviously Bonds doesn’t respect us or the game so fans loathe him. Same for me and the Eagles (and their fans) who seem to respect no one so it’s not returned. Yet teams I’ve grown up disliking but respecting, I could root for in a game.

Now, having one of these hated guys on your fantasy team changes everything, but that’s for a whole new column by AS!!!

I agree that we disagree about the portions as well. While you’re probably right that 75% is a high – I exaggerate to catch people’s eye by the way – I still think the number of people who need that villain (subconsciously or not) is higher than those who just love to see a winner.

How many millions of fans out there hate the Yankees? I think it’s a larger amount than those who love them. How many stadiums boo Bonds every single time he walks up to the plate? I think the only reason we don’t hear more hate thrown at the Patriots is because of the respect factor and because it’s football. They didn’t “buy every All-Star” like the Yankees did or, “cheat” like Bonds. But there is a group out there that hates them because they consistently win and – as T-Bone stated and how I stated in my column – we want to see the big dog fall.

If I’m wrong and there’s more out there who just want to see a winner, than they’re certainly not speaking out. I just don’t see it (or hear it) through my casual observations, writing or job at a radio station.

Anyway, yes T-Bone – those were outstanding points. Although you ripped the piece about David vs. Goliath from my column! And Jeff, you’re making me miss high school football with your story about the rivals…