You are exactly right. I don't know about being least likable team but in my 30 years of following the team this is definitely the least likable fanbase. There's no doubt about it. Got to love the comments about the players being arrogant meanwhile some fans need to take a look in the mirror as well with their constant whining. It's not the "in-thing" to ever try to be optimistic about this team anymore. It's always the *****ing and moaning even if they win. Objectivity is gone and negativity is common. The team is far from perfect and they do frustrate me at times - I'm very annoyed that DB doesn't play Megna among other things - but I can say that I will never root against a Penguins team in any way. And people wonder why other fans call us bandwagon fans? Give me a break. To even suggest a thing is pathetic and embarrassing. There are definitely Penguin fans who are hoping for an early exit in this year's playoffs so they can all give high fives to each other and say how right they were that the team wasn't going to do anything in the playoffs. They rather be right than for the team to go far in the postseason. It wouldn't look good for their massive egos. In no way am I saying certain changes don't need to be made but currently this is the team we have and they have my full support and nothing less.
Without a doubt this team has question marks heading into the postseason but do some realize how lucky we are to follow a team like this? Think about how many fans would love to trade places with us. Who the hell cares if they are likable as long as they win which they have done this year even though you wouldn't know it reading Penguin boards. Am I suppose to look at the back at the early 2000 teams and reminisce about how it was a joy watching them lose game after game but hey at least they were good guys who absolutely sucked at playing hockey? Yeah, great times those were. There's plenty to like about this team. Some people are too stubborn to see it and they never will which is a shame.
To quote the famous Nick Tortelli: "I see this is going to take a while..."
You actually think that people are being negative because they want to be one of the cool kids?
People are negative because they've seen the same pattern over and over and over again from this team and its coaching staff.
I don't enjoy playing with semantics, but there's nothing "arrogant" about our fan base. Our fan base, at least the hardcore types who understand what they're watching have no business being arrogant, because there's nothing to be arrogant about when it comes to this team. Arrogant fans are Bruins fans for example, and you know what? They have every right to be. They're a well oiled machine.
And nobody's hoping for a flameout. What we're hoping for is that IF we lose, that it better be in some embarrassing fashion like the last couple of years so it finally prompts some sort of change. If you enjoy watching this team go around in circles for 4 years while EVERYONE around them improved and more importantly, EVOLVED, then YOU are the fair weather fan that everyone makes fun of, not us.
I have no problem with positivity. What I do have a problem with is positivity for the sake of it. If you're going to come here and start telling us we're too negative, then fine, but please enlighten is as to why we should have some hope. When we're negative, we list the reasons as to why. You have NOTHING to base your false positivity on and what's worse, that seems to be the exact same why the organization thinks. "We're the Penguins, and we're the example to follow", despite embarrassment after embarrassment come spring.
And spare us with the "How many fans would want to trade places with us..." nonsense. That's another foolish, new agey way of thinking along with "Oh, if we just close our eyes and wait, something good will happen" I look at Vancouver, and how stunningly quick their window closed after their 2011 Final appearance, and I shudder to think at how all of a sudden, Geno and Sid are closer to 30 than they are 20. Half a decade has passed since they've come close to sniffing another Cup Final, and I see no end to that in sight as long as this organization continues to believe they're better than everyone else. THAT is what makes them unlikeable.
Here's my most favorite Louie C.K. quote ever:
"You have to be stupid. That’s what optimistic means, you know? It means stupid. An optimist is somebody who goes, “Hey, maybe something nice will happen.†Why the **** would anything nice happen?"
