Quick question from new member

[eball07]

Will I be banned for posting anything other than 100% pro-Carolina messages? I'm just wondering if I should even bother. Most team message boards will tolerate opposing fans' posts as long as they are not mean-spirited or clearly intended to incite. Just trying to get a pulse here.

Thanks.

[Shell]

I think you nailed our rule exactly with this:
We tolerate opposing fans' posts as long as they are not mean-spirited or clearly intended to incite.

We have had some great posters who have allegiances to other teams and that is great, if they add something to the discussion. I like to get a more unbiased view if it is done in a good manner..

So, welcome, have fun and be nice :) Who are you a fan of?

[StormShaman]

For the love of Tyr, please don't say Buffalo. We're still way sore/touchy over last season's ECF and the way we were treated by some of the more aggressive members of Sabres Nation, so being a Sabres fan isn't exactly going to win you any friends here.

[eball07]

I think you nailed our rule exactly with this:
We tolerate opposing fans' posts as long as they are not mean-spirited or clearly intended to incite.

We have had some great posters who have allegiances to other teams and that is great, if they add something to the discussion. I like to get a more unbiased view if it is done in a good manner..

So, welcome, have fun and be nice :) Who are you a fan of?
Thank you for the welcome, and I truly do not intend to rile anyone. Unfortunately, it will disappoint some (most?) of you to know that I'm a Sabres' fan. Grew up in Buffalo yet am an alumnus of UNC and have lived here since '98. I have followed the Bills and Sabres passionately since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.

I'm actually a Canes' season ticket holder -- bought playoff tickets a year ago and then donated a 10-game pack to charity this season. I also attend several games a year myself and enjoy the experience. I'm a hockey fan.

I was at every EC Finals game last year, as well as Game 7 of the SC Finals. There were isolated incidents of drunken behavior during the Buffalo series, I'll agree -- by fans of BOTH teams. I think the Carolina faithful were stunned by the level of passion and fervor that Buffalo fans brought to the arena. I imagine it would be difficult, as a Carolina fan, to walk from your car to the game -- at your arena -- and be greeted by loud "Let's Go, Buffalo" chants. I also believe, however, that the stories of rape, pillage, and plunder that have now become local urban legend really need to stop. A few bad apples don't spoil the bunch.

I wore my Sabres' sweater during every game I attended, and I enjoyed good-natured interaction with 90% of Canes' fans. I cheered when the Sabres scored, but otherwise minded my own business. I did not see ANY violence directed at either team's fans.

The heart of the issue, I think, is the difference between the atmosphere that exists at a hockey game in North Carolina vs. a hockey game in Western New York. What many locals don't seem to grasp is that in Buffalo, fans don't bring their toddlers to the games. It's an adult experience shared by hardcore fans. The same is true for Bills' games. I'm not telling anyone here that they shouldn't bring their kids to the games, but it's just a different experience.

Should Buffalo fans be respectful of the fact that a family with children is sitting in front of them before they hurl f-bombs? Of course they should. I'd never dream of excusing such behavior. I just believe that the Carolina faithful could also do a better job of understanding that many of those fans had just gotten in their cars and driven 13+ hours to see the team they love, and probably spent a good bit of their disposable income doing so. That sort of dedication should be respected -- even if you don't like the language they're using. We're all very lucky to be living in this region, and things aren't quite so rosy economically in Western New York. For some, the trip to Raleigh to see the EC Finals probably blew the year's vacation budget.

In any event, I know that many of you will never forgive Buffalo fans, and that's a shame, because the vast majority of us have no mean-spirited intentions. We were bitter about last season because we believed we had the better team but were snakebitten, however at this point that's just crying over spilt milk. Carolina earned the Cup and that will never be taken away.

This season, I think the Sabres have proven what Buffalo fans believed to be true -- this is a damn good hockey team. I'm sorry there will be no rematch with the Canes, but if anything, perhaps now you understand the "unfairness" of seeing your season or a playoff series undermined by the injury bug.

Good luck re-tooling your team in the offseason, and hopefully there will be many exciting Buffalo-Carolina series in the future.

[Canesluver]

I'm sorry-- but driving "13+ hours" does not give a person a pass on exercising common courtesy and acting like a civilized human being.

[kermelbar]

Also does not give you an excuse to yell "Let's Go Buffalo" during the national anthem or intentionally sing it off pace.

Also does not give you a right to dump a cup of beer on a 13-year-old girl's head.

Those "reasons" sound like much of what we've been hearing for the past 9 months -- Canes fans just don't know what it's really like for a real hockey town. *rolls eyes* Although we never had any trouble from Toronto or NJ fans and the Edmonton fans were positively marvelous.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Another lecture. Fun.

You didn't personally witness any violence. Congrats. I've never personally witnessed brain surgery. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Keep deluding yourself that there isn't good reason for so many other teams in the league's fans to despise Buffalo fans....it's not just us. I guess no one else knows what the atmosphere at a hockey game is supposed to be like, either. :huh:

[perfectstorm]

What many locals don't seem to grasp is that in Buffalo, fans don't bring their toddlers to the games.

All the adults with toddlers have left Buffalo.

[RangersCanesFan]

eball,

Welcome to the boards.

First, let me say, I DO admire the passion that many Sabres fans have for their team and their city. As a Ranger fan, you know where I'm coming from. The passion and loyalty isn't the problem. The "Lets Go Sabres" chants aren't the problem. For me, the language isn't that bad, as long as is isn't all the time. A few words, ok, but when it's all game, there's a problem. I'd even doubt a lot of those Sabres fans drove the 13+ hours, as many of them were local. Fine, cheer for the Sabres, but do it in a respectful and civilized way.

Ranger fans "travel" to other cities, and never would they think of dumping beer on someone, or turning a parking lot into a riot by breaking glass. I've traveled to other arenas and stadiums as an opposing fan, and would never think of trying to start trouble. Ranger fans, for the most part, don't bring toddlers to games at the Garden either. So yes, games at the RBC Center are a little different than what you may be used to. Doesn't mean you can't cheer for your team with as much passion you can muster without dropping f-bombs all night. Just respect the other fans and don't look for trouble.

Most of the Canes other opponents have been respectful. There's been an occasional Leafs, Wings, or Devil fan that's been an a-hole, but nothing like the full-fledged assault Buffalo fans brought last year.

[aftermath]

I have grown really tired of Buffalo fans trying to excuse their behavior in the ECF last year. It really is beyond me why someone has to join this board nearly a year later to try to justify the inexcusable actions of their fellow fans who decided to disgrace us with their presence. Why join now? Maybe you are just trying to rub salt in the wound after the 'Canes failed to make the playoffs this season. If that is your purpose, you can just leave. Most of us here really don't care that you have a good hockey team. We understand that the Sabres are a great team this year, but what do you want from us? If you expect the majority of us to join you in rooting on the Sabres, you've got another thing coming. In fact, most of us will be cheering on anyone but the Sabres. I personally hope that they are eliminated in the first round.

I am one of those fans who enjoys bringing my children to games. My children are hockey fans, and they have every right to be there. I pay for their seats with my "disposable income". (Btw, I am also tired of hearing about how dismal Western NY is compared to the Triangle. I could care less!) We sacrifice our time and money to be Hurricanes fans--something we do willingly. I have no respect or admiration for the "poor, faithful Buffalo fans who spent their vacation money to come to Raleigh and support their team who should have won the Cup, but didn't because of injuries, blah, blah, blah." My kids were actually afraid to attend games during the Buffalo series. They have never been afraid to attend games before or since. We were actually forced to give our tickets away to some adult friends after Game One because I didn't want them subjected to that environment. That just isn't right. And no, my children aren't toddlers anymore, but I am trying to raise them to become respectable adults. The Buffalo fans we witnessed were anything but respectable.

I don't care how many times an olive branch is extended, I will never have any use for Buffalo nation.

[ecrane]

let me add a couple. I had never seen public urination by a female before the Buffalo series. She was apparently arrested or at least questioned by the RPD. The men with her fled like roaches. I got a letter from the Canes lawyer stating I might be questioned by a lawyer about the behavior of the Buffalo fans that sat next to us in Game 5. I did get a call but the alleged assault incident must have happened out of our sight as we didn't see anything.

Nice group of fans...

[c-girl]

Funny thing about the Buffalo games. Buffalo fan behavior equaled increased police presence. We didn't need it for any other teams. I don't think it had anything to do with injuries on the team, did it? I think it was because of vandalism, drunkenness, public urination, and more fights in the stands than they had on the ice.

You might want to remember that this is a Canes board and you are outnumbered. Most of us here saw the Buffalo fans' behavior up close and personal. There's no excusing it. I doubt you are going to convince anyone here to support the Sabres - ever - or come around to the thinking that the atrocious behavior was somehow justified . . . but, hey, carry on.

[Guyute]

Oh yeah, local legend. No one witnessed throngs of "fans" throwing pint glasses (the glass ones, if you're doubting) at people in the parking lot. Cursing at 5-8 year olds. Threating anyone that neared them.

There's quite a bit of difference between "passion" and "idiocy". Most of what we saw last EC was the latter. If you doubt that and want to chalk it up to "urban legend", you my friend have some wool you should remove from your eyes.

And we are NOT going to let this discussion run here, we've all been through it time and time again. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt right now, and will allow you to discuss hockey...
But that benefit won't be extended terribly long, and I'd really suggest you drop the "Sabres fans are misunderstood" bit. That ship has sailed.

One of many shots by yours truly.
http://www.tridead.net/images/sabrecop.jpg

[kermelbar]

aftermath, it was one of my co-workers whose daughter had the beer dumped on her. I believe they were STH and had tickets for most/all home playoff games. They sold their tickets for the remainder of the series because they refused to take their 13-year-old twin daughters into that environment. No one should ever feel that way in their home arena or any other arena for that matter.

And I completely agree with your first paragraph. Why come around now? Motives are suspect, that's for sure. IMO, if the Sabres fans really wanted to talk hockey, they would have been at the Canes boards since last year's ECF and spent more time talking hockey than talking excuses for boorish behavior.

[StormChaserBH]

I'm sure there's good folks up in SabreNation, just like everywhere, that's understood, eball. Heck, a couple of my beer league buds are card-carrying members, and we let them on the team anyway. :D But the folks that traveled last year (and also probably many that are local and crawled out of the woodwork) did everything in their power to act like complete off-the-scale idiots and worse, and was inexcusable with any "I drove XX hours", "I just got laid off", or other excuses. And the impression they left will not be easily, if at all, dismissed, by any who witnessed it, and certainly not by any message-board essay 10 months later.

[KaniacFever]

So driving 13+ hours gives them excuse to be disrepectful in OUR building. You say we should respect that they drove 13+ hours, well I say they need to respect US since it was OUR building. If I went to HSBC and Buffalo fans were being disrepectful to opposing fans, then I have nothing to complain about because I'm in THEIR building. When you come to another teams building and you are the guest, then you need to be respectful.

And frankly I didn't appreciate a Buffalo fan telling me to Shut the F up when my team scored in MY building.

You wanna talk about not getting respect, well you need to practice what you preach. Try being respectful and you might actually get respect in return.

And this whole we just have so much passion for our team is a load of crap. We too have passion for our team but the difference is we know how to act.

[eball07]

I guess you guys didn't read the part of my post explaining that I'm not excusing any bad behavior. I simply think it's a shame that the actions of a few have apparently led all of you to lump every Buffalo fan into the same pile.

The actions of Buffalo fans in Raleigh during the EC Finals have been grossly exaggerated, regardless of what some may believe. I'm glad the Toronto fans were so gracious -- do you have any idea what Buffalo fans say about them (roughly 4K "invade" our home during the regular season)?

As for the timing of my registration on this board? Perhaps I just felt that enough time has passed since the EC Finals that folks would have softened their stances. I was also disappointed that there will be no rematch.

In any event, you are right -- now is apparently the wrong time to smoke the peace pipe. I'll be at the RBC next season for the Sabres/Canes games, wearing my Buffalo colors proudly. I'll smile and chat with those around me, I won't spill my beer on anyone unless it's an accident, and I won't rape any women or molest any children. Just like always.

Cheers.

[Shell]

Well, I will still welcome you even if you are a Buffalo fan. I do have a problem with you insinuating that what we saw with our own eyes did not happen. I am very glad that you did not witness anything other than foul language.. many of us were not so lucky. I saw Buffalo fans dent three cars in a row as they came in, I saw them hit people, I witnessed them throwing the pint glasses at people and cars.

This has nothing to do with toddlers or the scene.. Personally, I have a toddler that lives and breathes hockey that goes to the regular season games that I left at home for the playoffs. This has to do with basic decency and treating people well.

I understand the difference between the Northeast and the South, I lived in NY myself and it is a different attitude but it is hard to respect what you know isn’t right. There is a reason why I left the North for the South and it wasn’t just all that damn snow and lack of sun.
Hell, my husband was absolutely mortified by the Buffalo fans and he grew up going to all of the Philly games!

I do hope you can come be a good part of the message board. I did meet a couple of nice Buffalo fans as well. However, last year is done, we have the cup, and none of us are interested in reliving the Buffalo series. Let’s talk hockey and move on.

[Guyute]

Ok, so you've made your introduction. You still think those of us who saw/believe what happen to be an exaggeration. Fine. This thread is done. As I said, you're welcome to try continuing to post and we'll all happily chat (probably).
But we're not doing this again.