Why are We Fans?

I stopped posting for a few days and simply began reading other people's comments and fan posts. There have been many thoughts, ideas and opinions about trades, free agent signings and mostly critical comments on management.

Of late, it has become a frenzy which culminated yesterday when the rumor came out that the Suns could be interested in dealing for Shawn Marion. For the most part, this site went crazy-I was admittedly one of the population who thought it was a bad idea. And almost in the same amount of time that the fervor started and peaked, it was crushed-with a report that Dallas was close to working a deal for Marion.

It got me thinking about the time, energy, and emotion we put in to our favorite sports teams. While to many, it is time well spent, a hobby, a love-for the game, the city of the franchise, the players we get attached to and the lust for victory. Yet in an instant it can all be dashed-with a heartbreaking loss, a season or career ending injury, or a trade of that one guy you felt gave 110% every night-who you wanted to see play for the rest of his career with your very own favorite team.

Every season we live and die with our favorite professional sports teams. I think we can make the argument that the wins are much sweeter, and the losses much more heartbreaking for the fans than they are for the players. There are numerous reasons that support the argument and numerous reasons that refute it.

Of course, I am taking a fan's perspective. To begin with, we aren't getting paid for our fan ship. Win or lose, these athletes get their paychecks. Of course continued poor performance can get you fired, no different than any other occupation. But for fans, it is not our job. Taking time to go to a game or watch it on the television is time we take away from other parts of our lives-time spent away from family (they usually cannot stand us when we are in front of the TV, ranting and raving-nor do they often share our love for our team), time spent away from other more productive tasks we could be doing-maybe we really need to mow the lawn for example, or get some exercise.

Now consider our favorite sports franchises. How many of us could change our allegiance from the Suns to any other team? The chances are most likely no more than changing our allegiance to our significant others, or our children. Most of us are Suns we-bleed purple and orange even though we have never won a Championship. But these athletes making millions of dollars a year almost never play for one franchise their whole career. For the paycheck, they change their allegiance in the time it takes to sign their name on a piece of paper. I make this point not to blame them. I would do the same. If I had the chance to make more money by changing addresses or the company I work for, I'd most likely do it.

The Phoenix Suns fan base may be in for a painful experience whereby all of us have to sit by idly and watch as our favorite players are jettisoned for newer, cheaper ones. Or maybe not. There have been mixed signals everywhere-from cryptic Kerr and Sarver quotes, to the deal that almost happened involving Amare Stoudamire on draft day, the Steve Nash to New York rumors, the Shaq to Cleveland trade, and finally, yesterdays rollercoaster involving Shawn Marion.

We all have plenty of ideas on how to make this team better, and not many of us want to live through "3 to 5 years" of rebuilding while getting thrashed by the Lakers and other powerhouses of the league. While I am unsure what to expect of our Suns in 2010, I personally feel that our management also doesn't know what to expect. But one thing is for sure, the majority of us will be here, on Bright Side of the Sun every morning, checking to see who is here, who is coming, and who is going. And on opening night, we will be either in the stands cheering on whatever version of the Suns Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver have assembled, or in front of the television, tuning out the world, to see how our new squad fares.

So, this leads me to my question: