What makes a "true baseball fan"?

Question to the Red Sox fans on here, and I don't mean this as an insult, but rather a question.

I live in an area in south Florida where a large number of Bostonians have relocated. I have yet to have met one I enjoyed, as they all seem to have this air of arrogance and feel that those who are not from Boston owe them something because they are. Please reaffirm to me that this is more a product of age (most are retirees) than a product of location. I have always wanted to go to Boston because I have heard it is beautiful and a great vacation, but these transplanted chowdas are pretty insufferable.

There, I feel a little better about venting.....but honestly, someone reaffirm my faith in that Boston isn't really that bad of a place.

I've been a Red Sox fan all my life and I'm a Baseball fan but I can't say I watch alot of other teams other than the Red Sox and the Yankees because both teams are always on where I live. I'm in RI where the fan base is pretty much split 50/50 and I get NESN and YES on my cable package.

As for Red Sox nation....success breeds popularity. Not much you can do about that. I think Baby Stein was completely wrong when he said a few months back that the Yankees are the most popular team in America. I totally disagree. As I said I watch alot of both teams and I don't hear 'Let's go Yankess" in Oakland and Anahiem and Texas and Minnesota and any other city you want to name, other than Toronto, like I do 'Let's go Red Sox', not to mention the virtual 'home games' the Sox play in Baltimore and Tampa Bay each year. That was just another example of Baby Stein talking out of his a$$....

The Red  Sox organization is just plain better that the Yankees organization right now. That doesn't mean they will always be better or that the Yankees suck, I hate that phrase btw, it just means that one team, the Red Sox, is having more success through good drafting, smart personell moves, good management, smart salary decisions (see P. Martinez & J. Damon among others), good play and good marketing. Just my opinion....

Enjoy the rest of the baseball season.....

cubsfan....

Sounds to me like your mind is already made up when you use terms like 'chowdas'....

I've lived in La Jolla, CA (near San Diego), Washington, DC and South Florida (Boca and Weston) and I now live in Newport, RI and to me all fans are the same...they are just fans. Some are more fanatical than others and that's just the way it is.

If you want to go to Boston...go! Why do you need validation from a bunch of people on a sports blog? Do you always base your opinions on other people's opinions? Why don't you go to Boston and form your own opinions and lose the stupid nicknames.

Again...just my opinion..

True Baseball Fan (IMO)

1-Respects the game.

2-Knows the game enough to display logic. Keep in mind, having a popular opinion is not necessarily logical, but can be a logical fallacy known as bandwagon reasoning. Those of us with backgrounds in Lang. Arts, Debate, & Journalism related fields know this in detail.

3-Roots for his team with passion.

4-Respects opposing teams and players while DEMANDING their respect.

5-Knows at least a little bit about EVERY team.

6-Can watch any team play in the World Series rather than only watch when his/her own team is in. Can enjoy watching baseball from lower levels such as college, high school, travel, tournament, and even little league.

7-Can call out any player or team (including his/her own) for anything that is wrong on some level.

8-Does not enjoy the company of morons, even if they wear the same caps.

9-Despises bandwagon fans.

10-Is willing to play amongst buddies when the only audience are the particpants in the game.

A true baseball fan goes to games whenever they can. If they live 100's of miles from a MLB stadium they go to minor league games close by. They cheer the great plays and great performances no matter who makes them. They boo poor plays and poor sportsmanship. They prefer baseball in the sunlight under an open sky, but will go to a game anywhere at any time regardless. They plan their vacations around cities where baseball is played. They have their two favorite teams; the one they support and the one that plays the one they don't support. Yet, they will acknowledge the accomplishments of the team they don't support.

This is a true baseball fan....

Cubsfan,

Rays fan from Tampa here - Boston is a beautiful city, New England is wonderful and full of super and respectful people like Petey (and a few Massholes) who are also great fans of all sports.  A lot of folks there are wearing their Red Sox caps and Celtics caps - (not so many Patriots caps).  I go up there about 3 times a year to visit long term friends.  I wear my "TB" or "Rays" cap and never have ran into any issues about it. You should go - and wear your Cubs cap with pride, but not smugness.  Boston, like Chicago, is a great sporting town.  It is also filled with history and is near great recreational areas (White Mountains in NH is my fav).  I'm sure you will like it. 

I will say, however, that Tampa-St. Pete is more like paradise (except hot and humid in summer) and you can get tix and get to see your Cubs when they play down here this season.

1) Someone who mows the grass so that it looks like the outfield

 2) You name your kid after your favorite player

3) Sneak out of your wedding to catch the last inning of a game