Attendance Optional

Marlins fans get a lot of bipolar abuse. When situations like the recent trade happen (as they seem to do a lot down here), some in the press moan about how no one in their right minds would (or should) ever show up to the games. But then, during the times when the press' predictions come true (as it did last year when the Fish had that day-game where almost no one showed up), it starts whining about the horrible lack of fan support and how this town doesn't deserve the franchise.

Added to that, when a fan's mania to support the players still leads him by the throat to attempt to attend a game, he chokes on the fact that he'll be not only rewarding the goofballs that currently are making this team a national travesty, but he will also be sending a large chunk of his moola, as per lease agreement, over to the first and perhaps greatest owner/destroyer of the Marlins, a man who spends his days thinking up new ways of using that money plus the 20-or-so years left of his Marlins state tax subsidy to continue to make his stadium better for football and soccer.

I'm not saying Don't go to the games. Go and enjoy if you want. I'm saying that there's no shame in considering yourself a Marlins fan even if the thought of going to the games at this moment leaves you with a sick feeling in your stomach. As Mr. Brattain thankfullly puts it, "Rest assured Marlins fans--I would love to see a responsible owner come in and build up the market. You are not bad fans--you are people who have too much self-respect to remain in an abusive relationship. I hope one day you get treated with the respect you deserve." (Those looking for his other commiserations can click here and here.)

I end this diatribe with the quote that happily absolves us fans of all responsibility over attending Marlins games at Dolphin Stadium. This quote was actually reported almost two years ago to have been spoken by Mr. President of the Marlins David Samson, and although the link to the original article doesn't work, I thoughfully had copied and pasted the entire quote into this post.

ANOTHER-ABUSE-FIGHTER: Craig stands tall against Le Batard's fan-blaming column. (FishStripes)