Poll - can you root for the Griz

Grizzfan · Post by **Grizzfan** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:08 pm

First of all I know and hope the Cats will take Furman down, big time.

Second, I'm amused by all the harping about treatment of Cat faithful in Missoula. I'm in my late 60s and definately am not trying to pick fights these days. I will not be intimidated by unruly fans regardless of venue, so I continue to trundle to Bozeman every two years against everyone's better wishes. Yep, there are some very unruly Griz-fans, but I continue to be amazed how different the atmosphere is in Bozeman. Hooligans would be the understatement and not just the students.

Even in my advancing age, I get around pretty good. I've sold refreshments at the GSA stand in Missoula for the past 6+ years. Ain't no comparison Montana friends. The crowd in Bozeman is, hands down, totally unruly. Go inside that chainliniked inclosure and observe ye sports fans. You'll be appalled if you have half a brain. I go to the Griz-Cat game in your town by myself these days because the rest of my friends are afraid to go there. We used to rent a B&B for the weekend. Now, for me, it's just shoot and scoot.

On the other hand I trust you will be your usual selves for the Furman visitors. They deserve the full measue of Bobcat hospitality, just like you give the Griz every two years.

Cats: take to to the house! Cats 37 - Furman 10

Tom

bobcatmaniac · Post by **bobcatmaniac** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:13 pm

Sorry you feel that way. I think the majority of Cat fans are the best. Unfortunately when we go to missoula, we see the same that you see here. Maybe the pukes stand out more.

Grizzfan · Post by **Grizzfan** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:23 pm

Sorry you feel that way. I think the majority of Cat fans are the best. Unfortunately when we go to missoula, we see the same that you see here. Maybe the pukes stand out more.

I wish you were correct. Both towns, then, need to put a curb on the BS that's beset us. Think about it. It seldom happens when I travel to Iowa City, Portland, Cheney, Ogden, or Greeley. We should help fix our cultures, as I have observed a few try to do in both places.

Good luck Saturday Bobcats.

Tom

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:32 pm

Do you really think you would be treated better in Bozeman than in those cities. They may not like the Grizzlies but it is not the same kind of rivalry. They do not go to work and have co-workers rubbing in the streak, or # of national championships. General ribbing is to be accepted. Many of you need thicker skin. Challenging someone or physical threats are not acceptable but come on. I walked out with my teenage kids on Sat. Many drunk people and many sober offered comments. They ranged from better luck next year, not really serious, to Cats suck and we kicked your @$$. We just laughed knowing it had been a hell of a game. Part of the fun and mystic of going to these games is the ribbing both ways.

Billings_Griz · Post by **Billings_Griz** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:32 pm

Gus wrote:Plus they have idiotic fans like silly. Makes it pretty hard to root for them.

Hmm, pot/kettle/black comes to mind here.

bobcatmaniac · Post by **bobcatmaniac** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:32 pm

You will never see the rivalry in those towns. Only in Montana.

Post by **rtb** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:33 pm

I know there are people who can cheer for the Griz, and it is good for Montana and the BSC, but I will probably never be able to cheer for the Griz. I grew up as a Bobcat in Griz country and suffered through the streak and put up with way too much crap to ever cheer for them. I know, it is probably stupid, but that's the way it goes. I respect them, had a great time at the game, but will never cheer for them to win a game.

Billings_Griz · Post by **Billings_Griz** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:44 pm

bobcatmaniac wrote:Sorry you feel that way. I think the majority of Cat fans are the best. Unfortunately when we go to missoula, we see the same that you see here. Maybe the pukes stand out more.

It's time to take your blinders off.

I, wearing neither Griz or Cat colors, was w/ my friend, big cat fan wearing a MSU blue sweatshirt, on Friday. We were in the Press Box, Stocks, Reds, Missoula Club, The Depot and HammerJacks. I was surprised at the 40-50 year olds that gave us (thought I was a cat guy, too) a hard time for wearing blue/gold in "Their Town". Many said they quit going to bozo because they couldn't go downtown w/o being threatened by someone while wearing maroon. They all wished us well, and said to have fun.

Not once were we (or him w/ the MSU shirt) threatened. Sure, we got a lot of good ribbing, but not once did we feel threatened.

He did, however, wake up in the bed next too me to the chant of "POOOOOOR BOBCATS...!!!" Sunday morning.

All in all, great time. He's 24, never been to a cat/Griz game in Missoula. Said he had the time of his life.

Grizzfan · Post by **Grizzfan** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:48 pm

Many of you need thicker skin.

I grew up in Griz Country and suffered through the Streak

Oh well... ...Seems we've got makings of an uncivil war here. I'd better stop reading this thread before I begin rooting for Furman!

Good luck,

Tom

bobcatmaniac · Post by **bobcatmaniac** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:48 pm

I wonder just who is wearing the blinders??

DaCats Forever · Post by **DaCats Forever** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:50 pm

Dexter X wrote:
anacondagriz wrote:
DaCats Forever wrote:No, nor will I ever. It's all because of Holst and the handicapped individual that traveled with the team and how they reacted when we lost in 2000 during the Big Sky tourney in our house. It was classless and I lost all respect for any U of M sports players/personel. I do not however have a problem with anybody that cheers for the Griz, I just can't stand anybody that plays for them.
Care to explain?
Definitely would like to hear what happened too. I haven't heard anything about that. I'm not saying it didn't happen, I'm just curious as to what happened since its the first I've heard of that incident.

After they pulled the miracle comeback, which by the way was the most amazing come back I have ever seen when Trammel dunked a missed 3 by Bell to give the Grizzlies a win with only around a second left, Holst jumped up onto the press row and was celebrating the win by swinging his arms around menacingly towards the student section. I could have probably let this one slide, but the taller bald gentleman that was handicapped and traveled with the team (I heard he used to play for the Griz a while ago and was in a car accident, I don't know if he was left just physically handicapped or if he was damaged mentally from the accident) anyway was grabbing his crotch and flipping everyone in the student section off. If he was mentally handicapped, he had no business being put in that public arena if he was unable to handle his emotions and that was the outburst. No one stopped him and least of all Holst who was doing his own ridiculous antics. I have no ill will towards those of mental inabilities as I have an aunt that is handicapped, but if they don't know their shortcomings, we that are involved in their lives do. I do not want to go into any more detail, as I may exaggerate the truth in this matter. I was thoroughly disgusted and actions like that is what cost Holst his job IMO even though he took that team to the Big Dance that year with a losing record. If you remember that garnered national media attention that he was fired after winning the Big Sky. That's my story, completely unfabricated. I became a Griz hater for the rest of my life that night.

Catfan2030 · Post by **Catfan2030** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:55 pm

Lets go CATS!!!!!!!!! Just thought i would add that.

Post by **rtb** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:55 pm

Grizzfan, thanks for your yearly visit to BobcatNation. Every year you come here and tell us how terrible we fans are to you Griz and how Bozeman is just not a safe place for Griz fans. As someone pointed out on another thread often it indicates what type of person you are and what you are looking for. I had a great time in Missoula and overall didn't have any negative run-ins. However I did see Griz fans being jackasses and if I would have not just ignored them and kept walking it could have been ugly and then I could have come here and cried about how mean you were. Instead I held my head up, was bummed we lost and looked for the good fans to congratulate and headed out of town. Get over it!! As a whole I think the Cat and Griz are becoming more civil as the rivalry is balancing out and it will only get better. I hope next time you come to Bozeman you can seek out the good fans and ignore the bad ones.

mtgrizrule · Post by **mtgrizrule** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:25 pm

As a griz fan, I will root for MSU except against the CATS. Then again, maybe I am getting older and have much more state pride now.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:36 pm

I've said it it many times before, but I flat ass could never root for the griz. I have many good friends who are die hard griz fans and we enjoy the rivalry, but they would no more root for the 'Cats than I would for the griz. None of us buy into the namby pamby $hit about "it's a Montana team, you have to root for them".

And yes, we've seen more Cat/griz games than the number of years a bunch of fans and posters have been on this good earth.

I'm not calling myself an old fart yet, but some of my best friends are starting to show their years.

lifeloyalsigmsu · Post by **lifeloyalsigmsu** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:45 pm

GOKATS wrote:I've said it it many times before, but I flat ass could never root for the griz. I have many good friends who are die hard griz fans and we enjoy the rivalry, but they would no more root for the 'Cats than I would for the griz. None of us buy into the namby pamby $hit about "it's a Montana team, you have to root for them".

And yes, we've seen more Cat/griz games than the number of years a bunch of fans and posters have been on this good earth.

I'm not calling myself an old fart yet, but some of my best friends are starting to show their years.

As the number of years of the 16 year streak increased, so did the arrogance of those that support the griz.

Go McNeese!

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:51 pm

I normally won't root for the Griz unless I see direct positives for the Bobcats (i.e. beating Cal Poly); even in the playoffs.

This year, however, I feel a little different. I guess it must have something to do with being a part of the dance.

I probably won't know until the actual game takes place for them. But, at least at this point I don't harbor ill will toward them. Does that count for anything?

GavinDonos · Post by **GavinDonos** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:18 am

I'll echo what a few have already said. I don't have a problem rooting for the kids who play for the Griz, the team itself. Their fans, however, have been so crude, rude and just plain classless in my lifetime as a Bobcat fan that I do find some enjoyment in it when they lose.

My father (twice) and I have both had our vehicles vandalized in Missoula, for the apparent crime of having MSU plates. Now my dad now just registers one of his vehicles with standard plates, just so he can head into msla without having to stop at a body shop on the way out of town.

Once at a Griz game, not Cat/ Griz just a regular 'ol early season griz home game, someone opened up the back of our family truck and released our dogs from their kennels (must have been okay by griz fan standards since we had those abhorrent MSU plates). Our older dog was found at halftime laying near the truck suffering from heatstroke since it couldn't get at it's water; she died at my feet in the backseat before we could get it any help. Our 1 year old pup had run away and was never found.

At c/g '02 in Msla my friend and I (and the rest of the folks in the 'Cat section) were pelted with coins from above in the stands at W/G.

That is the major stuff; nothing life threatening like an "eat isht!" chant

, but still a little miffed at my Msla experiences.

As an aside, I went to an NFL game this year between the 9'ers and Chargers. They aren't traditional rivals nor are they even in the same conference, but the fans were at eachothers throats from the parking lots to the stands and back again. I thought to myself at the time that the average Griz fan would have probably ran back to their car crying if they had to jaw with other fans the way these people were going at it. It was a fun atmosphere to be a part of, if you kept your perspective straight.

All in all I agree that there are louts on both sides of any rivalry. When it comes to griz fans my honest opinion they love to dish it, but they get kind of bitchy when it's sent back at 'em. They're soft.

I'll root for the team, but I won't cry if they lose.

ChiOCat · Post by **ChiOCat** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:31 am

I know I should, for all the reasons listed above. But I don't, because I can't bring myself.

This year, I hope we meet the Griz in the championship, but if that doesn't happen, I hope we at least make it a game farther than they do.

anacondagriz · Post by **anacondagriz** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:12 am

DaCats Forever wrote:
Dexter X wrote:
anacondagriz wrote:
DaCats Forever wrote:No, nor will I ever. It's all because of Holst and the handicapped individual that traveled with the team and how they reacted when we lost in 2000 during the Big Sky tourney in our house. It was classless and I lost all respect for any U of M sports players/personel. I do not however have a problem with anybody that cheers for the Griz, I just can't stand anybody that plays for them.
Care to explain?
Definitely would like to hear what happened too. I haven't heard anything about that. I'm not saying it didn't happen, I'm just curious as to what happened since its the first I've heard of that incident.
After they pulled the miracle comeback, which by the way was the most amazing come back I have ever seen when Trammel dunked a missed 3 by Bell to give the Grizzlies a win with only around a second left, Holst jumped up onto the press row and was celebrating the win by swinging his arms around menacingly towards the student section. I could have probably let this one slide, but the taller bald gentleman that was handicapped and traveled with the team (I heard he used to play for the Griz a while ago and was in a car accident, I don't know if he was left just physically handicapped or if he was damaged mentally from the accident) anyway was grabbing his crotch and flipping everyone in the student section off. If he was mentally handicapped, he had no business being put in that public arena if he was unable to handle his emotions and that was the outburst. No one stopped him and least of all Holst who was doing his own ridiculous antics. I have no ill will towards those of mental inabilities as I have an aunt that is handicapped, but if they don't know their shortcomings, we that are involved in their lives do. I do not want to go into any more detail, as I may exaggerate the truth in this matter. I was thoroughly disgusted and actions like that is what cost Holst his job IMO even though he took that team to the Big Dance that year with a losing record. If you remember that garnered national media attention that he was fired after winning the Big Sky. That's my story, completely unfabricated. I became a Griz hater for the rest of my life that night.

Thanks for coming back & explaining yourself. The only thing I can add is that I know who you are talking in regards to the handicapped person. I have heard that he was the team manager when he was involved in a horrible car accident & the coaches let him continue to hang around the team when he "recovered".

Poll - can you root for the Griz

Will you root for the Griz if the CATS lose