“Fan” is short for “fanatic,” based on “excessive zeal for a common cause.” Strong enough? Sometimes not. Fans can also be psychotic, which seems to be the case among some New York area fans currently. Here’s why.
Knicks fans are mad at Isaiah Hartenstein, and Rangers fans are angry at Jacob Trouba. Hartenstein exercised his free agent rights by signing a three-year, $87 million deal with OKC, and Trouba allegedly exercised his no-trade clause to reject a trade to the Detroit Red Wings.
To be angry at both men for their decisions is laughable and idiotic. It’s also hypocritical because if a fan were in their position, they would likely exercise it to better themselves. Why should the players be any different than your average employee? This idea they have to be loyal to the organization is crazy, no matter how shortsighted their thinking is.
No one can blame Hartenstein for leaving here. He will make more money in Oklahoma City than with the Knicks, who were limited to paying what he wanted based on their salary cap situation. He has a chance to develop into a shooter in Oklahoma City, which appealed to him. Plus, he will play for a team that will likely be the odds-on favorite to win the NBA title.
Sorry, Knicks fans. As much as you overrate your team, they are not as good as you think they are. They are a nice team that should contend for the Eastern Conference title next year, but to say they are the best team in basketball when healthy is ridiculous. Don’t bet on them ever being healthy because Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau overworks his players. Besides, healthy or not, NYK didn’t beat an elite team last season.
Courtesy NBA.com
The Thunder are better than the Knicks because they have a difference-maker in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a rising star in Chet Holmgren. It made sense for Hartenstein to sign with them rather than stay here. Also, Oklahoma City is a better place to live and play. How so? NY fans get on players when they don’t win, and OK taxes are a relief compared to NYC/NY. Besides, If the Knicks think Hartenstein is that much of a difference-maker, then they are not as good as they think they are. He is not as big a loss as your average Knicks fan thinks. He can be replaced cheaper by developing Precious Achiuwa, an unrestricted free agent, or someone else via trade.
Jacob Trouba is a persona non grata for the Rangers and their fans. Never mind that he played through a broken ankle in the playoffs, which made him ineffective. The Rangers want to trade him since his salary would hurt them in the salary cap, affecting their ability to acquire or sign players. They also want to trade him since they want to shake things up with this roster by eliminating guys who failed them.
According to New York Post’s Larry Brooks, Trouba allegedly used his no-trade clause to reject a trade to the Detroit Red Wings because his wife is participating in a nursing residency at New York University. Now, Rangers fans are mad at Trouba and his wife for that. That said, I don’t understand why Brooks reported the reason, as there was no good reason to make it public … especially in New York. Well, unless … the Rangers wanted it reported to tick off Trouba.
Courtesy The Hockey News
The larger issue is that Rangers don’t need to deal with a trigger issue like this when they need to focus on the biggest prize, namely, winning the Stanley Cup. The Trouba matter is one headache Rangers coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t need. Besides, the bad press is a terrible way to treat a guy who committed the ultimate sacrifice of playing hurt last year as the Rangers chased the Cup.
Why would anyone want to play for the Rangers when they have no loyalty toward their players?
What strikes me about the reaction to the Hartenstein and Trouba situations is how fans get overzealous about the uniform rather than seeing things from the player’s perspective. To be mad at Hartenstein and Trouba is hypocritical and a bad reflection on fans.
If there’s an excuse, I think it’s this: both teams haven’t won a championship in a very long time—31 years for the NYRs and 51 years for the NYKs—and patience is beyond wearing thin. Indeed, logic, empathy, and common sense fly out the window.
