Laker Haters - Something I don't understand

The Nightbringer

Laker haters don't tend to make a lot of sense, but one thing I don't quite understand is how short-sighted some of them can be. "Die-hard" Clipper fans (in parentheses because I don't think these actually exist) for instance will always, as a point of contention, ridicule us for our subpar performance these past few years.

Fans of some of the more successful teams in the past decade or so (Spurs, Warriors, Cavs, Heat, etc.) like to point out that we won our last championship 6 years ago... like it's some sort of drought that's lasted for several decades. Any team would kill to have as many championships as we do so...

And yes, I understand that for the past few years we've been irrelevant. I've never contended that because it's true. But we're the Lakers. Success is in the name. And I wholeheartedly believe that this lowpoint is finally going to begin its turn-around in some form this year (Even if we get the worst record in the league, it's at the expense of our youngins' gaining valuable experience.)

Also yes, I understand that haters are haters and that I shouldn't invest too much thought in what they're saying. But I would like to understand why a lot of them are so quick to sweep the Lakers' past success under the table. Are they in denial of our winning record? Do they hate Kobe that much that they just want to piss all over his legacy? And most importantly, how come the Celtics don't get as much hate as we do when they have more titles than us?

No idea why I'm even thinking so much about this subject. I dunno. Maybe it's because I'm just impatient for October 7th to come. Anyone wanna pitch in some insight?

activeverb · Retired Number Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470

Fans like to bait fans of other teams. It's not about logic; it's about getting a reaction. In fact, being illogical helps them, because it often exasperates their target and gives them a better reaction.

There is only one successful reaction to this type of thing: indifference.

Legacy · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 6:38 pm Post subject:

What I never understood was the people who still call Kobe a rapist. Like, did they just stop at the initial allegations? Are they too dense to take in facts?

Rivershow · Star Player Joined: 09 Dec 2011 Posts: 6731

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25086

Jealousy is a form of flattery

dont_be_a_wuss · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Mar 2012 Posts: 21458

I hate on LeBron for losing in the finals, so I can understand a Laker hater who hates on us for being a 17 win team.

pio2u · Retired Number Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 54573

"Haters are merely confused admirers" ..... SNOOP DOGG & DRAKE

999 · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 20266

I dunno. I hate on the Spurs. But that's perfectly legit hate. The Spurs are like Arby's sandwich. They are shock and awe for your bowels

LakerDynasty6.0 · Star Player Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 4656

So many responses and not one mention of the chowderheads?

Hate them right back, is what I say

Buck Foston!
_________________
Starting Lakers Dynasty6.0! NOW!!
------
....." each year in Lakerland is marked by four seasons: Kobe’s Mad at His Teammates; Kobe’s Shooting Too Much; Kobe Leads the Victory Parade; Kobe Receives His Championship Ring."

MAJIC · Star Player Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 3320 Location: OC

When the Bully suffers a broken leg, he shouldn't expect any pity.

He should expect to take his medicine, Tenfold!

Until he heals up, where then hell awaits.

For the bullied, turned bullies, shall pay, Tenfold!

-Deep thoughts by (LG's) Jack Handy
_________________
16 and counting....

adkindo · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 9:03 pm Post subject:

as someone who does not live near LA, the current "LakerHate" is more in the media than it is "on the street" during the last couple of years. 5 or 6 years ago, there was a definitive line of people who either loved or hated the Lakers, but after a couple years of being bad/mediocre, most non-Laker casual fans don't seem to really care as much for now.

The media is a different story. One element is many of even the more popular websites staff writers are in their 30's and 40's, started writing on a blog in Podunk, USA (aka Minnesota, Indiana, Utah, etc.), and bring years of Laker envy from their earlier years to work with them each day.

999 · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 20266

Lakers_Jester · Star Player Joined: 17 Sep 2012 Posts: 5366

it's called sports. It's called competition. It's part of the game to hate your opponents. Lakers get the most hate because they've been the most successful. If your team is not winning of course you're gonna hate on the dominant team constantly beating ur favorite team. They aren't being logical, they are being competitive in order to demoralize their opponents.

Wino · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:00 pm Post subject:

singlecamVTEC · Star Player Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 1473

Because Lakers have 'fans' everywhere. From bandwagon fans to true die hard fans.

It's mainly the bandwagon dudes that kill it for most lol. They go out spreading word of how Lakers will win this, that.. it's not hard to be the most hated, especially when your team has one of the largest fan bases in the league.

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25086

venturalakersfan · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:10 am Post subject:

All hate is senseless. And believe it or not, there are die hard Clipper fans, I know a couple who have been fans for 25+ years.
_________________
RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.

BynumForThree · Star Player Joined: 27 Feb 2016 Posts: 1254

They probably live in the present and don't care what Kobe and the Lakers did a half-decade ago.

SuperboyReformed · Star Player Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 4083

we must learn to love one another, especially those that are different from us.

Laker_Dynasty_01 · Star Player Joined: 06 Jun 2001 Posts: 1703

slavavov · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 8:20 pm Post subject:

I think some of the hate is because many people in other parts of the country just flat out don't like L.A. and California in general. They associate us with Hollywood, liberalism, great weather, self-entitlement, etc. and they're either jealous of us, or they just hate us because they don't agree with our perceived values and lifestyle.
_________________
Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers

alhambra_zach · Sixth Man Joined: 29 Dec 2013 Posts: 34

I love the Lakers, but I hate the fans sometimes. I think alot of the hate from other teams stem from the fans and the organization. Example is all of the images of Russell Westbrook in Lakers jersey. That kind of stuff has happened continually for the last how many years and none of it has happened. That angers other fan bases, and it should bother the fans that has some scope of reality.

But the organization deserves responsibility as well, mainly because of the Lakers exceptionalism rhetoric that has been spewing from their mouth during the last couple years of the Kobe era. Plus some of the buffoonery that has taken place with the front office. Considering that the FO has become a laughing stock and yet they say and feel that they should be allowed to woo Kevin Durant or any other top flight free agent. But I actually think they may have turned a corner by not even entertaining those FA that want to win and see that as not an option for this team currently.

67ShelbyGT · Star Player Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 4048

67ShelbyGT · Star Player Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 4048

999 · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 20266