Whiny Tampa fans get Bruins to take down signs (images)
Thanks to our buddy Anthony for this. Tampa Bay Lightning fans apparently don’t like to be made fun of for living in an area that doesn’t exactly raise its young on ice hockey. The Boston Bruins have been known to put up posters around TD Bank Garden that incite the other team’s fans during the playoffs. They did it this year with the Philadelphia Flyers (saying essentially, “it’s never okay to date a Flyers fan, even if she shaves her mustache.”) and they are doing it again with the Lightning.
It all started with a radio DJ named Cowhead (real name Mike Calta) of 102.5 FM in Tampa getting annoyed with the signs and asking fans to call the Bruins marketing department to complain.
“In a swift and strong attack we showed the Bruins organization that not only do we exist, but we are ready to fight for our team,” Calta said in an email to the St. Petersburg Times. “We moved in like Seal Team 6 and shut them down in a way that other teams they attacked have never been able to do.”
“I don’t know how you can’t take it personally,” said Chad Schnarr, co-founder of BoltProspects.com, a website for Tampa Bay’s minor-league prospects.
“When you take on the fans, you’re going right to them. I don’t think you can just laugh it off when it’s directed at you. Some understand it’s a joke, but …”
Oh quit you’re crying. What a bunch of babies, and it’s not just the Tampa fans. Fans in lots of cities get overly sensitive and take these things too personally. It’s funny and creative. OTR is a group of Flyers fans and we think the mustache crack is great.
So okay, you win, you babies. The Bruins have agreed to take the signs down as not to hurt your sensitive feelings. You’d seem like much bigger, hardcore ice hockey fans if you just laughed along and didn’t let it bother you.
“For the most part, everyone was kind of looking at the Bruins without any animosity toward them, but after that thing came out, it was definitely bulletin board material,” Schnarr said. “If they wanted to draw some hatred from the Tampa Bay fan base they certainly succeeded.”
Way to show them that you aren’t a bunch of out-of-touch hockey fans! Don’t taunt us or we’ll call your marketing department! That will show you! We’re strong, tough Tampa fans but signs hurt our feelings! Wah!
Awful. Just awful.
It’s such an un-hockey thing to do!! It’s wimpy & weak & now, even though they thoroughly whooped us last round, I’m pulling for the Bruins. The thought of Tampa, a LOUSY sports town, winning another title churns my stomach!! BTW, thanks for the shout out!
I’m with you Anthony. After reading this today, I’m pulling for the Bruins. As a Flyers fan I thought the posters were hilarious too. I guess when the temp never gets below 70 you tend to have thin skin!!
i guess there were bomb threats called into t.d.garden from unhappy lightning fans, thats why they took them down. The bruins marketing department said it wasnt worth putting peoples lives at risk.
I don’t support either team (I prefer the real hockey of the western conference, where players have skills) but these signs are a completely classless act by a classless organization. Bruins’ fans would sing a much different tune if other teams put up signs insulting their fans.
TessMck,
Tess you must have not have a shread of imagination (or a sense of humor) not to think this was done all in fun. Bruins DO have class. Sorry they must have beaten your team to make you such an angry person. Or maybe they (the state of Fla.) didn’t send you your hip check. hope you get it soon so you feel better.