Ryan ChartrandWhen rebutting the assertions of John Middlekauff after he wrote the Chargers have no class, et cetera, the last thing I intended to do was engage in a war of words over something that’s largely opinion-based, such as preference of sports teams.
I simply wanted to serve as a mouthpiece for so many who aren’t fortunate enough to be able to refute such claims in the fashion that I am able to. I had no intention of embroiling myself in a back-and-forth rivalry that, ultimately, no one will win.
But now I’d like to rebut his more recent column in which he asserted the Chargers haven’t earned any respect, a contention so blatantly outlandish that it not only justifies a response, it necessitates one.
Why do 49ers fans feel such animosity toward those of the Chargers?
Every time I go out wearing Chargers gear, I expect to receive both positive affirmations of my “fanhood” from fellow Chargers fans and well-deserved enmity from those of other teams. I have no problem with this, as it’s part of being a football fan and a fan of professional sports in general.
But the vast majority of belligerent arguing that goes beyond what occurs in jest comes not from Raiders, Broncos, Chiefs or Patriots fans, but from fans of the 49ers. And apparently I’m not the only one who’s noticed.
“The thing is, the NFL is a ‘what-have-you-done-for-me-lately’ league,” observed Fadi Al-Banna, a civil engineering senior and fellow Chargers fan. “I just don’t know why 49ers fans can’t respect good football. I hate to say it, but it’s probably because of jealousy, given that we have a good football team and they don’t.
“I mean, everyone in the country except for Boston fans and, apparently, 49ers fans, were rooting for the Chargers to beat the Patriots the other week.”
Even some 49ers fans agree that their fan base’s animosity toward the distant neighbor from the south is unwarranted.
“I don’t know why so many 49ers fans feel the need to voice their opinion to San Diego fans,” agreed Matt Loftus, a mechanical engineering senior and 49ers fan. “Maybe it’s reflective of the whole Nor-Cal versus So-Cal thing. But our team isn’t even good right now; not that I feel this way, but I guess you have to take your anger out on someone.”
So why is it that so many 49ers fans feel the need to hate on the Chargers?
I just don’t know. What I do know is how tired I – and many Chargers fans – have grown of hearing 49ers fans say the same thing, over and over.
You can only listen to references of the Chargers’ loss to the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX, and of Shawne Merriman’s four-game suspension for substance abuse, so many times before you begin to feel pity for the opposition’s lack of anything else to talk about.
I’d offer belated congratulations to 49ers fans for their team’s victory over the Chargers in a Super Bowl that was played 13 years ago, but I doubt it would prompt them to update their argument.
To draw a parallel, saying the 49ers deserve more respect than the Chargers because they beat them in the Super Bowl 13 years ago is like me hating German people because my grandfather was in the Holocaust; justifying a belief with something that occurred so long ago only shows how much someone is living in the past.
Last time I checked, the main in-state rivalry the Chargers had was with the Oakland Raiders, and I never seem to have to tolerate Raiders fans’ spouting whenever I choose to represent the Chargers.
Even the Chargers and 49ers themselves don’t seem to sense any sort of rivalry, evidenced by the frequency with which the teams play each other in the preseason. The two teams obviously respect each other, so why do some 49ers fans feel that the Chargers don’t deserve any?
Whatever happened to California love?
Besides, doesn’t it make sense that Eagles, Seahawks, Bengals, Panthers and Bills fans would be upset if it were asserted their teams didn’t deserve any respect because they hadn’t won a Super Bowl?
Part of being a fan is simply having pride in your team, and when you say that team doesn’t deserve any respect, you’re infringing on that pride.
And even with the Patriots – a team I don’t respect, yet one I won’t say doesn’t deserve any respect – respecting the Chargers heading into the AFC Championship game, perhaps it’s time for 49ers fans to re-evaluate their stance and start doing the same.