The Urban Legend of Crazed Sabres' Fans

[eball]

I know I should let this go, but I live in the RDU area and I consistently hear stories that have risen to epic proportions about how horrible Buffalo fans have been at games here vs. the Canes.

 

I have attended the last eight Sabres/Canes games in Raleigh, and I just haven't seen it. There were certainly a number of intoxicated fans during the ECF last year, and they were vocal, but I never saw what has been reported as deliberate taunting of Canes' fans, or vulgarity in the faces of small children, or acts of violence.

 

Monday night, there were lots of Sabres' fans in attendance and all we did was cheer when the Sabres scored -- loudly. I just re-watched the 3rd period on TiVo last night and I was stunned at how loud the cheers were after the Buffalo goals. Again, I saw no drunken taunts of families with children, and none of the other activities you read about on "letsgocanes.com" that make it appear as though barbarians have invaded the sanctity of the holy land.

 

To the contrary, my wife has told me she has no interest in ever attending another game at RBC because of how she felt we were treated by Canes' fans following the Game 7 loss.

 

I'd like to know, from anyone who actually witnessed the alleged events, what actually happened?

[Stoner]

This brings up a good question. Why go on the road and behave like a boorish ass? Cheering and chanting are one thing, but standing up during prolonged stretches of play, like the Sabre fans in Carolina the other night (edit: like some of the Sabre fans in the lower bowl), turning and gesturing at people behind them, cross a line. No one likes THOSE people at our games, and you can't be shocked when you get treated shabbily when you become one of those people on the road. Someone should come up with "man law" for how you act on the road. Road etiquette, if you will. Stay seated might be the first good law.

[Realist]

I was at the game Monday night and really didn't see anything much. I was in section 118 and nothing that the 'canes fans said happened in that section. We stood and cheered after goals, but no one got in anyones face or anything. Nothing happened in the concourse before, during, or after the game. The worst I saw, was in the lower part of section 119 there seemed to be some Sabre fans that were standing quite a bit and egging on the 'canes fans around them. They were the only ones doing that from my vantage point. So they were the exception and not the rule.

 

On the other hand, when I went to the restroom between periods I was greeted with a loud chorus of "Go back to Buffalo, loser."

 

I wouldn't worry about it eball. Its obvious there were a few bad Buffalo fans, so naturally they say that about everyone who wears something with Buffalo on it. However, they tend to ignore everything that some of the 'Canes were doing.

[Claude_Verret]

This brings up a good question. Why go on the road and behave like a boorish ass? Cheering and chanting are one thing, but standing up during prolonged stretches of play, like the Sabre fans in Carolina the other night, turning and gesturing at people behind them, cross a line. No one likes THOSE people at our games, and you can't be shocked when you get treated shabbily when you become one of those people on the road. Someone should come up with "man law" for how you act on the road. Road etiquette, if you will. Stay seated might be the first good law.

 

I am interested to hear how you know it was Sabres fans that were standing up during long stretches of play the other night? I was there, section 106 row F, six rows from ice level. The only stretches of the game that I needed to stand was when EVERYONE stood because it looked like a scuffle or something might be happening near the benches in front of us.

 

To answer eball's original question, I was there for game 1 & 5 of the ECF and obviously was there last night as well. For game one there were at least 6000 Sabres fans there. I did see some fairly drunk and obnoxious Sabres fans before, during and after the game. I didn't witness anything more than drunk obnoxious behavior though by A VERY SMALL MINORITY of them. I didn't witness any fights or over the top behavior such has been reported. I'm not saying that it didn't happen, I just didn't witness any. Many of the stories you hear revolve around drunk Sabres fans breaking the souvenier pint galsses the Canes gave out that night. I didn't see any of that either, but that was not a very smart decision by Canes management to give those out when almost half your building is occupied by opposing fans. I gave mine to some Canes fans that were next to us in the parking lot.

 

 

At game 5 there weren't nearly as many Sabres fans and it was a much different experience for me. I was taunted on the way in and it got even worse when I got to my seats. I bit my tongue until the second period until I had had enough. At that point I merely engaged them in the verbal jousting. I never stood up or used foul language since I was with my wife and she was constantly reminding me about all the children seated near us. Well before too long a security guard comes down and wants to escort me out?? I told him he had to be kidding and I wasn't moving as I had done nothing wrong. The Canes management completely overreacted to the events of game one and two in my opinion. It was because of this experience that I chose not to attend game seven. Beyond my own personal experience at game 5 I did not witness any fights etc.

 

The other night it was just as eball said, very vocal Sabres fans supporting their team. If I were a Canes fan I'd be irritated by it too, but just as the Leafs fans will always be in Buffalo for games, we will always be there when the Sabres play at the RBC. Deal with it.

[SCSabresFan!]

I know I should let this go, but I live in the RDU area and I consistently hear stories that have risen to epic proportions about how horrible Buffalo fans have been at games here vs. the Canes.

 

I have attended the last eight Sabres/Canes games in Raleigh, and I just haven't seen it. There were certainly a number of intoxicated fans during the ECF last year, and they were vocal, but I never saw what has been reported as deliberate taunting of Canes' fans, or vulgarity in the faces of small children, or acts of violence.

 

Monday night, there were lots of Sabres' fans in attendance and all we did was cheer when the Sabres scored -- loudly. I just re-watched the 3rd period on TiVo last night and I was stunned at how loud the cheers were after the Buffalo goals. Again, I saw no drunken taunts of families with children, and none of the other activities you read about on "letsgocanes.com" that make it appear as though barbarians have invaded the sanctity of the holy land.

 

To the contrary, my wife has told me she has no interest in ever attending another game at RBC because of how she felt we were treated by Canes' fans following the Game 7 loss.

 

I'd like to know, from anyone who actually witnessed the alleged events, what actually happened?

 

Eball - I also have a hard time letting this issue go. I seen the Sabres play in Greensboro and Raleigh and never saw anything. I even drove to Charleston, SC for a preseason tilt in the mid 90's. Are they fabricating things because we are a loud traveling fanbase? They believe in their hearts we are an evil empire, a roudy fan base. I spoke to the marketing director at the RBC center in July and needed her assistance with work. We spoke about the Hurricanes winning the Cup. When I told her I was at game one and I'm a huge Sabres fan she fired back "I hope you aren't one of THOSE fans!" She swears Sabres fans are the seed of Satan. They broke glasses, picks fights and spread disease. Nothing I said had any effect on her. If a Sabres fan is being a butt-head in public, I'd have no problem getting into his face. But I didn't see anything other that fellow fans who loudly supported their team and loved to chant like a European soccer match. Show me the proof these things happened Caniacs. All cellphones have cameras. If this was so widespead, please post a picture. Show us something.

 

Your team wins the Cup and you still can't sell out the arena? You live in one of the highest income areas in the nation and you can't afford tickets? NC State stinks this year - what else are you going to do?

 

/vent

[Quickdraw]

To the contrary, my wife has told me she has no interest in ever attending another game at RBC because of how she felt we were treated by Canes' fans following the Game 7 loss.

 

It was actually like that after the game 5 loss as well. I was one of the people who came down from Buffalo for game 5 and the walk back to the car after the loss was just brutal. My fiance had to hold me back at some of the nasty things people were saying to my group, which I think is pathetic, because those fans were quiet the entire game while Buffalo was kicking their ass.

 

It's a shame too, because I met some really nice Carolina fans in my section and we were have VERY civilized discussions on the area, sports, etc. Just goes to show there are jerks and nice people in every fanbase.

[X. Benedict]

We need to embrace the legend. There was rape, pillage, and looting. People were drinking beer.

 

Actually, we had a section in the upper bowl for game one of the ECF. I have said this before, but

we introduced ourselves to the family sitting behind us, and told the father behind us that we were here to cheer for our team and have fun. The guy never acknowledged our attempts at friendliness and instructed his children not to respond to us, stuff like, do you have a favorite player?

 

He just swore up a storm until he left early. I did see a Sabre fan assaulted in the bathroom after the game waiting in line to take a pee. He was basically assaulted from behind - punched in the back of the head. The Sabre taunting of women amounted to Caniac girls shouting things like "The Canes are going to beat you!" and the Sabre men fans shouting back, "Maintenance!" as in, 'you must be high maintenance'which I actually thought was pretty damn funny.

 

 

We brought beer and food to trade for the tailgate before the game and we were told point blanc by most of the folks there that we were not welcome. The Canes fans were upset to begin with because the Management jacked prices and there were 4000 former or present WNYers in the lots.

 

2 minutes into the game - "Lets Go Buffalo" - it was pretty damn loud. And fun.

 

After the game I urinated in some guys truck, and made out with his girlfriend, after I sliced and diced

their toddlers up with their own commemorative cups, after which I untied her beau and we talked a little about NC state football and chewed some Cope. Good times.

 

* The staff at the RBC were great. One told me he had never been tipped as much as

much by any fans and was just glowing. They also did a great job of keeping people

from moving during game play, HSBC could learn from that.

[shrader]

Remember, if you even think that someone is being rude to you, you are allowed to respond in any manner you'd like. Insult and assault away.

[X. Benedict]

Remember, if you even think that someone is being rude to you, you are allowed to respond in any manner you'd like. Insult and assault away.

 

Very true. I do that thumb to the nose thing wiggling my fingers. Gets em every time.

[SCSabresFan!]

Actually, we had a section in the upper bowl for game one of the ECF. I have said this before, but

we introduced ourselves to the family sitting behind us, and told the father behind us that we were here to cheer for our team and have fun. The guy never acknowledged our attempts at friendliness and instructed his children not to respond to us, stuff like, do you have a favorite player?

 

He just swore up a storm until he left early. I did see a Sabre fan assaulted in the bathroom after the game waiting in line to take a pee. He was basically assaulted from behind - punched in the back of the head. The Sabre taunting of women amounted to Caniac girls shouting things like "The Canes are going to beat you!" and the Sabre men fans shouting back, "Maintenance!" as in, 'you must be high maintenance'which I actually thought was pretty damn funny.

We brought beer and food to trade for the tailgate before the game and we were told point blanc by most of the folks there that we were not welcome. The Canes fans were upset to begin with because the Management jacked prices and there were 4000 former or present WNYers in the lots.

 

And folks - that is EXACTLY what happened. The Father behind us was an ass. We tried for the first period to be nice, especially for the kids sake but no dice. He was having none of the Yankee invaders speaking to him. In his mind, I'm sure we spit and farted on him and his family.

[BetweenThePipes00]

Since moving from Buffalo there are a couple things I have noticed over the years ...

First, it's different in the South. Pro sports are just not as important to people down here as college sports. If this had been a college football game, from what i have seen in the SEC anyway, no one would have blinked at some drunk opposing fans being obnoxious. Mostly because there would have been 50 times as many drunk obnoxious home team fans. Also there is a weird respect for fans so passionate that they follow their college football team around, like, they GET that, they understand that. They just don't understand why we would do the same for a pro hockey team I guess.

All that said, I would also guess that the worst Sabres fans were those that rarely if ever went to games in Buffalo. Anyone who has KNOWS how annoying Toronto fans are to us. But if you never go to a game except the once or twice a year when the Sabres come to your town, so maybe you think it is your chance to go crazy ... there is no "road ettiquitte," as PA put it ... and obviously I don't mean "you" as in anyone on this board who has said they were at the game, I'm talking hypothetically.

[shrader]

BTP, is it an age thing? Do these pro games draw a much older crowd than the college games do (ie. rowdy college students)?

[X. Benedict]

And folks - that is EXACTLY what happened. The Father behind us was an ass. We tried for the first period to be nice, especially for the kids sake but no dice. He was having none of the Yankee invaders speaking to him. In his mind, I'm sure we spit and farted on him and his family.

 

You didn't confirm the good parts. <_<

[BetweenThePipes00]

BTP, is it an age thing? Do these pro games draw a much older crowd than the college games do (ie. rowdy college students)?

 

Well there are certianly more little kids at the Predators games i have been to, but the college football games have as many old alumni there as they do current students. I would go so far as to say that the average age at a college football game might be higher than that at a Bills game ... lots of OLD MONEY with season tickets ...

[Bmwolf21]

This brings up a good question. Why go on the road and behave like a boorish ass? Cheering and chanting are one thing, but standing up during prolonged stretches of play, like the Sabre fans in Carolina the other night (edit: like some of the Sabre fans in the lower bowl), turning and gesturing at people behind them, cross a line. No one likes THOSE people at our games, and you can't be shocked when you get treated shabbily when you become one of those people on the road. Someone should come up with "man law" for how you act on the road. Road etiquette, if you will. Stay seated might be the first good law.

I think I am going to go buy a lottery ticket, because for once, I agree with PA. My wife & I were talking about the same thing - the idiots that go there to rile up the opposing fans, and then complain when they get mistreated by the locals. In Monday's Carolina game, there were a couple idiots in the lower bowl that kept standing up for long stretches and taunting the fans around them, and they looked like they were wearing Sabres colors and paraphenalia.

 

It was actually like that after the game 5 loss as well. I was one of the people who came down from Buffalo for game 5 and the walk back to the car after the loss was just brutal. My fiance had to hold me back at some of the nasty things people were saying to my group, which I think is pathetic, because those fans were quiet the entire game while Buffalo was kicking their ass.

 

It's a shame too, because I met some really nice Carolina fans in my section and we were have VERY civilized discussions on the area, sports, etc. Just goes to show there are jerks and nice people in every fanbase.

Quickdraw, that post is pretty much deadon with my game 5 experience, and like others, I am having a hard time getting past it. We were chatting it up with a couple Canes fans in Sabres Alley, and a couple sitting by us were pretty cool as well. But the way a lot of fans acted after winning in OT was inexcusable, and I would be disappointed if our fans acted like that. IIRC, we were in section 313, with about half the section being full with Sabres fans. While there were some stupid things being yelled by a handful of fans, it was pretty civilized, until the Canes tyed the game at 1-1, when some middle-aged guy a couple rows in front of us gave us an F-You Buffalo with the old double-barrel salute - in front of his wife and early-teen daughters. Great parenting.

 

On the way out we got caught going against the flow toward our car, and had to make our way through a crowd of people screaming in my wife's face, throwing stuff at us, and bumping us whenever they got the chance. We also watched some fans throwing stuff on cars near Sabres Alley (cars marked with Sabres license plate holders, flags, etc.)

 

I guess my bottom line is when this kind of stuff happens, it's not usually everyone involved, but rather a small number of idiots. The ECF game 1 & 2 stories got so exaggerated that a number of Canes fans went there with the mentality of defending their turf from the evil Sabres invaders.

[MLH]

This brings up a good question. Why go on the road and behave like a boorish ass? Cheering and chanting are one thing, but standing up during prolonged stretches of play, like the Sabre fans in Carolina the other night (edit: like some of the Sabre fans in the lower bowl), turning and gesturing at people behind them, cross a line. No one likes THOSE people at our games, and you can't be shocked when you get treated shabbily when you become one of those people on the road. Someone should come up with "man law" for how you act on the road. Road etiquette, if you will. Stay seated might be the first good law.

 

 

Absolutely ridiculous. If you pay money to attend the game you have every right to stand up, cheer, high five the Sabre fans around you, start chants, and respond to opposing jeers. It's why people attend games. What you're forgetting is that the "turning and gesturing at people behind them" generally comes after Canes fans get mad because Sabre fans are celebrating yet another goal and shout things at them. Normally, it's 'how many Cups have you won?' and Buffalo fans turn around and tell them to wait until June. I hope you're never put on the Man Law committee, though you might be a good fit with Eddie Griffen, Jerome Bettis, and the wrestling guy.

[X. Benedict]

The ECF game 1 & 2 stories got so exaggerated that a number of Canes fans went there with the mentality of defending their turf from the evil Sabres invaders.

 

The game of Northern Aggression?

[HockeyFan T]

Ever sit in the endzone at the Ralph? It's a zoo! Personally, I don't have a problem with sitting there because I know what to expect. It's also pretty amusing at times, but definitely R-rated. That's what I witnessed at Game 1 and to a lesser extent Game 5. Buffalo fans out of control. The majority of fans in Raleigh don't get hammered before or during the game and it's very rare to hear a cuss word at the RBC Center. Let me be clear, I said the "majority" and "rare" - not that it doesn't happen.

 

Several hours of heavy drinking by both sides resulted in some very unfortunate incidents that have left a bad impression of Buffalo fans by many here in Raleigh. Both sides were to blame.

 

Yes, their was a brawl after game one - The band had to leave the stage and the party was over. It was like the KKK and the NAACP were both showed up at the same party.

 

A lot of isolated incidents took place (smashing glasses, cussing in the company of women and young children, banging on cars as they left the parking lots, a fight here and there, etc.). There were a lot of well behaved Buffalo fans as well but the a-holes are the folks who got noticed.

 

I'm sure the fans of Raleigh were appalled because that stuff just hardly ever happens.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

There was rape, pillage, and looting.

 

Women stampeded and cattle raped. ;)

[Screamin'Weasel]

Reposteing something I posted from an earlier thread:

 

"WTF ever. A Buffalo fan talking about the way HE was treated during the ECF's, that's rich.

 

As I've said before, I'm done with the Buffalo fans.

 

So don't let the door hit you on the way out, chief."

 

"That is absolutely CLASSIC. Your people came in our building again and showed their snarly, chip on the shoulder cause I'm from BUF selves last May, and proceeded to do it again last night. And tell us all how you were treated during the ECF's last year- would that before all your people threw commemorative ECF glasses at small children or when your people tried to run people over in the parking lot or when they proceeded to defile people's cars and break car flags? Please clarify that for me and all my friends here so we're clear on when our people treated you and your innocent (right) self so badly.

 

Nobody in the history of the world has behaved as poorly as your people in any arena. Just be clear on that dude. And when your people are yammering on the concourse talking about "the Cup is ours" and it's Nov 13, and the playoffs don't start til uh APRIL, You best believe your team, your people and the city of BUF will be paying back hockey god karma."

 

This is a case study in how urban legends get formed. A few months ago this read, "Buffalo fans threw the comemmorative glasses at people in the lot, were driving drunk and took car flags." Go back a little further to the nights of the incidents and you will see even less (I read them every night back then): "A few Sabre fans smashed thier comemorative glasses in the parking lot and are horrible drivers." And, the kicker was a Carolina state trooper mentioned he had his Sabre flag stolen from his car multiple times in the parking lot during games.

 

I cannot wait to see how it is remembered during the playoffs this year: "A mad horde of thousands of Sabre fans ravished the countryside smashing any glass they could find: plate glass windows, windshields, mirrors, everything! They hit about 50 innocent people, mostly nuns, orphans and pregnant women, with thier cars and never stopped! The hiways ran red from the monsters! They burned city hall to the ground, razed synagogues, blew up churches and defiled mosques! They raped and killed 14 people in the parking ramps! They spit on Sister Theresa! THEY DEFECATED ON THE JEFF GORDON STATUE IN THE CITY SQUARE!"

 

That last highlighted line in the quote makes me laugh. Maybe from now on when a penalty is called against the Sabre's opponent, the referee can look up at Mr. Golisano who will give the "thumbs down" sign. At that point starved and mistreated lions will be released into the penalty box and the offending player can be ripped limb from limb. All to the mad cheers of the glass-breaking, orphan-hitting-and-running, spitting-on-nuns, car-defiling, flag-breaking mob-mentality horde that are the Sabre fans, who "nobody in the history of the world has beahved as poorly as."

 

Damn Sabre miscreants...

[Hirly5]

I was at Game 1, 5, and 7. I didn't see any fights or anything. I didn't even get a ECF glass. I will say the atmosphere was different after all the games due to the outcome. After game 1, Sabres fans were talking trash. After game 5 and 7, Canes fans were talking trash.

 

I was intoxicated for game 1 and 5. I didnt act like an a$$. I even took some pic of a Canes fan and his young son and emailed it to him. There are bad apples on both sides of the argument.

 

I met Canes fans that were cordial and others that didnt like me one bit. I am sure Canes fans had the same experience.

 

On a side note:

It might be a good sign that the Canes management wasnt to keen on Sabres Alley when there were cops on motorcycles along with the cops walking surrounding Sabres Alley.

[SCSabresFan!]

Hirly5, You were simply in awe of the Hockey Sherpa's presence at your tailgate. He advocates Hockey knowledge, peaceful resistance and heavy beer drinking - all tenets true Sabres fans live by.

[X. Benedict]

Hirly5, You were simply in awe of the Hockey Sherpa's presence at your tailgate. He advocates Hockey knowledge, peaceful resistance and heavy beer drinking - all tenets true Sabres fans live by.

Naaah, he was pillaging and looting with the rest of us.

[shrader]

Naaah, he was pillaging and looting with the rest of us.

 

I was stuck out here in Boston, but you better believe that I was looting and pillaging along with you guys in spirit.

[X. Benedict]

I was stuck out here in Boston, but you better believe that I was looting and pillaging along with you guys in spirit.

 

We read the reports of all that destruction in Quincy Market - nice choice of places to pillage, even if they didn't have context.