An Idiot Abroad
by Free Tony T on Feb 9, 2012 8:32 PM CST
Email
PrintNickname: Puff
I can't say my athletic ability has improved too much since that incident, which is why I have taken my talents to the sidelines, and now the CH forums. (Unlike my favorite pup Tony T, who made a better decision).
To be fair, I have always been more of a Vikings fan. My first Minnesota sports memories are a blur between Gary Anderson's missed 38-yarder and the 41-0 rout at Giants Stadium. I made a few trips to Target Center in my young age, but never really latched onto the team. Sure I loved me some Anthony Peeler, but I certainly wasn't a die hard fan.
This year it has been something completely different. I am currently studying abroad in London for the semester, and have streamed (legally of course) a large majority of the games on my laptop. Somehow, more than anything else, those 1AM starts have provided my favorite link to life back home. There is nothing better than coming back from a night out to watch the Unicorn go to work.
I have been casually perusing the CH forums for a couple of years but finally decided to make an account this season. Just thought I would introduce myself and here's to hoping you will allow a late addition to the bandwagon.
Cheers!
42 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Welcome
Sounds awesome studying abroad. I’d love to poke around in some of those old British castles. Would be wary of the various ‘puddings’ though.
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." -- Yogi Berra
I was also an idiot abroad
when I discovered Hoopus a few years ago in Paris. Like you, I had never really been more of a casual fan of Wolves or the NBA in general, but somehow between CH, Finals coverage from (I’m almost ashamed to say it) Simmons, and whatever game that would occasionally be shown in French bars, I became ridiculously interested in the Wolves, rooting for them the most of the MN teams. How this happened I have no idea, considering how abysmal they were then, but I like to think it’s paying off now.
Also, have fun streaming March Madness over there. It gets intense
by jor the frenchie on Feb 10, 2012 12:37 AM CST reply actions
A few people have mentioned March Madness abroad
as being ridiculously fun. With the first games starting around 5PM it does set up nicely for a full night of bball. Were you able to the find those games in any bars or just on your computer?
It was indeed a lot of fun
We did find some bars showing games, but didn’t discover them until the sweet 16. The first weekend was all on the computer. I ended up having a few other UW kids over to watch the first round and the Badgers had the late late start. It was a hell of a game and it was just finishing as my host mom was getting up for work, right around 5:30 in the morning, French time. She was pretty amused with her insight into American sports fandom
by jor the frenchie on Feb 11, 2012 12:46 AM CST up reply actions
Crazyness
Wasn’t aware we had a Thai fan. You should post more often!
If I'm pissing you off its probably sarcasm
by CoffeeJanitor on Feb 10, 2012 6:25 AM CST up reply actions
You mean
“Sawatdee Khap.”
Unless you mean the restaurant, in which case you mean True Thai on Franklin Ave.
Now I'm hungry.
Love Thai food.
I'm going to brag. I drive the Nikola Pekovic fanwagon.
by Cynical Jason on Feb 11, 2012 12:18 AM CST up reply actions
The most multicultural bandwagon of all time
I love it.
T'Wolves 2012: Where Pek Decimates Jason Thompson
Is there any stat for how many fans came to Canis Hoopus and became die hard fans of TWolves?
CH did more to international popularity of T Wolves and NBA than all the marketing machinery. I came to look for info about Darko and stayed for good :-) Even if Darko and Nikola go away i will stay…. Strange…
anbeast
I hope you and the others posting from outside the U.S. realize what an important part of the CH experience you are. Your insights on Darko, Pek, and European basketball are wonderful. The more foreign (to me) views and culture you relate to basketball or whatever the better. I wish we had more people posting from the Caribbean, South America, and especially the Middle East. When we share enthusiasm for and even agony in something common, it opens us up.to much that is good.
"pokin' the animals at the Canis Hoopus zoo"
by pastyearsears on Feb 10, 2012 8:29 AM CST up reply actions 5 recs
I would be interested in that stat as well
It seems to me that while CH is obviously loved and enjoyed in MN, it may, on average, play an even larger role in the fandom of those who are abroad. For me, it replaces the daily interaction with local fans/newspapers/talk radio with a new place to discuss our favorite team. While Pek’s low-post positioning can certainly be enjoyed alone, it is more thoroughly enjoyed when it is accompanied by 5-10 consecutive Pek jokes. United we Pun.
Absolutely right Tony T!
My main base in SF Bay area, but I spend half the year in Mexico. So I’m a fairly remote fan as well. It is the intelligence & humor on CH that really cements fandom for me.
Would I get the same satisfaction from the Heat, the Lakers (I’m old enuff to have seen a Lakers game in Mpls with Dick Garmaker), the Nyets? Nope. The only alternative for me would be the Warriors, but what fun would that be?
Rave on, Wolf fans.
Oh, and the fact that the team is taking on a real international character with Ricky, Pek, JJ, Darko — it helps our recognition a lot. We need an injection of more int’l guys, like Calderon, or Bjelica, or lets get some guys from France, Russia, Netherlands, Australia…
“It seems to me that while CH is obviously loved and enjoyed in MN, it may, on average, play an even larger role in the fandom of those who are from abroad.”
I completely agree! I discovered it about two weeks ago and now I’m addicted. It’s a great way to communicate with other t-wolves fans, especially for us non US-citizens. I’m really proud to become a part of this network. You guys are amazing and I’m glad that I have found this site, not only because of "t-wolves fan reasons", the best thing about is, that this platform shows me that I had a lot of stupid preconceptions about US-people.
What a cool thing to say
Yeah, America, like many countries, has alot of sub-cultures. This is the micro-brew, geeky, b-ball loving one.
The preconceptions you had probably do apply, but you’d have to be in the right US sub-culture for them to be true.
"micro-brew, geeky, b-ball loving"
I feel like you just peered into my soul.
I also enjoy, learn from and welcome the international fans.
I just wanted to say about ''stupid preconceptions'' :-)
I know that all stereotypes are false. There are a lot of stereotypes about Balkanian people too. As far as my experience goes – it depends on who you meet. (Oh, it’s hard to express my toughts because i never learned English as much as i ought to :-))… However, when i emigrate to USA i will come to MInnesota (Unlike lot of my contryman who mostly go to Chichago) :-))))))))
Let’s win tonight!!!
I think CH was a key reason for me sticking around
I became a Twolves fan in the offseason between the 15 and 17 win seasons.
Things can only get better, I thought.
RAAAAAAAAAMMMMBIS
"If you’ve got some balls, you can do some stuff"
by JonesTheCat on Feb 10, 2012 7:59 AM CST via mobile reply actions
According to A Certain Other Wolves Forum
This place is incredibly elitist and unfriendly.
T'Wolves 2012: Where Pek Decimates Jason Thompson
It is. But then so am I, so I guess that works, right?
"If you’ve got some balls, you can do some stuff"
by JonesTheCat on Feb 10, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
One totally OT question:
How do you manage to watch the game and post on game treads simultaneously?! :-)
I’d wish there is edit button…..
Practice.
I usually have the game in one tab, CH game thread in another, the opposing team’s game thread in a third, and ESPN’s box score in a fourth. I comment in the CH thread when the other team’s on offense, I’ll check the opposing team’s thread during long breaks, and I’ll check the box score every so often when I want to confirm someone’s playing the way it seems they’re playing. It’s hard work!
I'm going to brag. I drive the Nikola Pekovic fanwagon.
by Cynical Jason on Feb 10, 2012 2:08 PM CST up reply actions
Dualscreen ;)
Laptop with CH/ box. Monitor with game.
"If you’ve got some balls, you can do some stuff"
by JonesTheCat on Feb 11, 2012 6:16 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Love your sig, Jones.
I'm going to brag. I drive the Nikola Pekovic fanwagon.
by Cynical Jason on Feb 11, 2012 4:40 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, seems like very hard work
But than you don’t see how puppies play defense :-)
I usually watch game full screen and check box score on my phone. It’s distracting for me to read comments and than to write them (maybe because i’m slow and have to translate my thoughts to English) I have to practice. Just need an offseason hard work :-)
I could have wrote exactly the same post.
Are you one of the people in my head?
I didn't mean it, i was forced by the little people living within my head.
by Joe Kozinski on Feb 10, 2012 4:34 PM CST up reply actions
I was hoping that this FanPost
was about Kahn’s travels to Spain.
Rubios - "Clinically PROVEN to Help Reduce Suckiness"
by PoohRubio on Feb 10, 2012 2:44 PM CST reply actions 5 recs
Reced!!!
I find it hard to keep up with posting during game flow as well due to my gawdawful typing skills. There are times when auto-intervene is more of what I need than auto-correct!
When I picture CJ and veteran posters flitting from tab -to-tab while looking for photo and content to link for after game comments, I am bedazzled. I’m male, so multi-tasking is distinctly unnatural, but apparently there are guys who are able to achieve true multi-tasking, even pausing for a beer periodically!
Welcome to all the folks from far away places; you enrich this community!
Ricky is lobbing at an Ooptimal level!
Miami vs Washington and Chicago v Charlotte on the same night
Yay East.
T'Wolves 2012: Where Pek Decimates Jason Thompson
I enjoy this site for many reasons
and never open the game threads. I just don’t think I could keep up with that much at once and sort it all out in my head the way I want to.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- C-a-C: This is probably as close to LeBron James working with John Waters as we’ll ever get
- Dwyane Wade’s hot pink pants: The kind of thing you can get away with when you drop 41
- Lamar Odom to New York? Dwight Howard on the move? For now, it’s all talk
- David West hilariously denies each and every one of his young fans a high-five (VIDEO)
- Behind the Box Score, where the Miami Heat are moving on to the conference finals
