"Is it better to have hoped and been crushed or never to have hoped at all?" (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

"Is it better to have hoped and been crushed or never to have hoped at all?"

And you know what I mean. This is about whether it's better to have a good team that disappoints in the end vs a team that didn't give a lot of hope.

It's not about "I could never be a _____________ fan".

 

[Insein]

Having a dog in the fight is way better. More chance for heartbreak but the other option is apathy. As a sixer fan, I know what the browns feel like. I don't care at all about what happens.

 

[menobrown]

Have learned to appreciate the journey and not be so focused on the destination. So Bills fan, definitely.

 

[-OZ-]

For the poll
Bills for sure. I’d rather be prohibited from watching the NFL than be a browns fan.

(Yes, my team has the 1.01 this year and also lacks direction)

But yeah, I’d also rather my titans have made it to the AFCCG. It’s kinda odd to choose the browns to make this poll imo.

 

[eighsse2]

Easy one. Making it to a conference championship game carries pride/bragging rights. Nothing compared to the pride of a ring, obviously. But you finished ahead of 28 teams.

 

[dickey moe]

There's still hope for the Bills. There's no hope for the Browns.

 

[efactor]

As a fan, always better for your team to succeed even if they don't win it all.

 

[Golden Gopher]

When you're a fan for a contender, you get to experience both the thrill of victory AND the agony of defeat. Better? Sure. Always more enjoyable? Definitely not.

I'd much rather be a Bills fan this year than a Browns fan. Meaning I'd much rather be "in the mix" than not. That said, it's much more painful, as a fan, to almost get there and lose a close game than to not get anywhere close. So, for me, which would I rather be is different than which is more painful to endure. I'm sure Bills fans today are feeling a kind of pain that most Browns fans have never experienced, unless they recall those losses to DEN 35 years ago.

I'm a MIN fan, across the board. Don't really watch much hockey, but all of the other major sports. Basketball was my first love, and what I played growing up. During most of the Timberwolves' existence, I've been a fan, but they've never caused me near the heartache that the Vikings have. Pre-Garnett, the Wolves were terrible for several years, and it was no big deal. Then, they got close with KG, and it was devastating to watch them fall short. After that, post-Garnett, another period of mediocrity. It was what it was. I didn't lose any sleep over it. Last year was different, and I could feel the competitive juices start to flow again, in terms of wanting the Wolves to succeed. But, nothing like the Vikings, who have been close so many times.

Same with the Gophers. The Final Four with Bobby Jackson in 1997 is etched into my memory. Both for good and bad. Fun to watch, but hard to watch them come up short. Then erased from the record books, but that's another topic. Before that, an Elite 8 run with Willie Burton where they came up short against Georgia Tech's trio of Scott/Oliver/Anderson. Back when college basketball was as good as it's ever been. I can still see the missed three from the corner by Kevin Lynch that would have won that game. But, MIN hoops has more down years than good, it seems, so you get used to it. Nothing like the Vikings, who have caused me more lost sleep and gray hair than my kids have, probably.

 

[Golden Gopher]

I only mention all of that because I've heard a lot of debate lately about which is worse... to never get close, or to get close and lose. And, I would argue that, in terms of which is more painful, it's way worse to get close and lose. So, I guess getting close is both better and worse. Sort of goes back to the thrill of victory versus the agony of defeat thing, I suppose. On the other hand, mediocrity (or worse) just sort of lulls you to sleep, as a fan.

 

[sm8680]

Next year Bills vs Vikings in the Superbowl and they tie.
If the Bills made the Superbowl this year. They could of been the first team to lose to all division opponents of the NFC East.

 

[Ilov80s]

As a Lions fan, I've enjoyed the last 2 years a heck of a lot more than the 40 that came before so yeah give me a chance. The Tigers were the best team in baseball for like a 10 year run and somehow never won a WS. It sucked, it really was heartbreaking. But I had a lot of fun times with friends and family centered around Tigers games. The 10 years after when they became the worst team in baseball, definitely no fun times. So I want the memories and experiences even if the end goal isnt quite met.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I feel for the lone Browns fan

 

[Rubi]

This one is easy for me
As a Giants fan
Bills fan definitely
Give me a playoff run,long or short
Eight days a week

 

[JohnnyU]

Since I'm a believer it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, I'll say it is better to have hoped and been crushed. I'll also say those who never fail, never try, nor even lived.

​

 

[zamboni]

Bills fan definitely.

As a fan, it’s really rough not having November and December games (let alone January) matter. At least when you’re on the precipice, there’s hope that one day your team can finally break through.

 

[Gatorade]

cannot believe this is really a question. the poll results seem to confirm that.

 

[Gally]

Vikings fan here. It's the hope that kills you but as Ted Lasso says, "I think it's the lack of hope that comes and get you". Personally, I think it's both. Hope makes the hurt that much more but with a lack of hope you aren't really living.

 

[themeistersinger]

gotta believe the person who chose "Browns fan probably" is either actually a Browns fan IRL or a Bills fan IRL

 

[kutta]

As a lifelong Lions fan, I’ve been on both sides.

It’s not even close.

Bills fan definitely for this poll.

 

[Dizzy]

At least as a Bills fan (which I am not), there would be hope for 2025.

 

[fantasycurse42]

49ers here. While not as bad as the Bills in the 90s, the last 5 years have yielded misery… This year was a breath of fresh air, prob not even watching the SB. Next season, I’ll subscribe, draft strictly off DD, and almost hope they suck again (which they most likely will) so I can remain completely detached.

Idk which contracts are coming up, not following it, nor the draft… in fact, my check-ins here are the only place I’ll be getting any news on the 49ers through September.

Not hoped at all

 

[joey]

Winning, please.

 

[Deamon]

Silly poll, clearly it was going to be Buffalo fan over Browns fan. Yikes.

That said, I'd rather my team get blown out than lose in OT.

 

[lsutigers]

I'm a Bills and Ravens fan, I voted for Bills probably and don't know a lot about the Browns fanbase.

But to be a Devil's Advocate here, the Browns were coming off a Wild Card playoff game (blowout loss), and amidst a historically bad but inescapable QB quandary (until Watson's injury). 8 of 17 reg. season 2024/2025 games final margin were within single digits including games with Philly, Baltimore, Denver, Pittsburgh and Cincy (wins over Balt and Pit). After a 1-6 start, any hope for this season was likely extinguished but this was still a talented team in a tough division and there had to be some hope at the beginning of the season, right? At least like those NFL Super Bowl commercials sell, there is always next year!