Michael Wilbon might be on to something. I’ve never understood how certain fan bases can clamor for decades about the lack of winning product, and then once that team becomes a championship contender, fans in that city still don’t have time to support a winner.
The Washington Wizards are the craze of the NBA, but they seem to only get love from the fans of opposing cities. The Wizards won their fifth straight game Tuesday, are now 13-2 at home and one win shy of matching their best overall start in franchise history.
They have an MVP candidate in John Wall, a sweet shooter in Bradley Beal, and loads of personality in the front court.
Despite the change in culture and winning percentage, D.C. fans are not coming out in support. “Pardon The Interruption” co-host and former Washington Post columnist, Michael Wilbon blasted D.C. sports fans for not jumping on the Wizards bandwagon.
Wilbon also railed against the city’s obsession with the Redskins at the expense of everything else during an appearance on ESPN 980′s “The Tony Kornheiser Show” on Monday.
“Most of us are from a place where the pro football team is the dominant team, in terms of sports, entertainment, culture and discussion,” Wilbon said. “Most of us are from a place like that. But, are the Redskins all that Washington can follow? They can’t follow two things, sports fans here? Because the Wizards are on to something, Tony. And I don’t mean they’re on to something because they’re not 9-20. First of all, even if they had a more mediocre record, they’re really, I think, one of the four or five most appealing teams in the entire league, in terms of the way they play, the chemistry they have on the court, the personalities. They seem to be just the nicest people. And I have now been around them for a couple of weeks over a period of time to just sort of observe, and listen and have discussion, and they are a delight the Wizards are, as opposed to the fright that is the other team.”
Wilbon was in attendance for the Wizards’ 104-96 win over the Clippers on Friday. The announced crowd was 17,437, about 3,000 shy of capacity.
You have a problem if you can’t sell out with lob city in town.
“And so you mean to tell me that on a Friday night, people don’t have enough interest in the Wizards to go see them play a team that has won nine in a row — the Clippers — at the time?” Wilbon continued. “I was so angry Friday night when I saw the 4,000 empty seats or whatever it is. … I was just annoyed. The Wizards are really a terrific team. They can win the Eastern Conference. I’m not betting on that. I know they’ve lost to Toronto, they’ve lost to Cleveland. Okay, fine. This is a long season. They’re right in the mix. There are four teams, I think any one of those teams could win the East and the Wizards are one of them. And people here don’t even want to go see them because…they’re cheating on the Redskins? What is it? They can’t follow more than one thing? This is a rich area. I don’t want to hear that tickets are too much. They’re too much in every city. I was so agitated.