SJUBB Bandwagon Debate

[Jack Williams]

After taking a peek at the CBS Sports way too early top 25 that has our Johnnies at #1, I was doing some thinking about next season, and I wanted to get your opinions on something.

During this Knicks playoff run, the Garden has obviously been a major attraction, with NY based celebs all over the place at the games, from main stays like Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, Larry David... to young and up and coming celebs like Timmy Chalamet. Their presence at the games, to the average viewers, give the games more of a "big time" feel.

With Ricky P bringing St. John's back to relevance, my question is this: Would it "bug" you as a fan if next season and beyond, more and more NY celebrities begin to grab on to this team and attend games?

Notably, Spike hopped on the bandwagon during last season, I even recall him getting up to Providence for our game against Arkansas in the dance. There were definitely some mixed reactions to it on here.

It is an interesting debate to me because I can see both sides. I want SJUBB to continue their upward trajectory into cultural relevance. But I also understand how a fan who has followed the team for years could feel like celebrities coming around now to sit courtside and get the camera in their face could feel "fake". Wondering how you all feel?

 

[paultzman]

Whoever attends games makes no difference to me. Getting more attention is fine, but bottom line is for the team to maintain focus, play smart and aggressive and have an outstanding year, contending for a national title.

 

[mjmaherjr]

After taking a peek at the CBS Sports way too early top 25 that has our Johnnies at #1, I was doing some thinking about next season, and I wanted to get your opinions on something.

During this Knicks playoff run, the Garden has obviously been a major attraction, with NY based celebs all over the place at the games, from main stays like Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, Larry David... to young and up and coming celebs like Timmy Chalamet. Their presence at the games, to the average viewers, give the games more of a "big time" feel.

With Ricky P bringing St. John's back to relevance, my question is this: Would it "bug" you as a fan if next season and beyond, more and more NY celebrities begin to grab on to this team and attend games?

Notably, Spike hopped on the bandwagon during last season, I even recall him getting up to Providence for our game against Arkansas in the dance. There were definitely some mixed reactions to it on here.

It is an interesting debate to me because I can see both sides. I want SJUBB to continue their upward trajectory into cultural relevance. But I also understand how a fan who has followed the team for years could feel like celebrities coming around now to sit courtside and get the camera in their face could feel "fake". Wondering how you all feel?

Doesn’t bother me at all. The more the merrier. We will even let Spike come up to 114 and take a pic with us if he brings beer

 

[dk423]

Absolutely not. I think it adds to our brand as being New York's team. No other college basketball program can really boast of this type of thing. Last one I can remember having a consistent celebrity presence was USC in the Pete Carroll era. It's a differentiator, heightens the game, and makes it more fun. Bill Clinton, Jay Z all coming to the games in the late 90s was amazing. Maybe it could have recruiting advantages too?

 

[lawmanfan]

 

[MugCostanza]

Whatever makes the school more relevant is good with me. Having that on the resume can’t hurt when the school is getting lots of positive attention

 

[NCJohnnie]

I think it's fine, the more rooting for St. John's and going to games becomes an in thing the better. To me it's no different than celebrities going to Yankee games when they are good. Maybe too much to ask for but as these celebrities are generally basking in the bucks, maybe some will pony up some NIL money to make their new favorite team even better.

 

[ctstorm]

OK, I guess I am going to be in the minority here but it bothers me greatly when these attention-starved (St.)johnny-come-latelies become the focus and push out the real diehard fans like those who post here and really know what it means to be a redmen fan. I get nauseous every time I see Spike Lee show up at an "event" suddenly wearing the latest trendy gear. They should instead show my man Beast or Maher or JSJ or even Logen. The 'event" should be the game itself and the brilliance of the athletes performing and not the artificial presence of front runners. That's my take anyway.

 

[mjmaherjr]

OK, I guess I am going to be in the minority here but it bothers me greatly when these attention-starved (St.)johnny-come-latelies become the focus and push out the real diehard fans like those who post here and really know what it means to be a redmen fan. I get nauseous every time I see Spike Lee show up at an "event" suddenly wearing the latest trendy gear. They should instead show my man Beast or Maher or JSJ or even Logen. The 'event" should be the game itself and the brilliance of the athletes performing and not the artificial presence of front runners. That's my take anyway.

A shot during the game of 114 would be cool but my humility makes me not look for attention. But who am I to turn it down plus 114 is all about our entire crew

JSJ though should get tons of camera time since he does more for the school than all of us combined

 

[Chriscin33]

OK, I guess I am going to be in the minority here but it bothers me greatly when these attention-starved (St.)johnny-come-latelies become the focus and push out the real diehard fans like those who post here and really know what it means to be a redmen fan. I get nauseous every time I see Spike Lee show up at an "event" suddenly wearing the latest trendy gear. They should instead show my man Beast or Maher or JSJ or even Logen. The 'event" should be the game itself and the brilliance of the athletes performing and not the artificial presence of front runners. That's my take anyway.

SJU is blessed to have fans like all of you who will always be behind the team through the good times and bad times. Right now, we have national prominence after years of being insignificant and we should relish in that and ride that wave and hopefully it will allow the program consistent advantages (exposure, money, recruiting, etc.) that we haven’t experienced in years, if not ever, outside the mid 80s.

 

[Towerofshred]

I have a buddy who pretty much goes to the Knicks Wiz game every year at MSG. Why the Wiz? Because its usually the cheapest Knicks game every season. Im sure there are Wiz fans in the metro area that go to this game too, and Im sure they like the cheap seats while complaining about their team every year. Now if the Wizs got better and became contenders, would they complain that their annual game got more expensive and more people are going to the game?

I say that band wagoneers are good for the team and help with the upward momentum and grows the fanbase. Some of those bangwagoneers will turn into lifelong fans like us who had to deal with the aughts and teens.

 

[firestorm]

Yeah, I wrestle with this one. True Johnnies fans take a measure of pride in our longstanding misery. I love seeing St. John's in the spotlight but can't help but raise an eyebrow at the Johnnies-come-lately. I should enjoy it. We all know this ride could end if/when the Pitino/Repole daily double moves on...

 

[Spocky Ramone]

I think it's fine, the more rooting for St. John's and going to games becomes an in thing the better. To me it's no different than celebrities going to Yankee games when they are good. Maybe too much to ask for but as these celebrities are generally basking in the bucks, maybe some will pony up some NIL money to make their new favorite team even better.

Didn’t that happen at the U?

 

[Demo]

Celebrities or not, a winning team attracts all. Die hards benefit more because they’ve been through the good and bad. Johnnie’s come lately add to the excitement.

 

[Spocky Ramone]

The reality is that NY is a front-running pro sports town. When the Mets suck (frequent occurrence), Shea is empty. It’s been a long time, but I remember when the Yanks were horrible and drew nobody. Jet and Giant fans unload their tickets to visiting teams’ fans when they’re bad. Or if it’s a night game. The Garden has been a desert for 20 years (until recently) for the Knickerbockers. Do the Nets draw any fans? I do remember the Coliseum rockin’ when the Doctor was operating! Ranger fans in the blue seats are always in attendance, I don’t think the rest of the Tri-state hockey fans are as devoted.

Would a kid want to come play in The Garden in front of some big time rapper like Puff Daddy Puffy P Diddy, uh, MC Hammer, or big stars like Barbra Streisand J Lo or Dr Ruth Westheimer? I think so! And we can use every advantage we can get! Bring on the beautiful people and bon vivants! Go big or go home! We know they’re front runners and are just here to be seen and have no emotional attachment whatsoever. If that brings us some wins, I am all for it. And when we’re back in the toilet, at least we’ll still all have each other…

 

[Delaware]

It's a nice problem to have!

 

[L J S A]

We all hopped on at some point, right? I guess our younger fans should be commended for hopping on at low points, but us middle-aged and old guys probably had the benefit of becoming fans when we were at least good.

I think Spike pissed people off because he'd been a fan of a chief rival for as long as I've known who he was. That's weird bandwagoning even if he is a city guy. But I don't think any NYC celeb not previously so strongly connected with another program wouldn't and certainly shouldn't draw any ire.

Any celeb cool enough to show up unannounced to his own lookalike contest in Washington Square Park and pose for pics with fans is awesome in my book, so if Chalamet comes, I hope to see him posing with the 114 guys.

Get Adam Sandler to a game too. He loves basketball but don't ever recall him rooting for a particular college program.

 

[Mean Gene]

I would not bother me at all. Remember, Pitino is not going to be here forever and the more high profile people we can get interested in the program the better. The more young fans we can add to the fan base the better. The more high profile people and young people we can get to become part of our fan base , the better chance we have of remaining relevant after Pitino leaves. The better chance we’ll have of attracting another high profile coach and subsequently top players when Pitino leaves. The goal here is to build the program into an unstoppable train that keeps chugging along for years to come. Maybe these high profile people bring even more NIL money etc. They’re all welcome as far as I’m concerned. Let’s keep this train rollin’!!

 

[Marillac2]

Absolutely not. I think it adds to our brand as being New York's team. No other college basketball program can really boast of this type of thing. Last one I can remember having a consistent celebrity presence was USC in the Pete Carroll era. It's a differentiator, heightens the game, and makes it more fun. Bill Clinton, Jay Z all coming to the games in the late 90s was amazing. Maybe it could have recruiting advantages too?

Celebrities make other want to come out and be more involved. It’s only good news.

 

[firestorm]

We all hopped on at some point, right? I guess our younger fans should be commended for hopping on at low points, but us middle-aged and old guys probably had the benefit of becoming fans when we were at least good.

I think Spike pissed people off because he'd been a fan of a chief rival for as long as I've known who he was. That's weird bandwagoning even if he is a city guy. But I don't think any NYC celeb not previously so strongly connected with another program wouldn't and certainly shouldn't draw any ire.

Any celeb cool enough to show up unannounced to his own lookalike contest in Washington Square Park and pose for pics with fans is awesome in my book, so if Chalamet comes, I hope to see him posing with the 114 guys.

Get Adam Sandler to a game too. He loves basketball but don't ever recall him rooting for a particular college program.

Trying to figure out which of the 114 guys looks most like Chalamet...