Tucson CitizenTucson Citizen

Team doesn’t win enough to keep fans

Citizen Staff Writer

So, the Tucson Sidewinders may pack up and leave the Old Pueblo for a better situation.

That’s a shock.

That’s been the threat for the past few years. Now, it seems the only thing stopping the team is the clock and dispassionate fans in southern Arizona (or at least fans not passionate enough or too scared to make it to South Tucson).

Hint: Don’t blame the location. Most everything takes time to get to these days.

I’ve been in Tucson for almost 20 years, and I can’t remember when the Toros/Sidewinders brought people to tears of joy. It didn’t happen in the glory years of 1991, 1993 and 2006, when there were championship teams here.

In my eyes, Tucson has long been Fickle Town, USA. Most fans in this town embrace winners. Look at how many have jumped off the UA men’s basketball team’s bandwagon because the Cats didn’t win 25 or more games each season in recent years.

UA softball coach Mike Candrea won his eighth NCAA title last week. Let’s see if fans fill Hillenbrand Stadium for every game, or just wait to see what happens in the NCAA tournament. You already know my guess.

Tucsonans – like many other people – like winners when it’s convenient.

The Sidewinders/Toros haven’t been consistent enough winners and convenient enough for many fans for a number of years.

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