Just because a team does not make it to the World Series, Stanley Cup, Super Bowl, Championship, whatever, does not mean that they “suck.”

If my shirt selection during the World Series did not convince you, I am a vast Boston Red Sox fan. Crazy, I know, but my family is from Boston. I am thrilled that they won, but do I think the Carindals sucked? No, they made it to the World Series.

Although it hurts me to say this, the New York Yankees are a rather good team. Now, they did not make it to the postseason this year, does that mean that they automatically suck? No, they are still a good team either way.

Several people believe that the St. Louis Rams “suck.” I believe that when a new season starts they have a whole new team. They have a new slate to do with as they please.

Before 2009, the St. Louis Blues had not been in a playoff position since 2004. Blues fans started to lose their faith in their team. However, when the Blues made it into the playoffs again in 2009, their fans started to like them again. When they failed to make the playoffs, it just meant they did not have good years, not that they “sucked.”

However, the average athlete, the one who is telling anyone who will listen that a certain team “sucks,” cannot perform the athletic feats that professional athletes can.

My favorite phrase is something along the lines of “I can hit better than that,” coming from someone who does not have the size or strength to even make contact with a 95 mile per hour fastball.

It is true that fan comes from the word “fanatic,” but that does not give fans the right to criticize when all the athletes are doing is performing for their team. Being a fan consists of being there for the team through the good and bad times, not neglecting them when they do not have their best day, week, month, year, or season.

Before 2004, the Red Sox had not won the World Series since 1918. Yes, I know, I was not alive then, and neither were my parents; however, there were still enough people to create Red Sox Nation, and they were thrilled when the team won in 2004.

Let’s stop the use of the word “suck” with athletes and teams. These people have dedicated their lives to entertain us, and work hard to get better at the sport they love to play. Until you can hit a curveball, shoot a puck past a goalie while ice skating, or throw a perfectly accurate spiral while a 300 pound man runs towards you with the intention of harming you, you need to just keep your mouth shut and cheer for your team.