Do online cricket communities support their teams in a tangible way?

[The Outsider]

Of course, the question is a more generic one and can be applied to any sports but since we are a cricket website do we offer anything to the actual players on the field? Crowd support is important and players feel buoyed by it on the ground. They get pumped up and involved with the crowd rooting for them, helping them to deliver at a higher level. The crowds at times also cower down the opposition if they are partisan and vociferous enough or can spur the opposition to new heights. What do online portals offer? Are we a place where we meet have fun, enjoy the game, the excitement, discuss it with people we grow to like and respect or do we offer anything more tangible to our cricketers on the field? Dhoni's reference to cricinfo in his interview after the semifinal got me thinking on these lines. Am not sure what the role of online portals is beyond feeling great amongst ourselves on wins and sharing our disappoinments in losses. Do you guys think online portals play a more important role or have the potential to do so in the future with the increasing popularity of the internet?

[Dhondy]

Nope. No benefit to the team at all. IMO, we are a just a bunch of shameless piggybackers who claim ownership when the team is doing well, bask in reflected glory, and disclaim the team as soon as they lose. An argument can be made that such sites select out people who have underachieved in life in some way (perhaps frustrated sportsmen), who then spend the rest of their lives living off the achievements of their national team, and venting their fury when the team reminds them of their own failures.

[Lurker]

Do you guys think online portals play a more important role or have the potential to do so in the future with the increasing popularity of the internet?

Yes and No. No in terms of everyday banters. I dont see how a Dhoni can possibly learn anything new by logging into a cricket message board and see posters having a go at each other on players behalf. Yes because Internet is a freaking powerful tool. If someone like Dhoni logs into Cricinfo he can see a lot of informations, for example past Indian series, past Indian greats and so on. If he wanted to enrich his cricketing knowledge I am sure he can learn a lot(Remember how Sehwag (in)famously said - Vinoo Mankad who??). Specially since in India we dont have as much of richness when it comes to cricket literature as say England/australia. One reason why I always love reading articles instead of discussions/debates on MBs. xx

[Guest dada_rocks]

Every supporter goes through that phase online or offilne it hardly matters.. What you get to see on online forums is live display of what goes through a fanatic suporter's mind. Hence this eroneous conlusion otherwise they are all the same..