Being a Spartan basketball fan: what a long, strange and unfulfilling trip it's been

What isn't really understood (or maybe is intellectually but not emotionally) is how led-on, lied to and just plain used Spartan basketball fans have been for decades.

Sure, them are strong words but essentially accurate.

There was never a chance to be successful, to actually build a program that, more often than not, could sport a winning record.

Some of this was due to funding (salaries, recruiting budgets), actually the lack of.

Some was because of the choices as head basketball coach by the various athletics directors. The hires were not the 'best available' choices but rather comfort level, bring-in-a-buddy decisions. There was greater allegiance to friends than to San Jose State University or the supporters opening up their wallets and pocketbooks.

Yet the annual calls continued to go out: 'we need money for this or that piece of equipment' or 'join The Rebounders so that we can be more competitive' et al.

It was a sham.

Granted, some involved had the best intentions. Effort was applied.

But truth or any acknowledgement of realism were lacking.

By now you are probably thinking, and this is certainly a fair question to ask, what can those now in charge do about the past?

Nothing in terms of changing it. Obviously.

However, they can better understand the why of the beatdown Spartan hoops fan psyche. How money was literally thrown away year after year, donated to a losing cause. It was akin to giving money to the addicted -- actually more accurately picture those with a monkey on their back forking $$$ over to ever changing grifters -- with a bottom line knowing of what the end result would be. Yet the mutual pathology could never be acknowledged.

This is why some are wary. It's not because of the present but the past.

It's "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice (actually make that a dozen times), shame on me.

Some have re-committed and good for them. Others just can't bear the thought of diving in again and having their hearts stomped on once more.

Yes, faithfulness and dedication can be wonderful qualities.

But at this point they must be earned.

On a related note, Chris Murray covers the unrealistic expectations of Wolf Pack fans. Very interesting.

Also, below are the budget disparities within MWC basketball:

Yes, proverbial lightning can strike and get a program headed in the right direction so that fans appear in droves and revenues increase dramatically, but how often does that really happen? (is such any sort of realistic expectation?)

Ditto with gradual annual improvement but paid butts in the seats usually don't appear until the win totals reach the mid 20s or so and that realistically takes more than one season with such a record.

The budget disparities (except for Utah State) are embarrassing but they are what they are.

Source

73 $4,448,245 New Mexico Lobos Albuquerque, NM

74 $4,432,238 San Diego State Aztecs San Diego, CA

89 $3,760,187 UNLV Rebels Las Vegas, NV

100 $3,041,051 Wyoming Cowboys Laramie, WY

109 $2,650,118 Utah State Aggies Logan, UT

123 $2,425,345 Colorado State Rams Fort Collins, CO

170 $1,804,214 Fresno State Bulldogs Fresno, CA

176 $1,729,154 Boise State Broncos Boise, ID

211 $1,459,913 Nevada Wolf Pack Reno, NV

214 $1,441,347 San Jose State Spartans San Jose, CA

Giving, in its various forms, for so many years (decades) hasn't resulted in much if any difference. But SJSU needs so, so much more in order to become competitive.

It's the ultimate conundrum.