Do you root for a pro sports team outside your city/state?

[Jeremy 0]

For example: you were born and raised in Wisconsin, but you're a Cubs fan, or a Steelers fan. This makes no sense to me.

 

I've always felt it was like a sports version of treason. Why would you not support your local team? I need a traitor to explain it to me.

[Electric Mayhem 35]

Ask all New Yorkers that don't root for the Bills...

[Recidivist 1]

I agree with your premise and follow it myself.

 

I've lived all my life in So. FLA, which had no MLB franchise until '93. Prior to that, I rooted for the Texas Rangers as they had spring training in my hometown. I still follow them - they're my AL team.

 

Other than that, I only root for the local teams and my alma mater - UF.

 

The phenomenon you speak of is front-running phonydom.

[ADD1CT36 1]

i never liked the giants because they play in jersey and that to me is the ultimate treason.

 

i also didnt like the jets because they have ugly uniforms.

 

i became a steelers fan after watching documentaries about them in the 70s and the steel curtain. and i always liked terry bradshaw. and then i dated a diehard fan for 2 1/2 yrs who got me watching them every sunday those 2 seasons. and i'm not a bandwagon fan because i was rooting for them when kordell was still around... and i've been a fan ever since.

 

and i will NEVER be a broncos fan no matter how long i live in denver and regardless of whether or not they are any good.

 

[Rybo5 0]

We've got plenty of people in the delaware valley that grew up and live here, yet root for the Cowboys. I don't really get the point of rooting for a team, if you've never lived anywhere near their general area, but maybe that's just me. I find it much more enjoyable, when you get to celebrate the team's success with everyone else.

[GobbleDog 996]

Unwritten true fan rule #1: You can ONLY be a true fan of a team that is located within 500 miles of your perminate residence.

 

Subsection 243 B: If you happen to move, you must remain in your new residence for at least 5 consecutive years before you can adopt a new team.

[ArnieBragg 1]

We've got plenty of people in the delaware valley that grew up and live here, yet root for the Cowboys. I don't really get the point of rooting for a team, if you've never lived anywhere near their general area, but maybe that's just me. I find it much more enjoyable, when you get to celebrate the team's success with everyone else.

 

Plenty of these kind of idiots (Cowboy fans) here in the DC area. I bet half of them are not TX transplants either. I don't get it.

[Saturday Night Beaver 2]

I live in NYC, but am a Tim Duncan fan, therefor a Spurs fan.

[Franknbeans 46]

For example: you were born and raised in Wisconsin, but you're a Cubs fan, or a Steelers fan. This makes no sense to me.

 

I've always felt it was like a sports version of treason. Why would you not support your local team? I need a traitor to explain it to me.

Grew up in upstate NY and the closest I got to rooting for a home team was when OJ played for the Bills.

 

My personal story is I would become a fan of a particular player and then that translated into becoming a fan of their team.

 

So here's how it shakes out for me

NFL - Steelers (Lynn Swann)

NHL - Boston Bruins (Rick Middleton)

NBA - Washington Bullets (Elvin Hayes)

MLB - Cincinnati Reds (Joe Morgan)

[shovelheadt 71]

I do, but for opposite reasons. Born and raised in Ohio, now live in Indy for work..so I root for the Bengals.

[Electric Mayhem 35]

Plenty of these kind of idiots (Cowboy fans) here in the DC area. I bet half of them are not TX transplants either. I don't get it.

 

Because they are all political suck-ups. Wait until Guliani is Predident. Everyone will be wearing Big Blue.

[davebg 0]

B&R in NJ, but I root for the NY Rangers...mostly b/c back when I was a kid and first getting into hockey we had MSG network, but not Sportschannel...so I'd watch the Rangers on TV. Well, that and b/c back then the Devils were still getting called out by Gretzky for being a Mickey Mouse organization (which they were.)

[Strike 5,547]

I think you can become a fan of a team from another area as long as you have a good reason and you don't waver. I became a Broncos fan because I loved John Elway, who is from my hometown. Around the same time both of our football teams decided to leave. I've been a Broncos fan ever since. And now I've moved to Denver so that works out. And now that I'm in Denver I'll continue to be a Lakers fan since I've been one forever. I have no qualms about rooting for two teams from different cities in different sports.

 

Now, a guy in my fantasy football league has a favorite from like every division and just roots for whoever is left in the playoffs. That's pathetic.

[TAS 2]

i never liked the giants because they play in jersey and that to me is the ultimate treason.

 

i also didnt like the jets because they have ugly uniforms.

 

i became a steelers fan after watching documentaries about them in the 70s and the steel curtain. and i always liked terry bradshaw. and then i dated a diehard fan for 2 1/2 yrs who got me watching them every sunday those 2 seasons. and i'm not a bandwagon fan because i was rooting for them when kordell was still around... and i've been a fan ever since.

 

and i will NEVER be a broncos fan no matter how long i live in denver and regardless of whether or not they are any good.

 

Points for just being a Steeler fan!

[phillybear 366]

Once you become a fan of a team, for whatever reason, that is the team you will root for until your death, the team moving, or the end of the world.

 

Everything else is being a bandwagon fan.

[Jeremy 0]

We've got plenty of people in the delaware valley that grew up and live here, yet root for the Cowboys. I don't really get the point of rooting for a team, if you've never lived anywhere near their general area, but maybe that's just me. I find it much more enjoyable, when you get to celebrate the team's success with everyone else.

 

I could not agree more.

[KSB2424 3,148]

Once you become a fan of a team, for whatever reason, that is the team you will root for until your death, the team moving, or the end of the world.

 

Everything else is being a bandwagon fan.

 

But what if you grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. as a Falcon or Dolphin fan. Then in 93' the Jags come to town. What do you do? Is there a protocol for this? Fan handbook?

[GobbleDog 996]

There was a time when sports seemed more about "our town" vs "your town".

 

But today it's "our group of overpaid free agents" vs "your group of overpaid free agents". MAY THE BEST TOWN WIN!!!!

[ArnieBragg 1]

But what if you grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. as a Falcon or Dolphin fan. Then in 93' the Jags come to town. What do you do? Is there a protocol for this? Fan handbook?

 

Or a Browns fan back in the day. Are they now supposed to be a Ravens fan or are they allowed to root for the new Browns?

[Jeremy 0]

Unwritten true fan rule #1: You can ONLY be a true fan of a team that is located within 500 miles of your perminate residence.

 

Subsection 243 B: If you happen to move, you must remain in your new residence for at least 5 consecutive years before you can adopt a new team.

 

500 miles seems too far. Under that option, you could live in Green Bay and be a Bears fan. I think the 500 miles rule is decent if you live in a state that doesn't have a team in a particular sport.

[ArnieBragg 1]

But today it's "our group of overpaid free agents" vs "your group of overpaid free agents". MAY THE BEST TOWN WIN!!!!

 

Redskins fans know this all too well

[George Carlin 1]

itsatipthatthompsonswaterseal

 

San Fransisco Giants

[Electric Mayhem 35]

Redskins fans know this all too well

 

Especially when they play the Jets nowadays. Geez.

[phillybear 366]

But what if you grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. as a Falcon or Dolphin fan. Then in 93' the Jags come to town. What do you do? Is there a protocol for this? Fan handbook?

 

Case by case basis. But the intent of the overall rule must remain in place.

[Franknbeans 46]

There was a time when sports seemed more about "our town" vs "your town".

 

But today it's "our group of overpaid free agents" vs "your group of overpaid free agents". MAY THE BEST TOWN WIN!!!!

unless you're a Steeler fan

[posty 2,700]

Hell yes...

 

I hate local teams...

[bigmarc27 24]

College: First and foremost I pull for my alma mater, Clemson. After that, I generaelly pull for the ACC over all other conferences (esp. the SEC). There are teams I prefer within the conference... GT and FSU for example I like more than MD and NCSt, but it's pretty much Clemson all the way.

 

-

 

Pro: I lived in Atlanta until I moved off for college, so I pull for all the ATL teams (even the Hawks). I do live in the Carolina's now though and there's a ton of Panther fans. I guess they're more my local team now, but I can't give up the Falcons after 24 years of pulling for them.

[TAS 2]

I grew up in Hawaii, so I guess that makes me a free agent. Faves to follow:

 

NFL-Steelers

NBA- Celtics

NHL-Rangers (All we caught back in the Maloney days)

MLB- Pirates (Sad but true)

NCAAbb- Hoyas

NCAAfb- Panthers (Pitt)

Of course I always pull for the Univ. of Hawaii, but they are not really a major player in college sports.

[[zombie] 0]

i'm a 24-year fan of the oakland a's because i thought they played here:

 

oakland

 

pittsburgh was the closest market to where i grew up. i hate pittsburgh because i hate pitt. i hate pitt because my dad (and, eventually, i) went to wvu.

 

that's all the justification i need.

[GobbleDog 996]

But what if you grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. as a Falcon or Dolphin fan. Then in 93' the Jags come to town. What do you do? Is there a protocol for this? Fan handbook?

 

Hmmm. This is a tough call. In this situation, I think the handbook provides a 1 time chance to switch teams prior to the start of the first season. However, if you forego this opportunity, you are forever stuck with your original team, short of death or team moving.

 

500 miles seems too far. Under that option, you could live in Green Bay and be a Bears fan. I think the 500 miles rule is decent if you live in a state that doesn't have a team in a particular sport.

 

Ah, good point. Growing up in Orlando, the only baseball team we had were the Braves becaues the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devilrays didn't exist.

 

I think I legally had the 1 time opportunity to switch to one of them, but I chose to stick it out as a Braves fan.

[ArnieBragg 1]

Hell yes...

 

I hate local teams...

 

Where did you grow up? I'm assuming it wasn't in NOVA...

[davebg 0]

Hmmm. This is a tough call. In this situation, I think the handbook provides a 1 time chance to switch teams prior to the start of the first season. However, if you forego this opportunity, you are forever stuck with your original team, short of death or team moving.

I guess I'm a little more liberal on this subject. If the two teams in question reside in different conferences (AFC vs. NFC, AL vs. NL or East vs. West for basketball and hockey) then you can root for both teams...unless the two teams meet in a non-exhibition game. Then a clear declaration of allegiance must be made for one of the other. Said allegiance will only apply when the two teams meet. So, you can continue to root for both teams, but whenever they play one another you are required to stick w/your pick...no matter how craptastic they may be at the time.

[Jeremy 0]

IMO, love of a particular player does supercede your allegiance to your hometown. If Brett Favre were to be traded to another team, that team becomes my 2nd favorite team (unless it's the Bears or Vikings), but the #1 team will ALWAYS be the Packers.

 

As far as new teams moving in after you've rooted for another team, I think a grandfather rule applies in those situations. There was a time when Milwaukee didn't have a baseball team between the Braves moving to Atlanta and the Brewers arrival, so some rooted for the Cubs. I can sort of understand that, although it's natural for me to hate all things Chicago. But people my age and younger being raised here and rooting for the Cubs is sacrilege.

[posty 2,700]

Where did you grow up? I'm assuming it wasn't in NOVA...

 

About 90 miles south of Pittsburgh in West Virginia along the Ohio River...

[GobbleDog 996]

So, you can continue to root for both teams, but whenever they play one another you are required to stick w/your pick...no matter how craptastic they may be at the time.

 

"Rooting for" and "being a die-hard fanatic" are two different things. I believe you are only allowed to be a die-hard fanatic of one team per sport.

[davebg 0]

"Rooting for" and "being a die-hard fanatic" are two different things. I believe you are only allowed to be a die-hard fanatic of one team per sport.

Point taken

[Jeremy 0]

Pro: I lived in Atlanta until I moved off for college, so I pull for all the ATL teams (even the Hawks). I do live in the Carolina's now though and there's a ton of Panther fans. I guess they're more my local team now, but I can't give up the Falcons after 24 years of pulling for them.

 

I would certainly not expect anyone to change their allegience because they moved to a different area. That would be bandwagoning too. If I ever leave Wisconsin, I'm still rooting for the Packers, Brewers, Badgers and Bucks.

 

It's when you're born and raised and lived all your life in one area, and root for some other team in some other part of the country that you become a traitor.

[ArnieBragg 1]

About 90 miles south of Pittsburgh in West Virginia along the Ohio River...

 

I see. That makes sense I guess.

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

Wait until Guliani is Predident. Everyone will be wearing Big Blue.

And maybe they'll spell Giuliani and President correctly?

[Wyatt Earp 0]

While I'll agree that it doesn't make much sense if you think about it, I'm also one of the people born and raised in one area while rooting for a team from across the country.

 

Born and raised in central Ohio, since I was about the same distance from both the Browns and Bengals I hated them equally as they were always on focking tv and their games were always sh!t. So the Ohio teams were out, as I couldn't choose one, and had no strong ties to either. My father was an Oakland Raiders fan, not sure how or why he got his allegiance to them, just giving some info.

 

When I started watching football in the early 80s (born in 76) I started rooting for the Broncos, I liked the team, liked the logo, and liked the players (Elway). Once I started rooting for them I've stuck with them, through the good times and the bad times. Early on in addition to just liking the team it was also good to cheer for a team my dad hated, made for good trash talk. As I grew older it was nice to be able to trash talk with all my friends that were Browns fans, even though my joy over the AFC championship games was quickly dashed in the Super Bowl and they proceeded to make fun of my team all off season.

 

So anyway, for me not having 1 clear cut choice in my home state, and my dad not liking either team in the state as well I had no real draw to any "home" team so I just went with one that looked good and have stuck by the team ever since.