Undying fan loyalty? Why?

[VarlosZ]

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I don't really think it matters who you root for as long as you stick with them and don't jump around from team to team if "your" team is sucking at the moment.

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But why? Let's stick with the Pirates, who make [censored] move after [censored] move. Why would you keep supporting that?

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Because, for most people, it's not a conscious choice, and it has nothing to do with rooting for the front office (well, it does, but only by extension).

For example, I'm a New York Giants fan and will be for life. It's not because I think they're somehow a 'better' organization than the other 31 teams -- rather, I think they're a better organization because I have a fan's connection.

I grew up with them. They made me cry when they lost to the Rams in the '89 playoffs. They made me, an atheist, pray to God before Scott Norwood's kick sailed wide right. I sufferred with them and the rest of the fan base through the brutal Dave Brown/Danny Kannel era. You just can't replace that kind of history or develop a similar emotional bond with some new, more successful team. Yeah, I'd have gotten more satisfaction if I had become a Patriots fan five years ago, but it's not possible for the large majority of people. The closest I could come would be to pretend to root for the Pats, which isn't as satisfying. It's like, I know I'd be better off if I preferred the taste of Budweiser ($6 for a six-pack, available everywhere) to that of Hoegaarden ($13-$15, limited availability), but I can't decide to make Budweiser taste good. Similarly, I can't make the Patriots taste good.

Makes sense?