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?

[banditbdl]

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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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If this is the case then you should just forget about having a team for that sport for awhile. For instance, I'm from Minneapolis and basketball is my favorite sport but I've given up on the T-wolves at this point. They literally have no hope for the foreseeable future. But I'm not going to just start following another team cuz I think they're good.

[IggyWH]

J-rod,

I lost your number. Wish I would have had it because work gave me 4 free tickets and I had an extra one that went to waste. Good seats too, like 5 rows behind the Bucco's dugout.

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Anyways, the problem I have are with the people who change teams frequently. I could care less if you're a Yankees fan, but I can't respect you if you're a Yankees fan the year they win it all, then a Marlin fan the year they win it all... and so on.

[IggyWH]

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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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My show of support is more towards the city, the team and the sport itself than the owners. I love baseball, grew up surrounded by baseball and love the game in general. Just because I like the Pirates doesn't mean I agree with what they are doing/did in the past.

[crockpot]

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I don't know. It kind of sucks, but I don't think I could get nearly as excited as I did when the Cubs were in the playoffs a few years ago if I just switched to Cleveland or Oakland right now (I just like Frank Thomas in case the avatar is confusing anyone).

I don't have a problem with rooting for another team though. I think there's a difference between being a fan of a team and wanting a team to do well. I couldn't explain it though.

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this is me. i decided a couple of years ago (ironically, around the same time the cubs made a few of their best trades ever) that it's more logical to root for a team that makes smart decisions than one who happened to be on tv when i was a kid. i want the A's to do well, but i still can't get emotionally invested watching one of their games. it's funny how that works.

[ColdCaller]

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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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I agree with you completely.

I lived in Cleveland for awhile, and everyone has Browns fever. [censored] you and [censored] the Browns. The Browns are a piece of [censored] organization run by a bunch of ass-slapping monkeys and I refuse to support them.

You shouldn't support a failing business with [censored] products and service just because it happens to be down the street from you. Why the [censored] is it any different with sports teams?

[holeplug]

You don't have to support the Browns just b/c you live there. Most people support teams that are close to them for the obvious reasons (can go to lots of games, easier to follow on TV etc) but with the internet and sports packages that are available now it much easier to follow a team from abroad.

The point is that whichever team you decide to support, you should stick with them even through the down years.

[mrbaseball]

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it's more logical to root for a team that makes smart decisions

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And this is what pushed you to the Cubs? Musta been the Baker signing [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[gumpzilla]

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You shouldn't support a failing business with [censored] products and service just because it happens to be down the street from you. Why the [censored] is it any different with sports teams?

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Probably because many people watch sports because they think it's fun, and aren't that concerned about this voting with your dollars exercise that you seem to be interested in. A lot of people find it fun to have a team, and having a team near you means you can see them often. In this day and age you can see a lot of other teams, too, but historically I think that's 90% of the reason.

[wisehandpoker]

Maybe in the free agency era we're supposed to jump around like the players do. I'm a Jays fan, but when they were thrty games out it was hard to not get swept up by Red Sox fever. For the record, I'd be willing to sell my baseball fandom for three years at $2500/year, since there are former Jays on every team in baseball. The team in question provides all needed tickets, clothing, face paint, paraphernalia, airfare, hotel and rental car.