How did you come to like the sports teams that you like? (long)

In My Humble Opinion
1

How/Why did you become a fan of whichever teams you’re a fan of? As for me:

MLB

I’m a life-long Chicago Cubs’ fan. I joke that it was a rule in our house growing up, that my Mom would boot us out if we didn’t root for the Cubs, and I was too young to get a job. That’s not entirely true, though. Mom’s a Cubs’ fan, as are all of us kids, but she’s also a Bears’ fan and has no trouble with her kids not being Bears’ fans. So, while I’m sure my Mom being such a huge fan had a lot to do with my leanings, I think some of the blame falls on WGN. As a kid (starting circa ‘82), the Cubs were on TV all the time, during the day. We also got KTLA (Dodgers) and KSOMETHINGOROTHER (Mets) on our local cable, but they played a lot more night games. My Dad was home at night, and isn’t into sports, so we rarely watched a night baseball game. So, I’d say I’m a Cubs’ fan because of Mom (70%), WGN (15%) and day baseball (15%). Harry’s 7th inning stretch didn’t hurt.
NFL

Again, Dad’s not into sports. When he was home on Saturdays and Sundays, Mom would watch football with the sound turned down, and Dad would listen to Connie Francis records and the like. Because of this, I never really understood football. For years I thought the whole point of the game was the dog-pile. I could never really see the ball, and without the benifit of sound, I had no idea what was going on. But then…

My Mom’s youngest sister dated and then married Steve. Steve is possibly the biggest Cowboys fan I’ve ever met. While my aunt and Steve were dating, he spent a lot of time at our house. Dad liked Steve, and would normally let him watch the 'Boys if he was around on weekends, Thanksgiving etc. I was 11 or 12 and thought Steve was the coolest guy ever (still do). So, I hung out with him whenever I could, including during football games, and he helped me understand the game, which I never had before. Learning how to watch football with a Cowboys fan, and wanting approval from the Coolest Uncle Ever on top of that, I’m still a fan of the Cowboys.

NHL

I never watched hockey until I dated a hockey fan. Now that we’ve split up, I don’t watch much hockey anymore. But, during the time we dated he informed me that I needed to pick a team, but it couldn’t be his team, The Bruins. We didn’t like the same baseball or football teams, and it was a fun rivalry between us in those 2 sports, so why not hockey, too?

I didn’t pick a team right away, but one night after work, at 4 in the morning, a great ESPN /NHL commercial came on. There was a hockey player skating slowly along, saying something to the effect of “It’s just a mascot, no big deal” (I don’t remember what he said vebatim). They stop the tape and roll it backwards, and a deep, evil sounding voice says, “We are the Devils. We are Pure Evil.” I’ve been a Devils’ fan (though, not a good one) ever since.

NBA

I couldn’t care less, but I root for the Bulls because my brother’s a Bulls fan. And I root for Golden State, just because I’ve never met another Golden State fan.

NCAA

I root for the NMSU Aggies, since they’re the home team. But since they pretty well suck in every sport execpt golf, and they’re very rarely televised, I root for other teams as well.

I like Michigan, because my brother’s a huge fan, and I ended up with all the Hand Me Downs when he was still growing (they were actually Hand Me Ups, as he’s 4 years younger than I, but also much bigger and taller). I figure, since I’ve got the gear, I may as well root for the team. I also like Penn State, for no particular reason, except I think they have a cool name.

So, how about you? Feel free to add in other sports (soccer, tennis, golf etc).

2

MLB.

Red Sox. Scranton is full of old Italian guys who have all liked the Yankees since they were younger. They gre up idolizing DiMaggio, Rizzuto, Gherig, Ruth, Berra, etc. Everywhere you went, people around here all loved the Yankees. I started liking the Sox when I was very young, just so I could lovingly give my grandfather the grief when the Sox won. He’s still around, all 83 years of him, and I think he’s hanging on just so that I can finally have that one chance… :wink:

NFL.

Steelers. Growing up around here in the 70s, you were either a Cowboy fan or a Steeler fan. The other half of the neighborhood just made a bad decision, plain and simple.

NCAA Hoops

I grew up liking Indiana, during the Coach Knight Era. I loved how he ran his team, and defense in particular. Nothing fancy, very workmanlike.

NCAA Football

We Are…Penn State! Nuff said.

3

I went to Auburn University. My blood runs Auburn orange and my eyeballs are Auburn blue.

Beyond that, I root for Vanderbilt University; out of pity I suppose. I don’t follow pro sports at all. Maybe I’ll watch the World Series or Super Bowl, but that’s about it for the pros.

Oh yeah: I really groove on the Olympics every four years.

4

—MLB

Chicago Cubs. As a kid, my sister and I spent a big chunk of the summers with my dad. He lived in Jacksonville, FL and had something we didn’t have at home–CABLE TV. And since he was at work most of the day, my sister and I spent a lot of time watching TV. Cubs played mostly day games back then. Cubs game on TV almost every day. Get to know the players, announcers, and boom–I’m hooked for life as a Cubs fan.

I have been to Chicago exactly once in my life. Grad school road trip from North Carolina. Although the others weren’t interested enough to join me, I made sure I hit a game at Wrigley. Early April, against the Braves. Paid my $6 to sit in the left field bleachers.

We lost 19-7. It was over in the first, when the Braves hit 3 homers and scored 7. At least we got to heckle Deion Sanders in the outfield!
—NFL

Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is the “home team” for people living in Shreveport, LA, and that’s where I was from and spent my early formative years.

It is especially nice being a Cowboys fan now that I am living in the Wahsington, DC area.
—NCAA football (heck–ALL NCAA sports)

LSU. That’s where I did my undergrad. I bleed purple and gold. This can not be emphasized enough.
—NCAA basketball honorable mention

Memphis State. Spent my 8th-11th grade years in Germantown, TN right outside of Memphis. They were very good during this time (went to the final 4). I still root for them as long as they are not playing LSU.
—NBA

I used to be a Celtics fan back in the Larry Bird days. Became an Orlando Magic fan when LSU alum Shaquille O’Neal AND Memphis State alum Anfernee Hardaway were both playing there.

But no more. After the labor strife of a few years back and the fact that the league is full of thugs, I don’t give a rats ass about the NBA any longer.
—NHL

Ha ha. Yeah, right.

5

Oh, this is easy.

I’m from Tennessee and I root for the Tennessee Volunteers in college football; the Tennessee Titans in the NFL; the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA; the Nashville Predators in the NHL; and the Atlanta Braves in the MLB since Tennessee doesn’t and most likely never will have a baseball team.

And, I suppose, as a recent Oregon émigré, I’ll root for the PNW teams so long as they’re not facing one of Tennessee’s.

Of course, this is all rather meaningless to me as someone who doesn’t like sports. Have to support the home team though.

6

The only sports I follow are baseball and pro football.

I’m a Giants and Niners fan.

I was born in San Francisco. Go figure.

7

My father grew up in the 60s and 70s. He followed the Braves, the Colts and the Knicks. I adopted the area (DC) teams as well, and spent four years in New England, so I have amassed:

Braves
Orioles
Sox

Colts
49ers (can’t explain it)
Redskins
Patriots

Flyers
Capitals
Bruins

Knicks
Kings
Wizards

During the big swing of things it’s pretty rare for an episode of sportscenter to not be worth watching at all:)

8

Since I’ve lived in three countries, and follow or have followed a whole bunch of sports, I have a long list of “favorite teams.” I’ll keep the explanations short.

NCAA football–Penn State. Dad went there, I went there, no-brainer.
NCAA basketball–Niagara University. When I started working there, it was in the terms of employment.
MLB–Philadelphia Phillies. I was a big fan of Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton growing up, plus I actually liked the blue-and-maroon jerseys.
NFL–Pittsburgh Steelers. Because so many Penn State players “graduated” there…
NBA–Anybody but the Lakers. I used to live in LA, and met some fans. That did it.
NHL–Toronto Maple Leafs. I never really followed them, then or now, but I went to grad school there so they were my default team.
Footy (soccer)–Aberdeen FC. Had distant relatives from that area of Scotland. Plus, when I was growing up, I suggested calling our new dog “Aberdeen” as a joke, but then it stuck…yes, we named our dog after a soccer team.
Cricket (county)–Glamorgan CC. My ex’s late grandfather lived near their ground in Swansea, and I saw part of a match there.

9

Hell, Yeah!

NFL:

Grew up outside of Philly, and I couldn’t stand the guys who were Eagles fans. So, I looked out into the great wide world, and my eyes fell upon a shining star. A new Cowboys fan was made, this one, it seems, destined to run in circles between Eagles, Steelers, and Redskins fans.

MLB:

Same story with the Phillies as with the Eagles. This time, a very obvious opportunity made itself apparent. TBS shows the Braves constantly, so I could actually watch the team I chose to root for. I don’t really follow baseball much any more, but when I do, it’s the Braves that I watch.

NBA:

What?

NHL:

By the time I really got into hockey, my dislike of the fans of Philly teams had disipated. So, being able to watch many many of their games I became a Flyers fan.

This has easily become my favorite sport, but this year… :frowning: :mad:
At least I’ve got Icers games to go to. Go State!

10

The Atlanta Braves
–When I was in High School I spent the weekends at my Grandmother’s place helping her take care of my grandfather who was in his late 80s and stricken with incapacitating strokes. It was awful but when I woke up in the morning I’d watch the Braves play and things didn’t seem so bad. It was Dave Justice’s first year, they were awful but it was just fun to watch. That also happened to be how I became a fan of Davey Allison of NASCAR. Although once he died in helicopter accident I couldn’t watch NASCAR anymore.

I’m a fan of the Denver Broncos because Jason Elam who played for UH kicks for them.

11

I’m mostly a hometown fan, rooting for the Mets, Knicks, and (especially) the Giants.

I root for Miami (FL) in NCAA football, since that’s who my dad roots for.

In the World Cup, I root for Nigeria. This goes back to seeing a Nigeria-Argentina game at Foxboro when the tournament was played here in the US. There were lots of native Nigerians at the game, and they were uniformily polite, well-spoken, and well-groomed. The less said about the Argentinian fans, the better (though I probably shouldn’t disparage them, having been to a few Yankees games, as well).

12

That would be 1990, I believe. They got better the next year:D

13

My late father-in-law went to Auburn. When he passed away in 1989, he had attended more of the Auburn football games that had ever been played in the school’s entire history than he had missed – dispite the fact that he was blind during all of the years that I knew him. Such devotion compelled my respect. Besides, it was required to join the family.

Shortly after my marriage, we attended an Auburn-Vanderbilt football game. There we were – three Vandy alums and my father-in-law. You had better believe we were wearing Auburn’s colors and screaming “Kick 'em in the butt, Big Blue!” louder than anyone else. My father-in-law gave me his Auburn football yearbook at the end of the game. It is one of my greatest treasures.

His devotion to Auburn and his brother’s comparable feelings for Alabama had caused a serious rift in the family for many years. At his funeral there were flowers from his brother that said, “War Eagle!” We’ve decided to do the same when the brother passes. (Dammit. His will say “War Eagle!” too.)

(aside) John Carter, I left a thread mainly for you after that incredible ending to the LSU game. I’ve been afraid the hurricane had taken you away.

All other loyalties pale in comparison, but among them are my glorious Titans. (Eleventh generation Tennessean, after all.)

14

I definately lucked out in picking an MLB team. One awful year and then they haven’t lost a division since. Although they were pretty much going to in 94 to the Expos until the strike.

15

Well i suppose i should inject some real sport into this thread :stuck_out_tongue:

I’m an Arsenal fan, and have been since i was about seven years old.

My dad was never into football, but my uncle was. Since he didn’t have any kids he pretty much adopted me as the person to focus his footballing knowledge on.

He took me to see a few local games (Stevenage Borough vs Milton Keynes being the first!) but he was an Arsenal fan as that was where he’d grown up. As a result, they became my team too - a fact that was firmly cemented the first time i ever saw them play at Highbury.

I’ll be a gooner till i die. :smiley:

16

The town where I grew up was a Rugby League area, and my dad had played for the local side, so naturally I support my local side Featherstone Rovers. Upon moving to Bolton a few years ago I became a supporter of Bolton Wanderers football club because they are the local side.

17

By Zoe:"(aside) John Carter, I left a thread mainly for you after that incredible ending to the LSU game. I’ve been afraid the hurricane had taken you away."

The hurricane didn’t take me away, but it did take the electricity away from the house. I’ve got a generator and could watch the game, but Those that claim to know stuff said not to run a computer on portable generator power, so I was off-line for several days.

I’ll be in Knoxville Saturday night. Can’t wait!(heh)

18

Though I grew up in New York City, and now root aslmost exclusively for NY teams (since moving to Texas, I’ve taken a liking to the Texas Longhorns and the San Antonio Spurs) the first baseball team I rooted for was the Minnesota Twins, and the first football team I loved was the Oakland Raiders.

Why the Twins? Well, when I was little, the first ballgame my Dad ever took me to was a Yankees vs. Twins game, and the only ballplayer on either side who’d give me an autograph was Earl Battey, the Twins’ catcher. So, I embraced the Twins for years, before coming to like the Yankees.

As for the Raiders, well, I’m pretty old (Mickey Mantle was 1st baseman in the aforementioned baseball game), and when I was a kid, the NFL had strict blackout rules. If the GIants and Jets didn’t sell out days before kickoff time, their games didn’t appear on television. So, since the Jets rarely sold out, their games usually weren’t on TV in New York. Instead, NBC usually showed a West Coast AFL game. So, I got to see a lot of Raiders games- and they played the kind of football I loved! Daryle Lamonica, the Mad BOmber, became my hero, because I loved the wide-open, deep-passing game they played in the AFL. Keep your tight defensive struggles! Give me a 49-47 shootout between Lamonica and Dawson, or Namath and Hadl any day!

19

Come to like them? I was born liking them! I think my parents would have traded me in for another baby had I not liked the required teams. I’m from Buffalo, so my major league teams are the Buffalo Bills (football), Buffalo Sabres (hockey), Cleveland Indians (baseball), and the LA Clippers (basketball). I confess that my interest in basketball is marginal at best, so the Clippers thing is mostly a matter of form.

20

As a homegrown and current Clevelander I naturally love the Cleveland Indians. I grew up loving the Browns and Cavaliers too but for reasons that we don’t need to go into here I’m pretty apathetic towards both of them now. My parents were subway alumni fans of Notre Dame so I became one too, and consider myself fortunate enough to have gone to grad school there. I went to Kent State for undergrad so I root for them too, and I follow Ohio State sports just for front-running purposes.