OT fans who don't root for their home teams

[Peter_Spaeth]

It seems I've seen a lot of this on the forum recently (mostly in the context of Yankee fans, but not all). So who here lives in or in close proximity to a city with a major league team, but roots for a different team, and why?

[D. Bergin]

Was gutted when the Hartford Whalers left town years ago. Couldn't even get the slightest bit excited when they won a Stanley Cup while in Carolina. I still go to AHL Hockey Games on occasion, but couldn't ever bring myself to be interested in the NHL any longer, or switch over to one of the New York or Boston teams.

[bnorth]

I live in Twins and Vikings territory. I tell people my favorite 2 baseball teams are the Yankees and whoever id playing the Twins. Same with football. My favorite 2 teams are the Cowboys and whoever is playing the Vikings.

Been a fan of the Yankees since Wade Boggs played there. I defected from the Red Sox but could not bring myself to become a Devil Rays fan. I have always been a Cowboys fan.

Use the second favorite team term to annoy my friends.

[packs]

Live in New York and although I am a Giants fan, my NFL allegiance is really with the Packers. My dad is a Packer nut even though he's from NY too and it's been passed down. He's a huge Celtics fan too and they're the only team I follow. Although you can't really blame anyone for not wanting anything to do with the Knicks.

[egri]

I grew up in New England, and moved to Virginia for work. Zero interest in the Redskins/Panthers/Ravens or Nationals, and I can't stand Peter Angelos. Besides, winning championships is kind of nice .

[Jim65]

I root for the Miami Dolphins. I have my whole life, loved Larry Csonka. I live about a mile from Metlife Stadium and go every year when they play the Jets and whenever they play the Giants.

[riggs336]

I grew up in Texas. Closest MLB teams were in St Louis (later Kansas City) so I fell in love with the Boys of Summer. Still a Dodger fan.

[silvor]

Reading through these responses I sadly understand why people don't root for their "home" teams. How many of the players or coaches are actually from the hometown? I don't think the Twins have anyone from Minnesota on the staff any longer. They fired or retired all the Minnesotans from last year and a few of the coaches who had ties within the organization were all let go.

And it seems a lot of these guys don't stick around anyway after their career is over. Then there's all the trades and end of year player rentals. Add the expansion of cable and streaming through the years.

No wonder the "home" team is kind of getting lost a bit.

[Cmount76]

I grew up in South Florida, long before the Marlins existed, so they weren't really an option. I watched TWIB and Kiner's Corner - how could I NOT be a Mets fan? So, when the Marlins came into town, they weren't my hometown team.

When I was old enough to decide for myself, I moved to a place where I could watch SNY and enjoy my laughable losers everyday...

Still a Mets fan!

[todeen]

Grew up in Billings, Montana, home of a Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliate. Hometown team was the Colorado Rockies. Moved, now the close team is the Mariners. Reds come to town every once in a blue moon, and I go watch them. And they are in town this year!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[oldjudge]

I grew up in the Bronx, about a mile from Yankee Stadium, so I will always be a Yankee and (gulp) Giants fan. However, having lived in Connecticut for many years I also root for the Pats and, with a passion, for the UCONN woman’s basketball team. I have continued these allegiances even though I now live in Southern California. My younger son was a Badger so I root for Wisconsin in football and basketball. My only concession to SoCal is being a fan of the WNBA L.A. Sparks.

[SteveMitchell]

Born and raised in Maine, I followed the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and (a little) the Bruins. The BoSox finally won the pennant my senior year in high school (1967) - rebounding from a 9th place finish in '66.

Fast forward a couple of years and I'm stationed on the west coast and eventually ended up in Seattle. No team. Eventually the M's arrived and I adopted them although always keeping an eye on the Red Sox. In 1978 the Red Sox came to town for 2 games in August (the 22nd and 23rd) possessing a 78-45 record and considerable lead in the American League East. What to do? Well, I compromised: cheer for both teams, hoping for a spit. But what happened? The Sox dropped both of them, limped home 21-18 the final 39 games to end in a tie with the much-hated Yankees - only to lose the tie-breaker by a single run!

So, now I technically cheer for the home team but I'm realistic: If the M's are "out of it" (usual scenario), then it's The Sox when the M's-Sox play. Otherwise it's the M's AND the Sox.

[mattsey9]

Seahawks fan born and raised in Indiana. Jim Zorn was a lefty, so was I. Actually got to see a lot of their games back then. CBS always carried the Bears at 1:00, which meant we usually got an AFC West game on NBC at 4PM.

Try getting a Seahawks shirt in rural Indiana in 1977...

[tedzan]

Grew up in Hillside, NJ and in the early 1970's (like most in our neighborhood) I was a devoted NY Jets fan. Seats at Shea Stadium were always sold out.
So, we drove up to Foxboro (Mass), or down to Baltimore to see the Jets play. Sept 24th, 1972 in Baltimore, an NFL game I'll never forget, Joe threw for
493 yards and Johnny Unitas threw for 376 yards. Jets 44 / Colts 34, an unbelievable passing contest by both these HOFer's. Including a 67-yard scoring
pass to my hero John Riggins.






I became a big Redskins fan in 1976, since the foolish Jets management would not renew John Riggins contract. The rest is history, as "free-spirited" Big John
went on to have some great HOF seasons.

And, the Jets have not achieved much ever since they let Big John go.....you can call it the "Riggins Hex"


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Orioles1954]

Grew up in Howard County, Maryland, the battleground for Baltimore/D.C. loyalties. I chose Baltimore. I gleefully cheer against D.C. sports teams (including the University of Maryland).

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Grew up in Hillside, NJ and in the early 1970's (like most in our neighborhood) I was a devoted NY Jets fan. Seats at Shea Stadium were always sold out.
So, we drove up to Foxboro (Mass), or down to Baltimore to see the Jets play. Sept 24th, 1972 in Baltimore, an NFL game I'll never forget, Joe threw for
493 yards and Johnny Unitas threw for 376 yards. Jets 44 / Colts 34, an unbelievable passing contest by both these HOFer's. Including a 67-yard scoring
pass to my hero John Riggins.






I became a big Redskins fan in 1976, since the foolish Jets management would not renew John Riggins contract. The rest is history, as "free-spirited" Big John
went on to have some great HOF seasons.

And, the Jets have not achieved much ever since they let Big John go.....you can call it the "Riggins Hex"


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

He was the heart and soul of the Redskins for a few years. Underappreciated running back, IMO.

Growing up in NJ, I couldnt care less for the Yankees, Mets and Phillies my team was the Reds since the 60's

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

He was the heart and soul of the Redskins for a few years. Underappreciated running back, IMO.

Hi Peter
….."underappreciated running back"..... I don't think so !

During the early 1980's I had a lot of business trips to D.C. (my new time-shared Data Communications system was undergoing field trials at the Navy Annex).
And, I was amazed at the attention John Riggins enjoyed. Especially after their Jan 1983 Super Bowl victory. In which, John Riggins was awarded the MVP.
Furthermore, when the Navy guys I was working with realized I was a Redskins fan, they treated me like a "king". Taking me to some great restaurants in D.C.

Actually, to be truthful, I favored the Redskins before John Riggins joined them in 1976, for I was always a great Sonny Jurgensen fan.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.