Have you ever changed you "favorite" team? (1 Viewer)

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Pro or college.

If you have, what were the circumstances? Did you move from one state to another? Did your arch rival draft your brother? Did you college favorite get drafted by a team other than your favorite? Like the color scheme better? Another team was winning more than yours? Your senile QB unretired 7 times? Your team moved?

Please do explain if yes.

 

[Short Corner]

Pro or college.If you have, what were the circumstances? Did you move from one state to another? Did your arch rival draft your brother? Did you college favorite get drafted by a team other than your favorite? Like the color scheme better? Another team was winning more than yours? Your senile QB unretired 7 times? Your team moved?Please do explain if yes.

Personally, no, but many friends of mine in the bay area are ex-Raider fans.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I switched from the Steelers to the Lions because I got tired of winning.

 

[nutssfan]

When I was 9, I was a steeler fan because they always won and my friends liked them. In 1980, I became a Charger fan. Loved Air Coryell and the uniforms.

Probably should have stuck with Pitt.

 

[Balance]

Was a 49er fan when I was little... then Barry Sanders happened.

Now I can't figure out why I'm still a Lions fan... but I am. :(

 

[RCon]

Was 8 and living in Baltimore when the Mayflower trucks came. F*** Irsay!

 

[TheFanatic]

I have. Sort of. When I was a kid the Cardinals moved to the desert. I wasn't much of a football fan whenn they moved. The baseball Cards were going to the WS every couple of years. I didn't become a football fan till after they left. I had no local team. With no team I just watched whomever was on. Parcells was with the Giants with Bavarro, Simms, LT, etc. I rooted for them and the Packers pre Reggie White. Loved the Magic Man. As the Giants faded away and the Packers got White and then Favre I also got into Fantasy Football. So I was a big Packer Fan. But I had no local team. It's not like I swore a blood oath to anyone in particular.

Now we have the Rams, and well, I am a Rams fan but I am still about the NFL more than the Rams.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Grew up in Southern Virginia rooting for the Steelers. Moved to San Diego and live 8-10 minutes from Qualcomm and will be here for the next 50-60 years of my life.

I chose to switch allegiances due to geographic proximity. I've never been to 3 Rivers or Heinz Field, now I'm a Charger season ticket holder. Guess I could have forgone 50-60 years of following the local home team and attending live NFL games so that I could follow a team 3000 miles away that I've never seen live, but that just sounds stupid to me.

 

[Otis]

It's all arbitrary anyway. How does anyone become a "diehard" fan and have a favorite team in the first place? There's no cosmic alignment of stars involved here. You either just lived in a certain area, or your family member turned you on to them, or you saw a game and liked the pretty uniforms, or whatever. Switching teams is no more arbitrary.

 

[Jaysus]

I tried to quit the Eagles a few times in favor of a team that sucks less... but it never stuck. I just gave up on the NFL completely before last season - it was much easier.

 

[Harry Manback]

I can't imagine ever being a fan of anyone other than the Sox, Pats, Bruins and Celtics.

The only scenario that I would is if one of the teams moved to a different city or changed their name.

 

[Harry Manback]

It's all arbitrary anyway. How does anyone become a "diehard" fan and have a favorite team in the first place? There's no cosmic alignment of stars involved here. You either just lived in a certain area, or your family member turned you on to them, or you saw a game and liked the pretty uniforms, or whatever. Switching teams is no more arbitrary.

I'd say it is, you don't pick where you live or how your raised, but you do pick if you switch teams, and there has to be some reason behind that, whereas there is no 'reason' for why you were born in a specific area. The OP is wondering why people would switch teams, I think it's a good question.

 

[tommyGunZ]

It's all arbitrary anyway. How does anyone become a "diehard" fan and have a favorite team in the first place? There's no cosmic alignment of stars involved here. You either just lived in a certain area, or your family member turned you on to them, or you saw a game and liked the pretty uniforms, or whatever. Switching teams is no more arbitrary.

Yep. Just like religion.

 

[BigJohn]

I've always been an Ohio State fan #1. I love college football a lot better than the NFL. So, I've followed players in the NFL more than teams. I've always rooted for the Bengals, but I'm not exclusively a Bengal fan. I rooted for the Saints when Pat Swilling and Rickey Jackson played. Rooted for the Chiefs when Derrick Thomas played. Also was a Oilers/Titans fan when Eddie George played there.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Was 8 and living in Baltimore when the Mayflower trucks came. F*** Irsay!

I was 21 when the Colts moved and stopped rooting for them at that point. I agree in part that with those who say it really shouldn't have mattered where they played - but like many lifelong Colts fans in this area, I chose to wallow in bitterness, envy, and a burning hatred of Bob Irsay. To make matters worse, the damned Redskins were winning right & left at the same time so I had to listen to that crap too.I didn't "switch" per se, as I didn't choose another team - I transferred all of my rooting energies to rooting against Washington, though a lotta good that did me. I picked up on the Ravens when they got here.

 

[DaVinci]

It's all arbitrary anyway. How does anyone become a "diehard" fan and have a favorite team in the first place? There's no cosmic alignment of stars involved here. You either just lived in a certain area, or your family member turned you on to them, or you saw a game and liked the pretty uniforms, or whatever. Switching teams is no more arbitrary.

Yep. Just like religion.

Yep. Just like marriage.

 

[mon]

Grew up in DFW, but never been a Cowboys fan. At six (1964) I was rooting for the Packers. I've always rooted for players more than teams. Loved Swann, Stallworth, Harris, and the D of the Steelers in the '70s. Loved Earl Campbell probably most of all. Loved Unitas, Payton, Largent, and Favre. If I had to pick a lifetime team, it would be the Packers. Second would be the Steelers.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

other: Hell no

 

[CJsuperstud]

Grew up a Bengals fan. Around 2001 just as the Bengals were in another losing season (10th straight) a couple friends and I decided to become Bears fans. We went out and bought Bears hats and shirts that week and went to the bar so we could see the Bears play instead of the Bengals. It lasted one quarter when I decided it just wasn't in me to root for another team. It felt totally wrong and from that day forward I have rooted for the team I truly know is my team.

 

[Mr Clean]

Yes ..... for a (two) very good reason(s).

At least, they were at the time .....

I grew up a Cowboys fan. I was already getting fed up with bug-eyed, cross-eyed screw-up QB Danny White blowing NFC championship games, so maybe I was unknowingly looking for an out.

1) Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, and treated Tom Landry like dirt. I dropped them like a hot potato.

2) OU nemesis Jimmy Johnson became head coach. That increased my hatred.

Um, then they started winning Super Bowls.

I decided that I couldn't jump back on the bandwagon then, so established three conditions that needed to be met before I could consider becoming a Cowboys fan again:

1) Jimmy Johnson could no longer be head coach of the Cowboys (check).

2) The team had go through a stretch of losing seasons (CHECK!).

3) Jerry Jones could no longer be the owner of the Cowboys ( ).

I didn't even waver from my demands when Barry Switzer became head coach :dedication:

Soooooo, since this has taken a lot longer than anticipated, I think that boat has already sailed and I'll remain a Broncos fan.

For the record, I picked the Broncos because I wanted a semi-local team. The Chiefs and Oilers didn't interest me, and I liked the Orange Crush Defense (and that young QB Denver had).

To further complicate things, at about the same time, I went from being a life-long (baseball) Cardinals fan to a Cardinals AND Cubs fan. That's a story for another forum, but I've been to four Cubs/Cards games and I get funny looks from the people sitting around me.

Apparently, the early 80s were a confusing time for me.

 

[Godsbrother]

I have been a Pirates fan since I can remember and will never stop being a fan though the past 17 years have been rough.

I used to like both Pitt & Penn State years ago but now I can't stand JoePa so I am always rooting for the Nittany Lions to lose.

 

[Arizona Ron]

GB not having a favorite team.

I grew up with gamblers not fans.

 

[honky kong]

No, but I think Jerry Jones is single-handedly trying to make it happen.

 

[the moops]

I just gave up on the NFL completely before last season

 

[Tom Servo]

Considering my wife has instructions to bury me in my Indians jersey, my response is the same as ACP's.

 

[AcerFC]

No but I used to love the Knicks. Had season tickets and everything one year

But then I just stopped watching basketball all together. Could care less about the sport and it was my favorite

Probabaly happened around 1998 or 99

 

[Osaurus]

Sports Radio host in Tampa thinks when you move somewhere else, you should adopt the local teams as well. He has gone on and on about this over the years and tries to make people feel bad for still following their favorite teams (other than local teams). Then I think about all the Rays games where there were like 3:1 Red Sox/Yankees fans to Rays fans in the stands and I think: wow....thank you for supporting the local economy. I have remained an Eagles fan since I was a kid growing up in Philly, watching them lose 2 Super Bowls now, and going through all sorts of interesting personnel changes. I can't change my loyalty. I have too much time invested in them.

 

[In The Zone]

I grew up a Cowboys fan but when Carolina got a franchise I made the switch. I went from a World Champion to a team that I could go see play anytime I wanted. Dallas hasn't won a playoff game since.

Same in the NBA. I grew up a Celtic fan, loved Bird. Went to my first NBA game in Charlotte. Celtics vs the Hornets. It was the first round of the playoffs. The atmosphere was awesome in the Charlotte Colesium. The Hornets won, Bird was gone, Mchale retired after the game, although he didn't play, that was the last Celtic game before Reggie lewis passed on, it was the 1st playoff series win in Hornets franchise history. i was hooked. I went to a game in the next round against the Knicks, which the Hornets lost. but I had a blast. I was then a hornets fan. fast forward a decade or so and the Hornets have to New Orleans so I was not a fan of anyone. Charlotte was awarded another franchise and I locked on to the Bobcats( they suck) and that's my NBA team. When the Hornets moved I soured on the NBA for awhile. I still haven't gotten back to the love I had for it but it's growing on me.

Now as far as college goes, I was born a Gamecock and I will die a Gamecock.

 

[17seconds]

Grew up a big Packers fan (pre-Favre when they sucked - Lynn Dickey baby!) in the 80s

Mostly stopped watching the NFL in the 90s.

Got into FF in 2000.

Now I'm somewhat of a Chargers fan just because I live here.

 

[TheAristocrat]

No although I choose not to care about the Vikings until they get rid of Favre. Once he's gone, they can have all my love again and punch me in the gut at the end of every season. Like Woz and his ex, I'll keep coming back to them but can't support this marketing ploy.

 

[Draftnik]

I grew up a Dodger fan in the Big Blue Wrecking Crew era -- Garvey, Lopes, Russell, Cey, Smith, Baker, et al. I was a naive youth at the time and didn't understand free agency or the business side of things, but I just couldn't pull for them when it was the likes of Mike Marshall and Steve Sax out there.

Cable TV was just spreading its roots at the time and I had access to the Braves, Mets and Cubs and for whatever reason I started in with the Mets and followed them fairly religiously through the early 90's until my interest in the game started to fade and was dealt the death blow by the strike and the ensuing Juiced Era.

I switched Hockey teams too. I was a very disgruntled Kings fan and I have significant distaste for Phillip Anschutz and his lieutanants in his entertainment wing which manages the team. I live in Orange County and have been won over by easier access to what has been a superior on-ice product.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I was born a Gamecock and I will die a Gamecock.

You and your whole family are?

 

[MAC_32]

No, but I won't rule it out.

In order

Michigan football - it would take something drastic for me to switch

Browns - slowly losing my patience, not saying I'm switching teams as I probably won't but I'll admit the thought crossed my mind this week

Detroit Tigers - probably more loyal to them than the Browns but I like and follow football more so they're a close 3rd

Red Wings - boycotting them right now because of the Bertuzzi signing but I'm still a fan and I'm sure if he's still on the team come April I'll tune in for the playoffs and root for my Wings...and for Bertuzzi to get hurt

I've bandwagoned onto the Cavs since LeBron came to town, before then I didn't follow the NBA at all after all the stars in the 90's left. I hated the Pistons in the 90's too. If LeBron goes elsewhere after 2010, which I don't think will happen, I'll stop paying attention to them (and probably everything NBA) again.

 

[One]

As a Raiders fan, if I haven't jumped ship by now, it's never gonna happen.

I hope to outlive Yoda Davis and see better days in my lifetime.

 

[Kirby]

Have always been a Dolphins fan, but since I live near Cincy I've become a fan of them also. So not really change, kind of just added one.

 

[Johnnymac]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

 

[MAC_32]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

I think fans of the Browns and Raiders have (good) reasons to disagree with that.

 

[koby925]

Grew up a HUGE Villanova fan because half my extended family went there, Uncle played fball with Howie Long, they won the title when I was a young lad, etc.

They are now my 2nd favorite basketball team because I went to ND and where I went trumps boyhood allegiance.

Other than that, heck no. I've lived numerous places and will root for Philly pro teams for better or for worse.

 

[Keith R]

Not in football. Seahawks for life.

Basketball, though, is a different story. Started as a Hawks fan but lost that love shortly after Dominique was traded. Became a Kings fan once Chris Webber was traded there, which also coincided with the Maloofs (local NM family) buying the franchise. They've remained my favorite team ever since. From 1994-1997, if I had a team, it was the Bullets but didn't care about them as much as the Hawks before or the Kings after.

I think it's easier to change teams in basketball because it's more individual-driven whereas football is more team-driven. Either that or I just care a LOT more about football.

 

[In The Zone]

I was born a Gamecock and I will die a Gamecock.

You and your whole family are?

That is correct. I was born and raised in Lexington, SC which is about 10-12 miles west of Columbia. In football It's been a few ups and alot of downs but it is what it is. I will never change, never. Ironically, my wife and her entire family are Clemson Tiger fans. Well actually my wife has converted over to my side Christmas is fun at her parents house. About 40 Tigers, 4 Gamecocks, and 1 Volunteer. All of the Gamecocks and the Vol married into their family.

 

[One]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

I think fans of the Browns and Raiders have (good) reasons to disagree with that.

Well, I grew up a Raiders, Phillies & Sacramento Kings fan.Seeing the Phils' success of late has me a little optimistic that things can change, you've just gotta stick with it.

 

[Johnnymac]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

I think fans of the Browns and Raiders have (good) reasons to disagree with that.

I get your point but I disagree. You either are a fan of the team or you're not. I don't see how people can change just because the team is losing.. thats a fair-weather fan, not a real fan.

 

[BigJohn]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

no.

 

[Limp Ditka]

 

[The Iguana]

Was 8 and living in Baltimore when the Mayflower trucks came. F*** Irsay!

Funny you would say that... I was a Cowboy fan as a kid thanks to an older cousin that was one and moved to Dallas when I was about 5. Then the Mayflower trucks came to Indiana and I was started to be wooed. Once Tom Landrey was shown the door is less than ideal circumstances I made the complete switch. From what I've learned, Bob Irsay left a lot to be desired but Jim has done very well for Colts fans in recent years.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

this is true for the most part.

 

[In The Zone]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

I think fans of the Browns and Raiders have (good) reasons to disagree with that.

I get your point but I disagree. You either are a fan of the team or you're not. I don't see how people can change just because the team is losing.. thats a fair-weather fan, not a real fan.

What about when new franchises emerge? In my case I gave up on successful franchises to root for expansion teams. Am I a fairweather fan?

 

[MAC_32]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

I think fans of the Browns and Raiders have (good) reasons to disagree with that.

I get your point but I disagree. You either are a fan of the team or you're not. I don't see how people can change just because the team is losing.. thats a fair-weather fan, not a real fan.

If a fan changes their favorite team because they're losing they're a fair weather fan. The Browns and Raiders have been doing a lot more than just losing, they're awful organizations. Outside of sports do you support any horribly run organizations?

 

[Arizona Ron]

at people who will continue to support a team even when the owner has given up on them.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I don't know about anyone else but imo if you change favorite teams you are really not a fan at all...

I think fans of the Browns and Raiders have (good) reasons to disagree with that.

I get your point but I disagree. You either are a fan of the team or you're not. I don't see how people can change just because the team is losing.. thats a fair-weather fan, not a real fan.

If a fan changes their favorite team because they're losing they're a fair weather fan. The Browns and Raiders have been doing a lot more than just losing, they're awful organizations. Outside of sports do you support any horribly run organizations?

Good point. One could say that such "true" fans hurt more than they help by making the team money even when they are run badly..