What Makes A Person Support A Specific Team

A lot has been going on about the fan base and loyalties to clubs. I think we need to look at various aspects to possibly find a solution. I have had a deep love for Manchester United for the past 13 years or so, and it has never waned even when they went through a bad patch these last few years, but then again I am asked, "Why United?" I'm at such a stage that tears will definitely fall if United loses. Now here's the thing: I am an Indian citizen who has never been to England. Would it make a difference of I think for the team, or why a loss should affect me so badly when I have no solid roots for the team? I'm not English, Ive never been to England, and I've never seen them play at a stadium. I was introduced to them at an early age, and their style of football got me hooked. Sure they had famous stars like David Beckham, Cantona, and Charlton who could have had their own fanbase no matter which ever team they play for. This brings me to my next point: specific player following. Now, I spent some time in Wisconsin and got hooked on to the NBA and the NFL. So, naturally, I had to pick a team. Being in Wisconsin, I started following the Green Bay Packers, and Brett Favre kept me hooked to the team. In the case of the NBA, I didn't like the way the Milwaukee Bucks played and refused to support them despite staying in Milwaukee. I loved watching Steve Nash play and, at that time, he was with the Dallas Mavericks. So naturally, I supported the Mavs, but now, after his move to the Phoenix Suns, I'd pick the Suns over any team. I would support any team that Nash plays for. What I'm asking is, "Is something like that being biased?" I feel there is a difference if one is being loyal because of the team or a specific player. In the case of a team, I guess loyalty is much stronger, but if one follows a player then I guess you follow his every move. But hey, everyone has their own opinions I guess.

RomiezzoLegend

142 days ago

Score 3

I have been a fan of the Red Sox for 3 1/2 years, a fan of the Patriots for 3 years, a Celtics fan for 5 years, and a fan of Real Madrid for about 2 years. However, I have been a baseball and basketball fan all my life. It's something I wake up in the morning and think about every day. Sports are different than teams because there will be teams that you will like due to the fact that you like a certain player/s. Take this relationship for example... or maybe this one. (Sorry, Falcon & Meg, I had to)

So, to answer your question, what makes a person support a specific team... well, there are a lot of reasons. One could be because of the fact that their favorite player that they watched during their childhood played for that team. Another reason could be because of people who root for their home teams, i.e. almost all Boston fans. Another factor that could contribute to a person supporting a team could just be because they're a winning team. I remember before I was a Red Sox fan, I always used to watch the Braves and Yankees because I considered them exciting. Both teams were very popular, and I always wondered where they were in the standings when I was 7-8 years old (the first years I was REALLY addicted to baseball). Now, it's almost a decade later, and things have definitely changed. I have morals that I abide by when rooting for a certain team in a game. One of those morals is that more of a fan of a sport than the team, which means I would be happy if David won over Goliath, even if Goliath was the team I was "supposed" to root for (2008 Pats).

But like you said, Rohandevgan, everyone has their own opinions. There are many things that I could talk about. In fact, it would be a never ending list that would eventually bore all of you. So, I'm just going to leave it at that and say that it's all up to what people think is morally correct.

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Steel TownAll-American

142 days ago

Score 3

I'm one of those root for where you live guys. In the NBA I root for the Cavs.

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CheezerMajor Leaguer

142 days ago

Score 2

Me too. There's something to be said for running into one of your local team's players at a restaurant or the store.

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Pittsburgh GunnyDraft Pick

142 days ago

Score 3

My two main teams have always been Arsenal and the Pittsburgh Penguins for well over 30 years each. I also used to passionately follow the Pittsburgh Pirates but I have put that passion on hiatus until they get some real owners.

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JuTMSY4Legend

142 days ago

Score 3

my thoughts on it ; - )

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Niteowl049AAA-er

142 days ago

Score 1

I have rooted for the Braves since 1978 when they first came on cable television in our city and back then they were awful but stayed on the wagon till they started winning. I also liked the Milwaukee Braves but was a Cardinals fan since those were only games we could get on the radio down in Louisiana till about 1959 a local station broadcast the White Sox games even though we were about 900 miles from Chicago.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

142 days ago

Score -4

God how old are you

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RohandevganAll-American

142 days ago

Score 1

24 at the end of the year

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KelsdadAll-Star

142 days ago

Score 1

LA Rams, Yankees, Rangers, Knicks.

I was a Rams fan til they moved to St. Louis, then I became a Browns fan til they moved to Baltimore, then I went back to my East Coast roots and became a Jets fan because I fackin' hate the Giants. (No worries, I'll still be a Jets fan when they move to Manhattan, because then they will actually be the New YORK Jets).

Despite living in Arizona for the past fifteen or so years, I still root for "my" teams. I follow the local sports teams, but not with the same passion. When my "faves" are on TV, my wife knows better than to come into the room, when the locals are on, it doesn't take much for me to find an excuse to do something else.

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A QQVarsity

141 days ago

Score 1

I became a Real Madrid fan in 2005 it was when Zidne, Beckham, Figo, Raul, Ronaldo ...etc I loved Zidane and Beckham but unfortunatley all that Real could do was lose!

I couldnt get it also Barcelona was Winning all there games going ahead in Spain and all i seriously considered becoming a Barca Fan but i stuck with madrid"eventually they won last year and also this".

also i know many "Man U" FANS who are fans just because C.Ronaldo Plays there does that make them loyal or not...

in the End i love Football"Soccer" and we have to remember that all of this is just for Entertainment, so if your favorite team loses its a bummmer but its a game and if they win celebrate but you never know they might go into a slump next season or lose or anyother reason... so loyalty or not its all for fun..

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SalmanpourVarsity

141 days ago

Score 1

A true fan loves his team no matter what place they are in the Standings. I have been cheering for real Madrid in year of 2000. Of course one of the other reason I really loved them is because of Zidane, Ronaldo & Raul. Seeing the team change many formations seeing them on the bottom of the list then firing back to the top of list, watch spectacular goals and magnificent team work, that what makes me love Real Madrid. A person might love a team because they are winning a lot, or just from the small things a team does that is different from other teams. Everybody has their opinions and reasons for loving a team.

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RomiezzoLegend

141 days ago

Score 1

I've been a Madrid fan for only 2 years and I'm just now starting to understand what goes on, and why people think about other teams the way they do.

I honestly have no idea why or how I started to like Real Madrid. I guess I just influenced by my friends. Plus, the players like Ronaldo, Figo, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Casillas, Zidane, Beckham... WOW, I named that many players... :P

Anyways, I'll admit that I was rooting for Real Madrid at first because of the fact that they were winning a lot. I guess I'll have to test my loyalty as soon as Real does bad, which (hopefully) won't be for a while. ;)

Although I'm not as big of a soccer fan as most of my friends, I still love the game, and I'm still willing to learn more and more about the game. To me, soccer isn't "just a game"... it's not "just entertainment". There are some things that come above soccer, but it is something I have really come to love. It's something I talk to my freinds about, which makes us even closer as friends. Sure, we'll have our disputes about who's better (I usually lose because I don't know jack about soccer compared to them), but I'll still love the game.

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