What sports teams do you support?

[Heid the Ba]

Having wasted some of this morning following the Champions League and UEFA Cup draws on the internet it occured to me that I rarely watch any sport without supporting someone. Off the top of my head my priority of support would be:

Football:
Glasgow Rangers : Born into this, no choice about it.

Whoever is playing Celtic : see above.

Scottish teams in europe; good for the co-efficient. Domestically, it would depend on a tedious myriad of circumstances involving league position, managers, current players and petty grievances from the distant past.

Cycling: Rabobank, long time thing since their Superconfex days. Too dull to explain.

Ice hockey: Berlin Icebaeren; saw them once and loved the whole ethos of the fans. I have a soft spot for Herta Berlin for the same reason.

Green Bay Packer: residual interest despite the NFL's attempts to drive away european fans. The whole WLAF/NFL Europe idea was laughably mishandled.

If a one off visit to something, eg the NHL or MLB then the home team. eg for one night only I was a Red Sox fan.

Internationals:
Scotland : At anything, against anyone.

Whoever is playing England : At anything, regardless of how much I detest the other country. The english media would drive any right thinking person to this. eg currently the Indian cricket team.

Small countries against larger neighbours : Small country solidarity. eg Kiwis rather than Diggers, Swiss rather than Austrian.

Scandanavians: Small, mountainous country solidarity. (I know Sweden is flat, but you get the idea. Finland also qualifies despite being both flat and not in Scandanavia).

Thereafter a myriad of factors, largely irrational.

It is probably a sad bloke thing that I need some emotional involvement to watch sport. Interestingly the Memsahib has picked this up and is now a devoted follower of Norwegian biathletes and ski jumpers.

I know, I know, I really should get a life.

[pumpkinpie]

Dee-Troit Tigers all the way!

My fiance: the above Tigers, Michigan Wolverines football, Minnesota Vikings football, and Leeds United football club.

I enjoy those sports too, I just have no allegiance to one club.

[Мастер]

Sports?

[Heid the Ba]

My fiance: the above Tigers, Michigan Wolverines football, Minnesota Vikings football, and Leeds United football club.

Leeds fans don't have much fun these days.

Vikings not Lions?

Sports, Comrade Footwear, the true test of civlised societies. Or something.

[Мастер]

Sports, Comrade Footwear, the true test of civlised societies. Or something.

So if I rarely watch any kind of sport at all, and have difficulty naming the professional sports teams in the city where I live, or identifying which sports they play, does that mean I pass or fail the test?

A civilised society at play :P

[Lance]

WHAT a WOODY!

[KLA2]

Toronto Maple Leafs (hangs head and skulks off)

[Superluminal]

Heid, your a Rangers fan? I'm too, Texas Rangers that is.

[MM_Dandy]

Basketball:
(NBA) Los Angeles Lakers with this disclaimer: I became a fan during the 80s and hold no love for Mr. Kobe Bryant. He is an excellent player, but I find him somehow more whiny than your usual NBA athlete.
(NCAA) Michigan and Michigan State.

(American) Football:
(NFL) New York Giants. No really good reason, except that they are not the Vikings.
(NCAA) Michigan

Baseball: While I follow baseball in general, I don't support any particular club.

Motorsports: I followed NASCAR for a little while, but lost interest after a couple of seasons. Otherwise, I don't pay much attention.

Hockey: I don't follow hockey.

Soccer: I don't follow soccer, either.

Bicycling: Ditto.

Tennis: See above.

Golf: See Hockey, Soccer, Bicycling, and Tennis. Same goes for Boxing, MMA, Horseracing, Bowling, Extreme Sports, Cricket, Darts, Billiards/Snooker, and Tiddlywinks.

[pmcolt]

It's a very simple set of rules.

For NFL and College Football, I support:
The Carolina Panthers over anyone.
Anyone over the Green Bay Packers.
Anyone over the New England Patriots.
Anyone over any team whose quarterback is named Manning.
Teams, at least one of whose major players comes from a school I went to, over other teams.
Any team a friend likes over any team I or a friend dislike.
NFC over AFC.
The Detroit Lions over anyone on Thanksgiving.
NC State Wolfpack over local rivals.
Red over blue.
Green over purple.
Air Force over Army.
Army over Navy.

For Baseball, I support:
Anyone over Barry Bonds.
Changing the channel over watching baseball.

For NASCAR I support:
Hendrick cars over DEI and Rousch.
Ford, Chevy, and Dodge over Toyota.
Anyone over Kevin Harvick.

And... that's about all.

[troubleagain]

NFL: Tampa Bay Bucs
NBA: nobody
MLB: nobody (except half-heartedly the Rays)
NHL: Lightning, again, half-heartedly
NASCAR: Hendrick

[Мастер]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the All Blacks.

[Superluminal]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the All Blacks.

OMFSM, does that mean we're all a bunch of Klansmen?

[teri tait]

I am a proud member of the Raider Nation, although I just rarely watch the games I like their helmets and their motto.

I also have a curious fascination for curling but I don't know any of the teams by name.

I also like the strongman competitions, again, don't know the names of any athletes but I watch with a mixture of horror and fascination when they lift those huge stones into the hoops as fast as they can. I keep thinking somebody is going to lose a finger and you can see the steam coming off of them when they lift, its an amazing focus of energy.

(Yeah, I'm a freak)

[Heid the Ba]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the All Blacks.

Ahem, that would be covered by "Kiwis rather than Diggers". Also the All Whites, Tall Blacks, Black Caps, and the various colours of "Ferns". Though I will not be supporting them when they hose us in the RWC. France are carrying the weight of my expectations and ten Euros for the whole thing.

Heid, your a Rangers fan? I'm too, Texas Rangers that is.

I saw the NY Rangers play the Devils in NJ once, I broke my habit of supporting the home team partly because of the name and partly as the Memsahib is a Gretzky fan (though he wasn't playing): the Sports Gods punished them and us for it.

It's a very simple set of rules.

Simple and strightforward.

[pumpkinpie]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the All Blacks.

w00t! (Did I use that right?)
My fiance got a poster of them when we were in New Zealand a year ago. Somehow it contains a team member's blood....we haven't opened it to figure out how.

Vikings not Lions?

He lived in MI until about 1985, during which time the Lions did nothing. Then he moved to Minnesota until 1991. In addition, most of his family lived in WI and were Packers fans. So he rooted for the Vikings to spite them. :P

[Heid the Ba]

Vikings not Lions?

He lived in MI until about 1985, during which time the Lions did nothing. Then he moved to Minnesota until 1991. In addition, most of his family lived in WI and were Packers fans. So he rooted for the Vikings to spite them. :P

I thought it would be something like that. Petty spite is good when it comes to sports fans. :D

[Enzo]

I've been in Michigan for 42 years, the Lions suck. Sorry.


I support the Minnesota STate Screaming Eagles.

Here is what you need, and I think perfect for KOS.

[pumpkinpie]

I've been in Michigan for 42 years, the Lions suck. Sorry.

If you are apologizing to me, don't bother. They do suck, and I've never been a fan! (I grew up in Lansing, lived there 1976-1998.)

[Arneb]

Hey Heid, nice you kept your soft spot for Hertha BSC Berlin. You told me about it ober at BAUT in the "Official soccer thread", do you remember?

O.K., as a Berliner, I support Hertha BSC. Same as with Heid and his Glasgow Rangers. No choice, but huge amount of frustration coming with the package.

Nationally, each and every, any team over Bayern München. Internationally, I support Bayern, because, well, what can you do being a German who likes football?

Die Deutsche Fußball-Nationalmannschaft. No choice there, either. Although a bit less frustrating these days. Otherwise, any team against Italy, always. Yeah, it was tough last year. It was extremely tough. It was... ah, let's talk about something else...*sniff*.
Just as fervently, any team over the Netherlands, and almost any over England. Yeah, Argentina, too. Among these, ranks are negotiable.

I do like Real and Barca, I admit. I hate AC Milan. With every fiber of my being. Pro-Arsenal, on account of the existence Fever Pitch, which mirrors my personal history with Hertha (without the happy years Arsenal enjoyed recently). Forget that Russian mafia-owned structure in London. Pro-Liverpool, largely because of Liverpool and Didi Hamann. And because of that unforgettable finalagainst Milan in Istanbul, 2005.

In general, the underdog. The team that has no chance against the much stronger, richer, bigger, fatter superclub. See Istanbul, 2005.

You know Heid, I have this English friend, and when I asked him who the Scots would support in an England - Germany match, he said, "Germany of course". "Oh, so they don't dislike us that much after all, do they?" (you know I said this because by default, everyone dislikes the Germans). And he gave me that look and said: "You know, Arneb, if England were playing fucking Mars..."

Other than football? Is there anything? Hmm, you must talk about Steffi, Boris, and Michael. I forget.[/i]

[Heid the Ba]

Hey Heid, nice you kept your soft spot for Hertha BSC Berlin. You told me about it ober at BAUT in the "Official soccer thread", do you remember?

I remember the thread, and I remember us both posting but not what I said. Sorry.

O.K., as a Berliner, I support Hertha BSC. Same as with Heid and his Glasgow Rangers. No choice, but huge amount of frustration coming with the package.

Huge amount of frustration last night, with a 90th minute goal to give hope for the second leg. Never mind, as long as Celtic lose tonight. :D

You know Heid, I have this English friend, and when I asked him who the Scots would support in an England - Germany match, he said, "Germany of course". "Oh, so they don't dislike us that much after all, do they?" (you know I said this because by default, everyone dislikes the Germans). And he gave me that look and said: "You know, Arneb, if England were playing fucking Mars..."

It isn't the english as much as the english media that pisses us off. The BBC is a parochial London tv station that forgets it covers the whole of the UK, so last summer Scotland was subjected to wall to wall coverage of the build up to the WC, every programme mentioned 1966 (it was 40 years ago, get past it!) etc. etc. But yes, I would support Mars. :D

[Enzo]

Wait, they play soccer on MArs?

I woulda thought those little toy explorer cars would have spotted it by now. Or at least RC Hoagland would have.

[Мастер]

The BBC is a parochial London tv station that forgets it covers the whole of the UK,

Judging from the radio program I receive here now that my car has satellite radio, they cover the whole of the UK at least as far as accents go...

I can get CBC as well. I also receive CNN, but I just can't bring myself to do it...

[Heid the Ba]

Scotland 1 RSA 0
England 1 Germany 2

Two excellent results last night. :D

[Arneb]

How did I know there would be a post from you today in this thread? :D

You are so right, a victory

against England
in England
at Wembley
with a B team
with a flawless Lehmann against some English bummer

is what I call a sweet sensation...