Commander of Awesome;739067 wrote:Sports are different than a retail chain. There's only 30 or so teams in each professional sport vs hundreds/thousands of grocery stores. Also a professional sports teams represents a city and its people. Kroger doesn't represent you, nor is it a sense of city pride. Also a sports team can transends sports and become a bigger event/representitive of the city/people. See miracle on ice or the Saints SB following Katrina. Nice analogy fail.

It is still an investment of both time and money. Why would a person waste either on something that isn't appealing, just to "support the home team"? There is no reciprocal loyalty - its not like the team gives you money back when they suck...or gives you better seats for sticking around. I laugh at the notion that a sports team represents any individual not affiliated with the team. You WANT to be that important, but the truth is that the team doesn't give two shits about you.

lhslep134;739076 wrote:Like_that, COA, Raw dawg.

Btw like_that, you can "spin" whatever way you want your intent of this thread, but bandwagon and fairweather have negative connotations, which means by using them in this thread, you have turned it into a negative thread. You're a fucking dumbass.

I personally voted for myself, since there's no logical way that 2 people from the same family can attend Ohio State and Florida and influence their son/nephew to root for both teams.

Also, spending a crapton of money on merchandise and tickets precludes me from liking the Indians, Browns, and Cavs, so I guess since I like them I must be a gigantic frontrunner.

I'm so happy I'm smarter than like that, coa, and raw dawg will ever be.

Aww thats cute, you had to edit your post to add this. Clearly, this thread isn't bugging you /sarcasm. lol at you thinking you are smarter, because you are going to law school. Are you going to call the jury a bunch of dumb asses if they do not agree with your case? Nice fail. You can cry and call it a spin, but the thread was simply to vote, I never specified if it should shed negative or positive light on anybody. The crybabies are the ones who are determining that. Maybe you guys perceive it to be negative, because it is frowned upon? lol why don't you think before you post. Are you going to root for other countries that you have no connection to, when they are facing the USA at the next olympics? You and the rest of the band of crybabies must think that is ok. If you can't comprehend why people would frown upon that, then you are helpless. Get off your high horse, you are not as smart as you think. I have plenty of friends who had great grades and a high LSAT, and I still think they are dumbasses. I smh at the fact they are future lawyers, I am starting to think the same with you. "You're a dumbass," lol.

There is only a negative connotation because people like you get their panties in a bunch over the fact that they are being called bandwagoners.

like_that;739095 wrote:Are you going to root for other countries that you have no connection to, when they are facing the USA at the next olympics?

You forget his uncle spent 9 days in China, so he can root for them in the summer games.

like_that;739095 wrote:Get off your high horse, you are not as smart as you think.

Actually I am. HS valedictorian high ACT high SAT high LSAT Ohio State honors program all beg to differ.

enigmaax;739091 wrote: but the truth is that the team doesn't give two shits about you.

Amen. The team does give 2 shits about your money though.

Teams and franchises should have to earn the following of their paying audiences. They exist to entertain them. If they don't do so, they shouldn't be followed. Those that follow a team even when they are not entertaining, I simply don't quite understand but am open to trying to do so.

Con_Alma;739151 wrote:Teams and franchises should have to earn the following of their paying audiences. They exist to entertain them. If they don't do so, they shouldn't be followed. Those that follow a team even when they are not entertaining, I simply don't quite understand but am open to trying to do so.

So you pretty much just watch teams that win championships? So last year you were a lakers, giants, blackhawks, and green bay fan? So you have no local team pride or loyalty is what you're saying and you just want to watch a winner...you sound like a woman who just watches a team because she likes their colors.

Raw Dawgin' it;739172 wrote:So you pretty much just watch teams that win championships? So last year you were a lakers, giants, blackhawks, and green bay fan? So you have no local team pride or loyalty is what you're saying and you just want to watch a winner...you sound like a woman who just watches a team because she likes their colors.

It's more than championships that entertain. No I don't just watch teams that win championships. I enjoy up and coming teams that are growing in their play. I enjoy different styles of play for example I love the veer and triple option offenses in football. I am drawn to those collegiate teams that run it.

How is a team the locates in my neck of the woods for entertainment purposes supposed to give me pride? They don't represent me. They are here to entertain me. If they don't do so why would I continue to follow them?

Con_Alma;739174 wrote:It's more than championships that entertain. No I don't just watch teams that win championships. I enjoy up and coming teams that are growing in their play. I enjoy different styles of play for example I love the veer and triple option offenses in football. I am drawn to those collegiate teams that run it.

How is a team the locates in my neck of the woods for entertainment purposes supposed to give me pride? They don't represent me. They are here to entertain me. If they don't do so why would I continue to follow them?

Good go root for the North Korean soccer team then in the summer games, since you enjoy up and coming teams and display no sense of pride.

Con_Alma;739174 wrote:It's more than championships that entertain. No I don't just watch teams that win championships. I enjoy up and coming teams that are growing in their play. I enjoy different styles of play for example I love the veer and triple option offenses in football. I am drawn to those collegiate teams that run it.

How is a team the locates in my neck of the woods for entertainment purposes supposed to give me pride? They don't represent me. They are here to entertain me. If they don't do so why would I continue to follow them?

I'm from boston, i take pride in that and pride in the local teams. You obviously don't. You realize you're the definition of front runner and bandwagon right? And people don't like you because you're a poser.

I don't like soccer and the up and coming description was just one example of what's entertaining to me.

What am I supposed to display pride for?...pride that a locally based team is entertaining? I have stated I am open to better understanding those that think people should only be fans of local teams. Can you help better explain why that is?

Con_Alma;739189 wrote:I don't like soccer and the up and coming description was just one example of what's entertaining to me.

What am I supposed to display pride for?...pride that a locally based team is entertaining? I have stated I am open to better understanding those that think people should only be fans of local teams. Can you help better explain why that is?

Where are you from?

Raw Dawgin' it;739186 wrote:I'm from boston, i take pride in that and pride in the local teams. You obviously don't. You realize you're the definition of front runner and bandwagon right? And people don't like you because you're a poser.

I'm a front runner? I disagree. I'm a bandwagoner? I just might be exactly that. What is it that you think I am I posing as? I might not actually be posing but rather might truly be it instead of posing to be it.

Are you suggesting that I should follow a team for entertainment purposes even if they don't entertain me?

Raw Dawgin' it;739192 wrote:Where are you from?

I was born in Northern Ohio and lived on the east coast for many years after college. I have returned to Northern Ohio so that my children can be closer to their grandparents while they are young.

Raw Dawgin' it;739186 wrote:I'm from boston, i take pride in that and pride in the local teams. You obviously don't. You realize you're the definition of front runner and bandwagon right? And people don't like you because you're a poser.

So if you are born into poverty, you should be proud of that and never aspire for something better?

I highly doubt most people care, so you're poser comment is well, stupid. But I'm curious - what is your level of emotional investment in sports? I mean, if your team sucks for a whole season are you depressed for the entire three months? How long does it take you to recover from a major loss?

I think what Con_Alma is getting at is that sports is an outlet; it is for entertainment. So, you should enjoy it. There are compelling stories that make sports fun that aren't always the home team. Do you ever purposely watch shitty movies? Would you go line dancing if you prefer punk music?

If you force yourself to support a team that doesn't entertain you or makes you miserable, what is your outlet? How much time and money should one waste and what does it give you back? Just trying to understand your point of view.

Con_Alma;739195 wrote:I was born in Northern Ohio and lived on the east coast for many years after college. I have returned to Northern Ohio so that my children can be closer to their grandparents while they are young.

Enjoy teaching your children to have no sense of loyalty. Teams represent the city and are part of it's culture. Just because your local team isn't good doesn't mean you shouldn't be a fan of theirs. They represent your city, it's a way of showing pride of where you're from. You're a poser because you pose as fan, you're not a fan of a team, you're a sheep who follows the winner heard. No one has respect for flip floppers, which is what you are.

Raw Dawgin' it;739202 wrote:Enjoy teaching your children to have no sense of loyalty. Teams represent the city and are part of it's culture. Just because your local team isn't good doesn't mean you shouldn't be a fan of theirs. They represent your city, it's a way of showing pride of where you're from. You're a poser because you pose as fan, you're not a fan of a team, you're a sheep who follows the winner heard. No one has respect for flip floppers, which is what you are.

I don't pose as a fan. I am not a fanatic at all.

I don't follow winners and there are team that have losing records that are entertaining, sometimes it's the local team.

I don't think any private business, especially an entertainment industry business is what should be relied upon to represent a City especially when you consider that of the some 300 million U.S Citizens that exist more than 50% of them are not sports fans.

Teams don't create the culture of a city. The people who follow those teams do.

In addition, when I choose to follow a local team it isn't for the purposes of gaining respect of other people. It's an entertainment choice not a public relations choice.

just like friends and loved ones, you support your team in good times and in bad/rebuilding times. I seriously dont understand how you dont get this.

Commander of Awesome;739211 wrote:just like friends and loved ones, you support your team in good times and in bad/rebuilding times. I seriously dont understand how you dont get this.

If I ever equate friends and loved ones with an entertainment company I have lost perspective of the value and true meaning of loyalty.

Great points about entertainment enigmaax and Con_alma but give it up. Facts and logic have no use on this thread.

I completely understand what like_that, COA, and raw dawg are saying in talking local pride to your team. However, the three of them have the extreme and illogical view that everyone from that area must root for them and to do otherwise is blasphemy, which is where I disagree.

I'm not from Cleveland, I'm from Youngstown. However, my dad is from Cleveland and I grew up a Cleveland fan because that is what he introduced me too. According to the logic of previously mentioned 3, however, if my dad was from say Los Angeles and moved to Youngstown and I grew up supporting the Lakers and Dodgers, I'd be a front running douchebag because I'm not supporting my "local" team.

Con_Alma;739214 wrote:If I ever equate friends and loved ones with an entertainment company I have lost perspective of the value and true meaning of loyalty.

+infinity

lhslep134;739217 wrote:I'm not from Cleveland, I'm from Youngstown. However, my dad is from Cleveland and I grew up a Cleveland fan because that is what he introduced me too.

Youngstown is close to Cleveland and in Ohio, you should root for Cleveland regardless.

lhslep134;739217 wrote:According to the logic of previously mentioned 3, however, if my dad was from say Los Angeles and moved to Youngstown and I grew up supporting the Lakers and Dodgers, I'd be a front running douchebag because I'm not supporting my "local" team.

You'd still be/still are a douche bag regardless but in that situation you should still root for Cleveland.

Commander of Awesome;739211 wrote:... you support your team in good times and in bad/rebuilding times...

I hope you don't assume that I don't find some teams entertaining even when they are "in bad/rebuilding times". I do and it has nothing to do with loyalty. It's because I find them entertaining.

I only support my friends and family that are successful. Once they hit a rough patch I write them out of my life.

...but are you loyal to them!!! That's the question you frontrunner you.