What made you start rooting for the team you do?

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Little Danny's avatar

Little Danny

Senior Member

4,288 posts
Feb 22, 2010 10:39 PM
3reppom wrote:
Little Danny wrote: I was born in the Ohio Valley area, and like many there, my rooting interest lie with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh was about 45 minutes away from my hometown, so it is definitely much closer to Cleveland or Cincinnati. Being born in the early 1970's, I got to cut my teeth on the great Pittsburgh sports teams of the 1970's.

Like 3reppom, I root for UC. I am a UC graduate. The reason I chose to go to UC was because my dad was in the Air Force and stationed at Wright-Patt at the time. UC is a whole heck of a lot closer to Wright Patt than Pitt or Wheeling Jesuit. In my freshmen year at UC, I watched Nick Van Exel, Herb Jones and Company lead the Cats to the Final Four. During the years I was there, we went to the Elite Eight on two more occasions and a Sweet Sixteen. The UC basketball team was one of the first to emphasize strength and conditioning. As a result, we physically over matched and intimidated a lot of our opponents. There was an identity to the program. Boy do I miss those days of UC dominance. The UC Football team was awful when I was there, but I have some fun personal memories gong to a few of the games. They actually did get a little better after I left there. Ironically, I have been to a whole heck of a lot more games post graduate than when I was a student.
That is going to become more common. It is nearly impossible to get a student ticket anymore. I know a few people who couldn't make but one or two games this year but are already on the line for season tickets next year.
I am glad to see that is the way it is. When I was a student there, a good turn out was a couple thousand people total (except for Miami and Louisville when the other teams fans would show up). I've had season tickets the past four years. Can't wait to watch next year's team.
Feb 22, 2010 10:39pm
A

Angel

Senior Member

363 posts
Feb 23, 2010 12:31 AM
1. Louisville Leopards. Graduated from HS there.
2. Cleveland Browns. Born, raised, and lived entire life in Northeast Ohio.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers. Same as #2.
4. Cleveland Indians. Same as #2.
5. Ohio State. Gotta fit in with the brother in laws.
6. U of Akron. Earned Bachelor's degree.

I'm learning to root for some other teams too....
Feb 23, 2010 12:31am
End of Line's avatar

End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Feb 23, 2010 12:39 AM
Mostly infleunce from My dad

HS:

Hilliard Darby (alma mater)
Martins Ferry (Where my dad went, he took me to a lot of their HS football games and I fell in love with them)

College:

OSU (the only team ever on, OH-IO!!!!)
WVU (Started to like them when Slaton/White were frosh.)

Pros:

Pittsburgh Pirates (Dad)
Pittsburgh Penguins (Lemiuex, watching him made him my hero and favorite team)
Green Bay Packers (When I was real little I watched Favre and they became my team)
Pittsburgh Steelers (My family except my dad are Steeler fans)
Columbus Blue Jackets (My dad and I had intrest the first time we saw them in 2000)
Feb 23, 2010 12:39am
Sage's avatar

Sage

Senior Member

2,070 posts
Feb 23, 2010 12:53 AM
Was born in LA. Was a Lakers/Raiders/Dodgers fan. Went to a ton of Dodgers games a kid.

Raiders moved to Oakland. I said fuck Oakland and my parents had moved me to Ohio, so I Hopped on the Bengals wagon for a bit---realized they were a joke, so I ride out with the Browns now.

Roll with the Crew cuz I played soccer growing up and I was in Ohio by the time. Roll with Aston Villa cuz they're owned by Lerner, they're not Top 4, and they're just boss hoggs.

Always rolled OSU cuz my dad went to law school here and my mom went to school here as well.

I roll with Cleveland too on the side. I like the Tribe, and I used to like the Cavs until I posted on here.
Feb 23, 2010 12:53am
killdeer's avatar

killdeer

Hat Trick

1,538 posts
Feb 23, 2010 1:25 AM
GoChiefs wrote: Michigan..because the rest of my family were Buckeye fans.
i always think this is kind of interesting...we have family members like this, too...they actually pick a team to root for solely for the purpose of opposing someone else. There is probably a name for this kind of psychopathology. I actually think this is how most Ohio-born Wolverine fans are bred.

As for me....
The Ohio State University.............born and bred and alumnus. No choice but to assimilate. Part of my DNA.
Cincinnati Reds......really hard to be anything else if you were a kid and a baseball fan in Ohio in the mid-70's, Big Red Machine and all.
Cincinnati Bengals..big fan of Ken Anderson, and later Cris Collinsworth when the Bengals made that unexpected Super Bowl run in the early 80's.
Cleveland Cavaliers..actually predates the whole LBJ thing, although I'm plenty happy with LeBron and all; my first memories are of Austin Carr, Jim Chones, and Lenny Wilkens, and that big old shopping mall called the Richfield Colliseum.
Arsenal..................fan of both Cesc Fabregas, and Arsen Wenger's coaching style.
the Crew................I think it is great that Ohio has one of the premier soccer clubs and venues in the U.S.; I think unfortunately most don't appreciate how great it is.
Feb 23, 2010 1:25am
GOONx19's avatar

GOONx19

An exceptional poster.

7,147 posts
Feb 23, 2010 1:39 AM
High School:
> Maplewood - My alma mater.
> Warren G. Harding - The closest Div. I school, and the best players in the area.

College:
> Kentucky - I'm in school here.
> Michigan - My grandpa, my biggest role model, went there. Brainwashed me back when I was in diapers.

Pro:
> Cavs, Indians - My grandpa (see above) took me to a game for each of them when I was in 1st grade. Hooked since.
> Browns - I liked the Redskins until we got our team back (when I was nine). Redskins are still my second favorite team.
> Jackets, Crew, any other Ohio team - Its my home. I love Ohio.
> Barcelona - We had a foreign exchange student for a year when I was a freshman. Went to visit them. I went to the first game after the got Thierry Henry. They were loaded that year.
Feb 23, 2010 1:39am
UA5straightin2008's avatar

UA5straightin2008

WOMP WOMP WOMP

3,246 posts
Feb 23, 2010 1:43 AM
HS:
Upper Arlington
Reason: Alma mater, most state championships in OHIO

College:
THE Ohio State University
Denison University
VMI
Reason: Both my parents went there, born and raised a buckeye
currently go to denison
went to VMI last year, hated the school, but still root for my teammates

NFL:
Minnesota Vikings
Reason: Never could get on with the bengals or browns because they always sucked when i was growing up...at one point, i think around 2000, the vikings had a couple big name OSU players on there roster, robert smith, cris carter, etc and i LOVED (and still do) randy moss

NHL:
Columbus BJ's
reason: from columbus

NBA:
Cavs
Reason: honestly, bandwagon lol

MLB:
Yankees
Reason: Dad grew up in NY, is a die hard fan, so i guess i got it from him
Feb 23, 2010 1:43am
BuckeyeBlue's avatar

BuckeyeBlue

Senior Member

561 posts
Feb 23, 2010 2:07 AM
I grew up rooting for the Buckeyes, but I remember the exact day I became a die hard fan. November 11, 1995. My dad took my brother and I to the Ohio State v. Illinois game for my birthday. It was our first game in Ohio Stadium. The weather was miserable, our seats were 2 rows from the top, and I loved every minute of it. In addition to Eddie George's 314 yard performance, I'll never forget how much I love just being in the stadium and watching the game. That game is when I went from being a fan, to a fanatic.
Feb 23, 2010 2:07am
N

NOL fan

Senior Member

376 posts
Feb 23, 2010 2:13 AM
Buckeyes
Browns
Indians
Cavaliers
Blue Jackets

The reason root for these teams is the same reason I root for my high school alma mater or for team USA in international sporting events: They are the home teams of where I am from

to me, a person in Ohio rooting for Michigan just to be different is like an American rooting for Canada against the US in hockey, just to be different
Feb 23, 2010 2:13am
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

Senior Member

15,696 posts
Feb 23, 2010 5:30 AM
NOL fan wrote: Buckeyes
Browns
Indians
Cavaliers
Blue Jackets

The reason root for these teams is the same reason I root for my high school alma mater or for team USA in international sporting events: They are the home teams of where I am from

to me, a person in Ohio rooting for Michigan just to be different is like an American rooting for Canada against the US in hockey, just to be different
+1.

Cleveland til I die.

No matter how bad or good these guys are, I'll always be Cleveland.

College football OSU

College bball is a little different.

My younger sister was diagnosed with liver disease in '94.. 2 years after she was born. She wasn't able to receive the liver transplant she needed in Cleveland, so they transfered her to UNC hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (obviously)

She spent 13 years of her life there (in North Carolina, not all at UNC) and went through two different liver transplants. She has a thing set up on a radio show to tell what she was going through and in walked in Dean Smith and some of the current Tar Heels. It was an amazing experience and we even got tickets to go to a game through make-a-wish...

Since that day, I've been an avid UNC fan. I still root for OSU, but that is something that will never be forgotten.
Feb 23, 2010 5:30am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 23, 2010 7:03 AM
Nothing "made" me root for any team. I chose to support all of the teams that I do.
Feb 23, 2010 7:03am
N

noreply66

Senior Member

466 posts
Feb 23, 2010 7:22 AM
When I was around 10 the kid I ran with the most was a Indians fan and he always ran the Yankees down so I started backing them just to see him get fired up. Been a Yankee fan from that point.

In basketball I just loved Russell and Chamberlain going at it.Loved Bills defense so I followed the Celtics.I have become more of a Cavs fan with James there.

Use to be a Browns fan but I worked with this guy when the Bengals started up and he would dog the Bengals so a started backing Cincinnati.
Feb 23, 2010 7:22am
G

Gblock

Feb 23, 2010 7:30 AM
originally im from wheeling wva, so we grew up going to pirates and steeler games and i basically adopted all things pittsburgh as my teams in elementary school.

georgetown would be my favorite cbb team but i also like to see pitt and wvu do well

In college football i like michigan but again i like to see pitt and wvu do well . I also have developed an intense hatred for OSU football since moving to columbus because of the fans. i hope they lose every game. I dont think steeler fans should be buckeye fans. but my hatred does not necessarily extend to the osu basketball program or baseball.
Feb 23, 2010 7:30am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 23, 2010 7:46 AM
Plymouth HS - My alma mater. Everyone in my family went there including Mom, Dad, Aunts, Uncles, siblings, cousins. My entire family still supports the school and athletic programs even though most of us do not live in the community anymore.

Mogadore HS - My little brother and sister moved there mid-HS and I've lived there for a little over a year. It's fun having a good football team to cheer for.

I've been a Cleveland fan for as long as I can remember. I never really had a choice...it's a family thing. Not that I would change it...I LOVE being a Browns, Cavs and Indians fan. Same with Ohio State. I wasn't forced to watch or play sports but I did anyways and I grew to love them. I was always a tomboy when I was little and having five brothers added to that.
Feb 23, 2010 7:46am
Devils Advocate's avatar

Devils Advocate

Brudda o da bomber

4,539 posts
Feb 23, 2010 8:16 AM
I became a Bengals fan mostly because my parents were die hard Browns fans. ( the obnoxious kind that would love to sit in the Dog Pound). I am far from a wagon jumper though. I've been a Bengals fan since 1973. They suck, but they are still the NFL team of my choice. If you cannot understand that, maybe you could ask a Cubs fan. :)
Feb 23, 2010 8:16am
S

SnotBubbles

Feb 23, 2010 8:24 AM
HS - Geneseo, IL - My hometown...
HS - West Liberty-Salem - My Alma Mater
HS - Bellefontaine - My current hometown
College (All Sports) - Illinois - My home state
College FB - Tennessee - I had to root for someone in CFB when the Illini sucked, Peyton Manning at UT made it an easy choice
MLB - Chicago Cubs - Family Tradition....home state team
NFL - Chicago Bears - Family Tradition....home state team
NFL - KC Chiefs - Not a huge fan, but I've rooted for them since Montana went there. I rooted for the 9ers for a while too...the Chiefs just kinda stuck.
NBA - Chicago Bulles - Home state team
NHL - Columbus Blue Jackets - First hockey game I had gone to and I loved it. The only Ohio team I cheer for game in and game out
Feb 23, 2010 8:24am
B

bamagirl

Senior Member

154 posts
Feb 23, 2010 8:27 AM
Alabama- My mother and Grandpa were Bama fans and my dad was a Buckeye fan, I obviously choose Bama. Compared both teams...(I am aware they both have great history) and picked Bama.

The Cubs- Boyfriend loves them and I started following them.

Cleveland Cavs- Always liked them but just in the last couple of years really started following them.

Columbus Blue Jackets- Mom works at Nationwide so I pretty much became a Jackets fan from day one.

Cleveland Browns- Started following them because of Brady Quinn. Was never really a big NFL fan before then.
Feb 23, 2010 8:27am
B

berry

Senior Member

475 posts
Feb 23, 2010 8:29 AM
I was born than way.
Feb 23, 2010 8:29am
KR1245's avatar

KR1245

Senior Member

4,317 posts
Feb 23, 2010 8:30 AM
Born and raised 30 minutes from downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Sports are in my blood, always have been always will be. So with that being said:
NBA-Cavs
NFL-Browns
MLB-Tribe
College-I'm in my senior year at OSU so obviously the Buckeyes
Feb 23, 2010 8:30am
BuckeyeBlue's avatar

BuckeyeBlue

Senior Member

561 posts
Feb 23, 2010 8:45 AM
For the rest:

Cincinnati Reds - I have very fond memories of listening to Reds games with my grandparents when I was youner.

Cincinnati Bengals - First memory of football is the '89 Super Bowl. Stuck with 'em through the 90's so I'm a lifelong fan.

Cleveland Cavs - Don't know for sure. I guess its the home-state thing.

Marion Local Flyers - My alma matter. Gotta root for the hometown team. Plus, its easy to root for a school that has had the type of success we have had over the past decade.
Feb 23, 2010 8:45am
M

mattinctown

Feb 23, 2010 3:05 PM
Ok, I'm an OSU football fan because I was born and raised in Ohio, but am a Duke basketball fan since 1987 because I visited the campus, met Coach K, and have been to a few games. This doesn't sit well with you???? People have the right to cheer for whomever they want, regardless of geography.


september63 wrote: To each their own!! I cannot understand born and raised in Ohio being a Cowboys, UNC Basketball or Lakers fan? I respect the Eastern Ohio ppl rooting for Pitts teams. many times they are geographically closer to them.

Being an OSU fan and a UNC BBL fan doesnt sit well. The reason you dont follow UNC football is bc they havent won anything.
Feb 23, 2010 3:05pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 23, 2010 3:15 PM
Steelers: As a kid I looked up to my neighbor who was 5 yrs older than me. He was a steelers fan so I become one. Funny thing...he had since become a browns fan.>>Whatta nice decision that was.

Hoosiers basketball: Growin up 15 mile from the Ind border we got mostly Indiana channels growing up (no cable..no satellite) we had lik3 6 channels. IU hoops was on ever single game. On sunday morning we always watched the Bobby Knight show. Plus, Indiana has had their HS tourny/state games on TV for a very long time. We would always get to see Indiana teams.

So much fun......during their state tourney we, as a family we would all watch the two semi final gamesin morning and early afternoon..then the winners come back for the nightcap.

REds baseball: As a kid growin up dad listenin to marty and joe.....and OCCASSIONALy a channel would have a reds game on.

Penguins hockey: Late 80's i started to kinda follow hockey because of a hockey video game. When deciding what team i was like huh..and picked hte penguins since I was a steelers fan.

Those are really the only teams I follow.
Feb 23, 2010 3:15pm
N

NOL fan

Senior Member

376 posts
Feb 23, 2010 4:04 PM
one thing I find odd are the people who seem to say "Go Cleveland" and "Fuck Cleveland" at the same time (mainly people who like the Indians and/or Cavs, but hate the Browns in favor of the Steelers)
Feb 23, 2010 4:04pm