It seems one of things people always do in watching sport is cheering for the local team, the school team, or the national team. However, I find it fascinating that many people are hardcore local team fans *just because it's the local team*. To me, if I don't like the way a team plays, if there is no player I like very much on that team, or if the team simply sucks and loses all the time, I'll never be a fan. If a team that I liked started to suck real bad, I'll stop being a fan after a short time. If there are player movements, it changes my opinion on teams. But some people are fans of local teams no matter what. Do most people really feel that they identify with their current location so much? Is it a sort of need, habit, or some mysterious human nature to seek a sense of belonging? Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. It's just fascinating to me.

i'd never stop rooting for a team just because they suck. that's commonly called "bandwagon hopping." like i'm a mets fan. watched each and every one of their games in 2001. even scored all of them. it almost drove me off the edge of sanity, but i still kept with it, even when they were losing 10-0.

and yes, i am incredibly loyal and i identify very much with new york.

I see. The thing is I never become a fan of any team in the sense that you just described, then. I would tend to like teams that have players I like or play the way I like, and it changes from season to season.

*Thinks about Detriot Tigers fans...*

speaking of the detroit tigers, i'm glad they didn't break the '62 mets record. i was really worried there. the tigers didn't deserve it; they weren't quite lovable enough. also the '62 mets turned losing into an absolute art form. the tigers are just bad.

Originally posted by sputnik
also the '62 mets turned losing into an absolute art form.
Hey hey HEY! You forgetting something? 0-14, maybe? Can't do much worse than that. And I resent your forgetting my lovable losers...

http://www.all-tampa.com/attractions/Buccanneer-Bruce.jpg

Oh man, I forgot about that old logo. Sort of Johnny Depp-ish. In a bad way.