Let's settle this, once and for all.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I'm not going to go as far as to say, "you have to be from a city to be a true fan of their teams" but I can say, from first hand experience, being a remote fan of a team is MUCH different than being their in person. I've been a Bruins & Patriots fan for most of the 30 years that I've been alive, through good times and bad.

 

And I found that it was a different feeling for the 5 years that I lived in Colorado.

 

Was I less of a fan? No, not at all. But I wasn't immersed in it 100% like I am while here in Boston. The sports pages don't talk about the teams I root for; the radio callers don't talk about them; the average meathead on the street most likely doesn't care about them. So, it's easier to escape it ... the highs aren't as high, and the lows aren't as low.

 

Basically, if you're in one state and root for the teams in another, you're a fan but not the same way that someone that lives in the city that hosts that team.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Stop saying "fandom"!

[Lightning Flik 0]

How can having pride in the team and being a fan of the team not be related?  If you have pride in the team in the idea that they represent you, obviously it is going to affect how big of a fan you are of the team.

My apologizes, I guess I apparently didn't explain something thoroughly enough, so let me try this again.

 

When I was speaking of pride, I was speaking of pride for the city itself and how the team is a representation of the city. This little extra bit is something that us freelance fans can't get unless we've experienced it.

 

There is no difference in pride of the team and being a fan of the team. If that's what had come across, that was not what I was refering to. Its the pride within the city and the community that is the difference, and that pride in the culture of your home that your team is supposed to represent by having the city's name attatched is what I'm trying to get at.

 

So someone who has experienced living in like Atlanta is a fan of the team, but also a fan of his home. For freelancers like Dama and myself, we are just fans of the team. Just because we only are fans of the team, does not mean we aren't just as big of fans as the rest of you for the team; however, when it comes to also being a fan of the city, we can't relate.

 

I really hope that clears up what I'm trying to get at.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I am not saying you can't be a fan without living in the city. Heck, I live a good hour away from Philly. But it is insulting to hear someone put their stock in the Eagles, but go elsewhere when it comes to the Sixers, Phillies, or Flyers.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Wouldn't the appreciation of the team in the hometown by others correlate to the fandom one feels towards that team whilst living there? I mean, it's hard to compare a fan of the Sox in Iowa to a fan of the Sox in Boston because of the media representation in Boston compared to Iowa.

 

As far as my comments, they may be bullshit but as a Sox fan, it's what I feel is a completely different environment. Knowing the Sox history, maybe I take your being a fan somewhat personally compared to my experiences and knowing the tradition up here. It's like you(Dama) being a fan of Oklahoma due to proximity, knowing the tradition & history of their team, etc. That's not something I would feel being in Boston if I was a fan of the Sooners. I wouldn't get the experience and community feel that you get down there.

 

Most people when cheering for a city's team tend to cheer all those teams regardless if they are succeeding or failing. Boston is a huge sports city, so to ignore two of its teams and cheer for the other two is disrespectful to the fans from Boston and the rest of New England who show their faith to every team, not just the Red Sox or Celtics.

 

Also as far as the whole "not living in the city" deal, that's not it so much as you(not you literally) come off as a fair weather fan even if you cheer for them day/night and 365, 24/7. It's all because of the lack of closeness you get when you live in the same area of the team. Look at soccer fans and how rabid they are. You don't get that intensity and spirit being a fan of Brazil while living in the United States.

[Damaramu 0]

The reason I go else where is because I pick teams off of who I like and I don't base if off geographic location.

If I based it off geographic location then I'd be a Patriots fan but I'm not. I don't like them at all. I respect them and what they can do. But I don't like them.

[Brett Favre 0]

Usually, not saying Damaramu or anyone else specifically, people that are fans of teams out of their city or state, pick those teams because they have won. You won't see a New Yorker become a fan of the Arizona Cardinals, but you see quite a few become Steeler and Eagle fans.

[Damaramu 0]

Usually, not saying Damaramu or anyone else specifically, people that are fans of teams out of their city or state, pick those teams because they have won. You won't see a New Yorker become a fan of the Arizona Cardinals, but you see quite a few become Steeler and Eagle fans.

Well the Celtics aren't winning shit. And they haven't for as long as I've been watching basketball. But that doesn't really matter to me. I like the team. I like the history.

I mean I know they used to win but I wasn't around for the winning. I've just been here for the losing and that's not a problem to me b/c I like the team. And I can't explain why I like them because they aren't any good. But I mean something about that team draws me in and makes me want to cheer for them.

 

The Eagles like I said the reason I started liking them was Randall Cunningham.

You can be drawn to a team that isn't winning by the players on the team or the history or whatever.

Hell some people(mostly girls) can be drawn to a team by the uniform.

[Brett Favre 0]

That's why I said usually, and the Celtics have won.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Lightning Flik isn't just a Falcons fan. He's a Falcons fan who finally goddamned fucking snapped.

[the pinjockey 0]

Admit it Czech, you just made that last post as an excuse to swear.

[Fuzzy Dunlop 0]

Wouldn't the appreciation of the team in the hometown by others correlate to the fandom one feels towards that team whilst living there? I mean, it's hard to compare a fan of the Sox in Iowa to a fan of the Sox in Boston because of the media representation in Boston compared to Iowa.

 

As far as my comments, they may be bullshit but as a Sox fan, it's what I feel is a completely different environment. Knowing the Sox history, maybe I take your being a fan somewhat personally compared to my experiences and knowing the tradition up here. It's like you(Dama) being a fan of Oklahoma due to proximity, knowing the tradition & history of their team, etc. That's not something I would feel being in Boston if I was a fan of the Sooners. I wouldn't get the experience and community feel that you get down there.

 

Most people when cheering for a city's team tend to cheer all those teams regardless if they are succeeding or failing. Boston is a huge sports city, so to ignore two of its teams and cheer for the other two is disrespectful to the fans from Boston and the rest of New England who show their faith to every team, not just the Red Sox or Celtics.

 

Also as far as the whole "not living in the city" deal, that's not it so much as you(not you literally) come off as a fair weather fan even if you cheer for them day/night and 365, 24/7. It's all because of the lack of closeness you get when you live in the same area of the team. Look at soccer fans and how rabid they are. You don't get that intensity and spirit being a fan of Brazil while living in the United States.

I'm a Red Sox fan, have been since 98, but the Cubs are number one with me. I'll cheer for the Red Sox whenever they're on TV, but not when they play the Cubs and I don't hang out on Red Sox websites (much). I do, however, have a Red Sox championship t-shirt, and sweatshirt. I don't really care about the Pats, Celtics, or hockey. But a Schilling jersey in red is on my birthday list. So am I a fan or not? Oh, and the reason I've only been a Red Sox fan since 98 is because that's when I started watching baseball because of Sammy Sosa's incredible May, and Boston was good that year and I found out their drought was almost as long as the Cubs so I decided I liked them too.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I'm a Red Sox fan, have been since 98, but the Cubs are number one with me.  I'll cheer for the Red Sox whenever they're on TV, but not when they play the Cubs and I don't hang out on Red Sox websites (much).  I do, however, have a Red Sox championship t-shirt, and sweatshirt. I don't really care about the Pats, Celtics, or hockey.  But a Schilling jersey in red is on my birthday list.  So am I a fan or not? Oh, and the reason I've only been a Red Sox fan since 98 is because that's when I started watching baseball because of Sammy Sosa's incredible May, and Boston was good that year and I found out their drought was almost as long as the Cubs so I decided I liked them too.

Are you a fan? Yes but I'd call you a fair weather one. You have the Sox as your #2 team and only started liking them because they were good in 1998 and they had a drought. You could've just as easily cheered for the Braves or Yankees that year and successive years if you didn't like the Sox cause of their drought.

 

That's what I take offense to as a Boston based Sox fan. Fans come on from other areas because of a reason like they won the WS or they have a drought and are the underdog team. When you live in that area, you take to them not only because they're your hometown team but also because it's like a family tradition and the passion for that team gets handed down, generation to generation.

 

I liked the Bulls because of Jordan and the Cowboys because of the trio and their dominance in the 90's, early to late. I wouldn't dare call myself a fan of either team in the sense of a diehard one because that's disrespectful to the true diehards. I was and am a fair weather fan, even if I still like the Cowboys now.

[Fuzzy Dunlop 0]

In 2003 when thousands of people hopped on the Cubs bandwagon, I thought it was great that we were number one in Chicago, and extremely popular all over the world, but now there are people who I know for a fact just hopped on two years ago who are just bitch-bitch-bitch about everything that's happened this offseason, and it pisses me off, so I kinda know how you feel.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah but Harley the point is you shouldn't take offense to me being a Red Sox fan. You should welcome another fan to your team. No I don't live in Boston. But I do cheer for the Red Sox over EVERY OTHER TEAM. Fuck I bought Red Sox stuff and checked the scores of their games when I didn't even know a thing about baseball.

Does that make me less of a fan than you b/c I don't live in Boston and have family that were always fans?

No. And you're taking a very elitist attitude.

 

My grandpa is a HUGE Steelers fan and has been with them since he was a child(he's like 72 now) and he's watched every Steelers season since they've been on TV.

Does that mean that I should be a Steelers fan b/c it's in my family tradition? Fuck no. I'm an Eagles fan and I don't care who my family likes.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Yeah but Harley the point is you shouldn't take offense to me being a Red Sox fan. You should welcome another fan to your team. No I don't live in Boston. But I do cheer for the Red Sox over EVERY OTHER TEAM. Fuck I bought Red Sox stuff and checked the scores of their games when I didn't even know a thing about baseball.

Does that make me less of a fan than you b/c I don't live in Boston and have family that were always fans?

No. And you're taking a very elitist attitude.

 

My grandpa is a HUGE Steelers fan and has been with them since he was a child(he's like 72 now) and he's watched every Steelers season since they've been on TV.

Does that mean that I should be a Steelers fan b/c it's in my family tradition? Fuck no. I'm an Eagles fan and I don't care who my family likes.

elitist? Probably. In my first post, fan was essentally my code for diehard. There is a difference to being a fair weather fan/above average fair weather fan and a die hard fan. I'm glad you like the Red Sox but don't try and pull an Eagles where you say you're a diehard fan of them. That's like saying I'm a diehard Oklahoma Sooners fan cause I brought their merchandise, etc. despite never seeing a live game in Oklahoma or making an attempt to interact with the locals from where they compete(going into bars, etc. in Oklahoma).

 

And where did I ever say that you must adhere to family tradition? I said it's like a family tradition in that it gets passed on generation to generation. Not every generation becomes a fan. Living in that area tends to help with the new generation of fans deal since kids get that devotion from their parents and such. Parents take them to games to see them live, then the kids grow older as fans and do it with their kids, etc.

[Damaramu 0]

I'm a die-hard Sox, Sooners, Eagles, and Celtics fan. Plain and simple. You can't tell me otherwise Harley.

[Bored 0]

Okay Dama you've forced me to pull this one out of the moth balls again.

*wants to watch Baseball this season*

 

*realizes he knows jack shit about the actual rules of baseball, the players, or even when the season starts......cries*

How about those Red Sox?

[Damaramu 0]

Okay Dama you've forced me to pull this one out of the moth balls again.

*wants to watch Baseball this season*

 

*realizes he knows jack shit about the actual rules of baseball, the players, or even when the season starts......cries*

How about those Red Sox?

And yet you haven't read me saying that I still checked sox scores and still wanted them to win even when I didn't know about baseball?

So basically you're just showing us half of the argument. Nice try. I'm a Sox fan. Get over it. If it bothers you that much then you must really have some serious issues.

[bob_barron 0]

If you don't know much about the sport- then you can't really be a true fan of the team. How do you understand the team if you don't understand the game?

[Damaramu 0]

If you don't know much about the sport- then you can't really be a true fan of the team. How do you understand the team if you don't understand the game?

Because I like the fucking team.

And I watch the sport now and I find that I don't want to root for any other teams except the Red Sox.

So therefore I am a fan. If the Red Sox record resembled that of the Diamond Backs next year I would still cheer for the Red Sox.

It's that simple. These are the teams I like. And no matter how much you guys cry and say "No you're not a fan of my team! NO!" it won't change the fact I am and I'm not changing my mind.

[the pinjockey 0]

Do I have to go back and find the post where you said you love the Chiefs as well? This is the problem I have, if you just say "hey, I am an Eagles fan" good for you. But you claim to be die-hard and then say things like "well if they lost to the Chiefs I would be upset, but not as upset." There is no but if you are a die-hard fan of a team.

 

And when you say you are not fair-weathered, but then say I liked watching the Eagles during Randall Cunningham's days (when the Eagles were good), then stopped watching football (during the Kotite-Rhodes era), and then poof you are back (in the Eagles have won the most games since 2000 era), how does that not look fair-weathered?

[Damaramu 0]

Because I didn't quit watching football because of the Eagles.

I quit watching football b/c I got in with a bad crowd in school. I started hanging out with the stoners and punk rockers who all hated sports. So I quit watching. Then I got away from that crowd and got back into it.

 

I like the Chiefs. Yes I would be upset if the Eagles lost. But if they had to lose it to anyone that would be the team. But I would still root for the Eagles to beat them and I would still be heartbroken that the Eagles lost the game.

Forget anything I said before this is what I mean. Quit digging old shit up(and you're really sad if you have time to go do that anyways) and just listen to me now.

And another thing. Why is this such a big deal to you guys? Why do you care sooooo much?

[Bored 0]

It's not about you being a fan of certain teams it's your laughable assertion that you're a diehard fan of these teams, most specifically the Red Sox. I consider myself a San Jose Sharks fan and followed the team very closely during the mid to late 90's but in recent years I've lost almost all interest in hockey. Now I would still in the past check Sharks scores and see where they were in the standings and I did watch some of the Western Conference finals last year. Does this make me a diehard fan of the Sharks because I want them to win and check on how they are doing from time to time? Hell no. It's insult to anyone who does have real passion for the team for me to consider myself a diehard Sharks fan. Same reason why it's an insult, okay not even that, hilarious that you call yourself a diehard Red Sox fan.

[Damaramu 0]

And it's hilarious that you're going to such great lengths to dig up posts and discuss something that doesn't affect you at all.

I'm a diehard fan of those teams I mentioned. End of story. Fucking drop it this thread needs to die. I've said all I can and I'm right. That simple.

Now drop it.

[Bored 0]

Dug up? Shit I posted that back in October when you were acting like such a fucking tool in the World Series thread.

 

And you are the master of grinding threads to a halt in this folder.

[bob_barron 0]

You can be a fan of the Sox Dama but you're not a diehard fan if you don't even know the game they play! You're certainly not a diehard Sox fan.

 

And I think people like to pick on you b/c of the OU stuff and because diehard fans of the Eagles and Sox don't like seeing you try to pass yourself off as one of them. You don't have to live in the city to like them but to be a diehard Sox fan when you don't know about baseball at all and to pass yourself off as a diehard Eagles fan when you actively root for another team.

 

I love the Leafs to death but since the Canucks are also my favourite hockey team (I love both teams equally- don't know what I'd do if they met in the finals) I don't know if I can call myself a diehard of either team

[Damaramu 0]

No.....I didn't know anything about baseball then. I've since learned about the sports and I enjoy it. So that's how I can call myself a diehard fan. B/c I root for no team over the Sox and if they were to lose the World Series this year I would've been just as upset as anyone else.

And I am a diehard Eagles fan. I root for no other team over the Eagles.

Yes I like the Chiefs but I don't root for them over the Eagles for fucks sake.

 

Yeah Bored threads come grinding to a halt because jackasses like you pretty much feel the need to attack me and my opinion. If you'd just grow the fuck up we wouldn't have these problems.

 

Now drop it. I am a diehard fan of these teams and nothing you say will change that. Long after TSM isn't here I'll still be rooting for these teams. So drop it.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I let this go long enough for everyone to blow off steam. Now we're just talking past one another. Feel free to continue this in Hardcore Discussion.