MotownSports Fan Amnesty Day

RedRamage · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 08:42 AM

I got this idea from a ESPN show I heard a number of weeks ago, so I can't claim that it's original, but I think it's an interesting idea and worthy talking about.

Here's the deal: Today, you are given fan amnesty! We all know that our sports allegience is often dictated by things beyond our control. We're a fan of the teams that are based around us, or we're a fan of the teams our parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. are/were fans of. Maybe it's the school you went too, or maybe it's the team that your favorite school player was drafted by... whatever the reason, very few of us ever made a consience decision at some point and picked a team for logical, rational reasons.

Well, today's your day. Today you get amnesty. Today you don't have to feel guilty for being a fan of another team. Tomorrow you can go back to being a fan of the team you grew up on, for for one day, for one hour, or ever for just long enough to make a post here, you can turn in your exsisting team and pick any other team out there for any reason whatsoever. What's the team you pick? Why did you pick them?

Here's my results:
Baseball: Right now I'd probably turn in the Tigers for the Cards. Even though they were just eliminated from the playoffs, they seem to be a well built, respectable team that will likely compete for years to come. They have a rich tradition just like the Tigers.

Football: Gotta be the Pats right now; sorry Lions. Even though they are in a down year, they way they've played --as a team-- is the way I want my sports teams to play every year. I admire how no one is bigger than the team and how players will play whereever the coach needs 'em to be.

Hockey: Not a huge hockey fan, but I s'pose I'd probably need to stick with the RedWings here. Long, rich tradition of winning. Even after the salary cap was put in place they still look like winners.

Basketball: Again, not a huge basketball fan, so I can't really say for sure on this, but if not the Pistons, I guess I would lean towards the Spurs. I mean if your star player is known as a guy who's all about the fundamentals of the game, you know that team is built right.

Yoda · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 08:50 AM

My only 2nd favorite sports team would be the Devil Rays, mainly because I live near them and I tend to be drawn towards underdogs. I also like the Tampa Bay Lightning, but I've never been a huge hockey fan so it's pretty insignificant.

Buddha · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 08:55 AM

Baseball: Second favorite team is the Cubs now that the Expos are l'histoire. I like the Astros a lot too.

Football: Patriots (Because God is their quarterback) and any team with a Michigan player on it. No shame in rooting for other teams when you're a Lions' fan...

Hockey: Second favorite is the Canadiens. Always root for them when they're not playing the Winged Wheel.

Basketball: Hard to say. Maybe the Knicks cause I don't like to see Isiah be a complete **** up. But they're the KNICKS. It's hard to root for New York at anything...

qsilvr2531 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 08:59 AM

Baseball: Oakland A's. In Billy we Trust and all that.

Football: Bengals, because I live in Cincy. I've gotten used to both of my favorite football teams sucking for so long, I'm not sure what to do with the bengals this year.

NJ Jackal · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:10 AM

Baseball: Houston, because of Craig Biggio.
Football: Philadelphia, but I'm also happy to see the Bengals succeeding
NBA: Gotta go with the Spurs. They are fun to watch (from a basketball fan point of view, not a let's try to entertain the TV audience point of view) and Popovich is a great coach.
NHL: Don't care.
NCAA Football: I don't really have a "team" in football (Notre Dame and Toledo top my list, followed by UM, Ohio State, and UConn), but I wouldn't mind being a Georgia fan. I saw UGA in the Peach Bowl in 1998 and those fans are insane. I can only imagine what it's like in Athens on a Saturday.
NCAA Basketball: Duke, no questions asked.

MelissaG915 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:31 AM

you know, y'all could become figure skating fans without ridicule under this amnesty policy

RedRamage · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:41 AM

You're assuming, of course, that we're not already Figure Staking fans Mel! Seriously, while I'm not a huge figure staking fan, I was exposed to it quite a bit as a kid because my mother loved to watch it. Honestly I really am impressed with the skill that it takes to be a figure staker. What they (and you Mel!) do is physically demanding to say the least. I can appreciate the skill needed to be a figure staker even if I'm not exactly a fan of the sport.

One Man's Fool · #8 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 09:54 AM

I'll take the Vikings! Wait, I already did. Wait, they're in a shambles. Wait . . .

Oh crap.

potthole · #9 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 10:00 AM

Baseball: I'd have to go with the Cubbies... just gotta love that tradition... and don't forget the ivy.

Football: On this, the day where I am allowed to give up my team alligence, I choose to switch to the Steelers, Big Ben is a great young QB, The Bus and Willie Parker give a great run game, and come on, coach Bill? 'Nuff said.

Hockey: Stickin with my Wings.

Basketball: If I had to dump my Pistons, I'd pick up the Spurs.

tiger337 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 10:38 AM

Baseball - My second favorite team is the St. Louis Cardinals.

None of the other sports really matter but:

Football - I like the BC Eagles. I used to like the Cleveland Browns but I now think the NFL is boring and I'm tired of hearing everybody around me talk about the Patriots.

Basketball - I like the Syracuse Orangemen and UConn Huskies. I used to like the Celtics but I now think the NBA is boring.

Magnum · #11 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 11:28 AM

Baseball: My favorite non-Detroit MLB team is the Mets. Not sure why but I just have always liked them. I also try and follow the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese league. I lived in Kyoto for a while and got to see a few Hanshin games. Baseball in Japan is different than in the U.S. but it’s still a lot of fun.

Football: I like the Bucs. My parents live south of Tampa so I get to a few games.

Hockey: I would keep the Wings although I do like to watch the Maple Leafs once in a while.

Basketball: Couldn’t care less about basketball and I wouldn't mind if the sport went away entirely.

Deleterious · #12 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 11:52 AM

Baseball: Probably the Braves. Always liked them for some reason. I'm guessing it was the exposure to them on TBS all those years.

Football: Never really had a second favorite. How about the Redskins.

Hockey: Blackhawks, only because I love their Jersey and when I was a kid I had a poster of Alyssa Milano wearing one.

Basketball: Celtics. I really hate this team, but respect the heck out of their tradition.

College FB: Miami Hurricanes. But I want the old Jimmy Johnson teams. The ones wearing combat fatigues and doing a 10 second dance after every 3 yard run. I normally hate people/teams like that but I always liked them for some reason.

College BBall: Kentucky. Again, love the tradition but I started watching them when Pitino was there. Loved the style of ball he coached.

detroitdan · #13 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 01:27 PM

Baseball: Toronto Blue Jays (good times back in 92 and 93 when they won the World Series)

Hockey: Ottawa Senators (can't really go for the Leafs after they took their farm team away from us here in St. John's; I've just always like the Sens for some reason)

Basketball: Toronto Raptors (the Vince Carter trade still pisses me off)

Football: Baltimore Ravens (hardest one of the bunch; I am die hard Lions, but Ray Lewis is my favourite player besides any one on the Lions; I like Brady and Patriots too)

I like these teams, but I would never cheer for one of these teams as much as I would for a Detroit team though.

tigerfanatic · #14 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 03:11 PM

Baseball: St. Louis Cardinals (I can remember their hideous powder blue uniforms)

Hockey: Boston Bruins (I'm not a Red Wings gal)

Football: None. I'm sticking with my Saints

Basketball: Don't watch and Don't care

BiggieG · #15 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 04:35 PM

Baseball: I love the Cards. I lived in southern Illinois for awhile and loved to listen to KMOX and Jack Buck. I thought I would miss Ernie, but consider Buck his equal.
Basketball: I love the Pistons, but if I had to choose another team it would be any team that Shaq or Koby is playing against.
Football: I have met many of the players from the Rams, Cowboys, Bears, Broncos and Packers during our annual NFL Jam Sessions up here in Cadillac and Traverse City, so I would go with the Broncos.
Hockey: I have a hard time going against the Wings. Gordie and Colleen Howe helped us so many times with fundraisers, bringing a bunch of their kids and Gordie's friends he played hockey with and against to participate. Guys like Alex Delvecchio, Gadsby, Mark Howe, etc. I haven't heard much from them since they moved down to the Detroit area. I heard Colleen wasn't doing too well. Anybody heard anything?

djhutch · #16 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 05:33 PM

Baseball: Probably the Twins. Just `cuz they've got spunk.
Football: Panthers
Basketball: Clippers. Just because they've sucked for so long.
Hockey: Don't care

Auburndale Ray · #17 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 06:56 PM

Baseball: Tampa Bay Devil Rays...I live close to Tampa...The young team is improving with a lot of prospects coming along...Also, like Yoda, I often pull for the underdogs...

Casimir · #18 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 07:44 PM

Baseball: Can't do it. Just can't. I suppose I thought it was cute when the Tribe started winning, but that cuteness ended quick. I liked the makeup of the Phillies team and was a John Kruk fan (hey, gotta show respect for the girthy Polish ballplayers) the season they lost to the Blue Jays in the world series. There are lots of ballplayers that I enjoy watching for one reason or another. But all that gets trumped by the Tigers.

Pro Football: I used to like the Rams because my dad like them, then I followed the Redskins for a while (John Riggins fan), then I stopped following them and just watched football without any real rooting interest (never could find myself being a Lions fan). Started getting hooked on the Browns during thier last, fateful season, and then couldn't wait for them to get a team back. Still follow the Browns, but I have a lot of respect for the Patriots and how they seem to have completely bought into the team concept. I mean how can't you respect them? supermalcontent Corey Dillon goes there and becomes a model citizen. Tom Brady plays down his celebrity and actually shuns the fact that people think he's some kind of football god. They've got a 30some year old WR playing defensive back. They've got LBs playing TE. You never hear about thier trips to Lake Minnetonka. I like the "metaphors" commercial. OK, I think my pro football allegiance probably could be bought.

College Football: Ohio State. Graduated from Toledo, and always liked them and Bowling Green as "the backyard schools". Been to a lot of BG games the past few seasons as my wife's cousin dated/married a member of the athletic department. Can't shake the love for OSU, though.

Basketball: Pistons fan. I also like the Spurs because of how they play. Well, except for the last 18 minutes of the 2005 NBA Finals.

Hockey: Can't get into it until the playoffs. Then I root for Canadian teams to win the Stanley. Hockey, to me, is much better live then on TV, moreso than any of the other big sports. I can watch baseball, football, and basketball games on the tube. Just can't do it for hockey (save for OT).

mtdman · #19 (**permalink**) 10-20-2005, 10:16 PM

If it's not a Detroit/Michigan team, I don't care.

wingedwheel · #20 (**permalink**) 11-13-2005, 09:34 PM

NFL: Houston Texans - I lived there when they started.

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves - Used to live there too.

NHL: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - Um... I used to live there too.

MLB: Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Curious to see if they can turn it around, besides I live here now.