Weird question about fandom from a first time poster

[mrcharliereeves]

I have a perplexing question to ask, and I'll try to make it short : ) I have lived in the deep south my entire life, and I'm only 28 yrs old. Growing up in my part of the world, you were either a Braves, yankees or BoSox fan for the most part (until recently, you have a lot of bandwagon Rangers fans around here). Years ago, I chose the Sox for my baseball team and I've always been a Celtics fan (20 yrs or so). Within the past 10-12 yrs, I've began watching hockey and adopted the Bruins as the team I follow (box score etc.). My question is this, my teams are the Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Eagles (DON'T SHOOT, I didn't mention this earlier because it's part of my question). I was just curious if Bostonians or New Englanders would take issue to someone who roots/pulls/cheers for all of their Boston sports teams, except the Pats? Also, do all Bostonians/New Englanders (Red Sox fans, Celtics fans, Bruins fans) root for other NFL teams or is it, all Pats, all the time? I don't have anything against them, but I've always loved the Eagles, since I was a little kid because everyone else down here liked the cowgirls, and I enjoyed when the Eagles would beat them.

 

Your insights and responses would be appreciated because I have been wondering this for a LONG TIME! Thanks!

[mrcharliereeves]

Also, does Boston consider Philly a rival city (I know nothing like nyc, just curious)?

[Palodios]

There are a lot of multi-city fans here. The most frequent poster here is a Giants fan, and the second most frequent poster is a Yankees/Jets fan. Its no big deal, as long as you're respectful.

 

Philly is in the other league/conference for MLB/NFL, and they suck in NBA, so most of us don't care much.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Plenty of people don't follow all their area's sports teams. It's common, yes, and you might hear crap about it but I don't think anyone takes issue with it, unless they're dicks.

 

Oh, wait, Patriots fans...

 

Okay, in all seriousness. My teams are the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Basketball Sucks and I Hate it (they made the postseason this year, beat the Soccer Sucks and I Hate Its in the finals). I am a Steelers fan because my father's entire family is from the Pittsburgh area and he was always a Steelers fan, so I was one from a very young age. I never got into hockey until I was 16 and my aunt, who has lived in Detroit for almost 20 years, took me to a game while I was visiting and I fell in love with the game, and as a consequence am now a Wings fan.

 

I think it all depends on a combination of location and exposure. If you live in Boston but were raised by die-hard Raiders fans, you might be a Raider fan unless you like to be rebellious and contrary or have a lack of head trauma.

[mrcharliereeves]

That is awesome! Thanks for responding. I guess I always thought that if you were going to root for teams, they should all be from the same city/state and I'm not like that. Heck, at least Philly and Boston are fairly close in proximity.

[mrcharliereeves]

Thanks Youk. My Dad has always been a HUGE Saints fan (my family is from Louisiana and Mississippi), but when I was growing up, I really liked Randall Cunningham, Reggie White etc. (I had a friend in elementary school who liked the Eagles too). I never wanted to become a Saints fan, because I watched my Dad suffer in the 80's and 90's, and I'm not going to become one now since they are good either.

 

I guess I expected folks to say, yes, if you like all other Boston area sports teams, you have to like the Pats (big fear of mine )

[mvp 78]

There are a ton of Sox/Giants fans based on radio broadcasting back in the day. I actually know a Yankees/Pats fan. Due to BOS and NYC being 200 miles apart, there's a lot of overlap, especially in CT.

[Emmz]

I like the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Vikings. You're fine.

[Emmz]

There are a ton of Sox/Giants fans based on radio broadcasting back in the day. I actually know a Yankees/Pats fan. Due to BOS and NYC being 200 miles apart' date=' there's a lot of overlap, especially in CT.[/quote']

 

I believe Divinity is a Yankees and Pats fan.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I like the Red Sox' date=' Celtics, Bruins and Vikings. You're fine.[/quote']

 

I love how football is the only sport where the pattern strays.

 

The Patriots are the most unlikeable team in the NFL, even more so than the goddamn Cowboys, and that's coming from a fan of a team with a sexual predator of a quarterback who looks like a shaved mule.

[mvp 78]

I believe Divinity is a Yankees and Pats fan.

 

They're multiplying!

[mvp 78]

Man, those Steelers are just sooo likeable!

[Youk Of The Nation]

I'm not denying that Ben Roethlisberger is a misogynist jerk who can't throw a pass the length of his list of restraining orders, but still....the Patriots, man. I don't think I've ever seen so much joy on the internet for a player injury as when Brady went down at the beginning of the season a few years ago. I mean, I wasn't glad he was hurt so much as I was glad that it hurt the Patriots, but there were plenty of people who were glad for both.

[Youk Of The Nation]

...and also, while I'm heaping critical similes on my own favorite team's leader, Roethlisberger holds onto the ball waaaay too long, like he's afraid it's going to wriggle from his grasp and run screaming out of the bathroom back into the bar to it's friends before reporting him to the police.

[jacksonianmarch]

The NFL is a newer product and the Pats dont have the same history as the sox. There are a ton of Massachusetts Giants fans because prior to the Pats, the Giants were the only game in town. In 50 yrs, that'll change.

[FredLynn]

I have a perplexing question to ask, and I'll try to make it short : ) I have lived in the deep south my entire life, and I'm only 28 yrs old. Growing up in my part of the world, you were either a Braves, yankees or BoSox fan for the most part (until recently, you have a lot of bandwagon Rangers fans around here). Years ago, I chose the Sox for my baseball team and I've always been a Celtics fan (20 yrs or so). Within the past 10-12 yrs, I've began watching hockey and adopted the Bruins as the team I follow (box score etc.). My question is this, my teams are the Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Eagles (DON'T SHOOT, I didn't mention this earlier because it's part of my question). I was just curious if Bostonians or New Englanders would take issue to someone who roots/pulls/cheers for all of their Boston sports teams, except the Pats? Also, do all Bostonians/New Englanders (Red Sox fans, Celtics fans, Bruins fans) root for other NFL teams or is it, all Pats, all the time? I don't have anything against them, but I've always loved the Eagles, since I was a little kid because everyone else down here liked the cowgirls, and I enjoyed when the Eagles would beat them.

 

Your insights and responses would be appreciated because I have been wondering this for a LONG TIME! Thanks!

 

Root for whoever you like. No one is going to care much about what you say about the other Boston area teams as long as its in good taste. I am a fan of all of the Boston teams, though I have been in California for

35 years. Keep in mind that this is just a game we talk about here, not "real life". Anyone who calls you out for your team alliances is someone you can probably do without.

[a700hitter]

I'm a NY Giants fan. Nothing matters here aside from the Red Sox.

[kapsis21]

I'm a NY Giants fan. Nothing matters here aside from the Red Sox.

 

you know you lucked out both times didnt you..!!

[FredLynn]

I'm a NY Giants fan. Nothing matters here aside from the Red Sox.

 

What? You are a Giants fan???

You realize that all the good will towards you just went out the window, right?

[Youk Of The Nation]

...a700 had goodwill towards him?

[Bellhorn04]

Jack Nicholson is a Yankees fan and a Lakers fan. Now THAT is wrong.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm a Red Sox fan. The only other sports team I have ever cared passionately about was the Chicago Black Hawks, but that ended when Bobby Hull jumped to the WHA in 1972.

 

For other sports besides baseball I'm a resident of Bandwagon City.

[BornToRun]

you know you lucked out both times didnt you..!!

 

Whoever said lightning didn't strike twice, right?

[a700hitter]

...a700 had goodwill towards him?

Exactly, how did I miss the good will?

[kapsis21]

Whoever said lightning didn't strike twice' date=' right?[/quote']

 

i am a Brady fan..

[Gringo]

I think what's strange for people is someone from the Deep South adopting 3 Boston teams as their own...but the more the merrier, as they say. And nobody will hold it against you for supporting the Eagles. Now, if you were born and raised up here, people might look at you funny for liking them.

 

But, (dirty little local secret)....long before the Patriots (Est. 1960) sprung to life, most hardcore football fans rooted for the nearest team around, the New York cough Giants!

 

And of course, for 2 generations, there were two baseball clubs here, and if you speak to some old timers, they might even admit to being Braves fans when they were young.

 

You'll have to make the pilgrimage up north and take in some games!

[Youk Of The Nation]

i am a Brady fan..

 

I wish lightning would strike Brady twice.

[Gringo]

As for Philly being a rival...it exists, but it's somewhat muted, because the Eagles and Phillies are not really team rivals at all. There is hatred between Bruins and Flyers fans, but even that is less than it could be because we play in different divisions. The Celtics-Sixers had a thing going in the 80's, but not so much anymore. On the whole though, there exists a natural animosity between the cities because of geography, and the fact that we view them as New York's idiot little brother....

[FredLynn]

Jack Nicholson is a Yankees fan and a Lakers fan. Now THAT is wrong.

 

"How dare he remind me of someone I hate"

 

Mo Howard

[BornToRun]

I wish lightning would strike Brady twice.

 

Yeah, I bet you do. Considering how much he's dominated the steelers over his career.