Cheering for Two Teams in the Same Sport

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Gabe F., Sep 26, 2017.

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  1. Gabe F.

    Gabe F. Active Member

    Alright sports fans,

    I'd like your perspective on something. I grew up in a rural southern town where hockey was, simply stated, not a thing. As a kid of the 80's who liked hockey, my main guy was Gretzky. Gretzky in the 80's (until 88 anyway) = Edmonton Oilers.

    Even in the post-Gretzky era, I've remained an ardent Oilers fan. But for the past several years, I've lived in Chicagoland and I also strongly support the Blackhawks as well. A buddy of mine argues that I can't have it both ways and that I need to pick one especially since both teams are in the Western Conference.

    My position is that I can support my team of 30 years AND my local team at the same time.

    What do you think?
     
  2. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    I don't see why you can't support both at the same time.
     
  3. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member


    Here are the rules.


    1. Pro Teams: Under 12 years old? You can like whatever team you want in any part of the country. Once you are over 12, you must like the professional team closest to you. Period.
    2. College Team: Under 12 years old? You can like whatever team you want in any part of the country. Once you are over 12, you must like the college team closest to you. One exception, you can root for the teams of the college you actually graduate from. If you're not a college graduate, you root for the college team closest to you.


    That means there can be no Patriots fans living in LA. Move back to Boston you mic. There can be no Alabama fans in Seattle, unless you graduated from Alabama.


    I'd like to amend that you cannot root for any college at all, unless you graduate from said college. But I don't want to seem rigid in my thinking.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It's just supposed to be fun. If it has actually become a problem, of any sort, then it's your own mind that's gotten in the way.
     
  5. heirophant

    heirophant Well-Known Member

    I grew up in the SF Bay Area cheering for both the Raiders and the 49ers, and for both the A's and the Giants. Their ballparks/stadiums are about an equal distance from me. So my tendency was to concentrate on whichever one was playing better and had the best chance to make the postseason. But that's just me. In the East Bay, the idea of cheering for a San Francisco team is anathema. SF is perceived as smug, snooty and full of itself.

    Neither of the colleges I where got degrees even has college football. The closest college football school to me is Stanford, but my loyalties are to proletarian San Jose State of the Mountain West Conference. I once applied to SJSU and they accepted me! (I chose to go to San Francisco State instead, but I never forgot that acceptance letter and have had a warm fuzzy spot for SJ State ever since. They wanted me!

    I can imagine the response if I ever even thought of applying to Stanford, black SUV's pulling up, unsmiling thugs in black suits, shades and earpieces piling out and me being hauled away for lowering Stanford's tone. Nope, no way.

    The Sharks are my hockey team, though I have to admit that the Oilers have my interest too. Their coach Todd McLellan is SJ's former coach and an all around good guy. And Connor McDavid is nothing if not interesting. And isn't there a law that all hockey fans have to cheer for at least one Canadian team?
     
  6. Gabe F.

    Gabe F. Active Member

    That's what I've been goin' with! :wiggle:
     
  7. Gabe F.

    Gabe F. Active Member

  8. Gabe F.

    Gabe F. Active Member

    I'm with you on that one although I did conduct a bit of a social experiment once. I attended a Blackhawks game in full Oilers attire - jersey and hat. Other than one drunken "BOOO!" everyone either ignored me or engaged in some friendly trash talk. The best part? I didn't get my ass kicked!
     
  9. Gabe F.

    Gabe F. Active Member

    This is one rule I could never get down with. I grew up in SEC country so most people around me were either Tennessee or Kentucky fans (along with the occasional Alabama or Georgia fans). As for me? I was never really down with any of them except during Peyton Manning's time at Tennessee. For most of my life, I didn't have a college team because none of my schools had one. A few years ago when I met my wife, she was an Illinois graduate so I gravitated toward them. Now that I have an Illinois degree of my own, I wear the Illini badge with pride (even though the football team struggles).
     
  10. perrymk

    perrymk Member

    True story. I was testifying in court recently (part of my job) and as I was about to leave the stand the judge stops me. It is highly unusual for a judge to speak to me during trial while I'm on the stand. Occasionally there have been brief exchanges during breaks when the jury is not in the room. In 20 years this has not happened. So right in front of the jury and courtroom he starts flipping through his notes. He then says to me, "Seeing you graduated from FSU and received your Masters from Alabama, and they're playing each other in this year's opening game, is this going to present any conflict for you?" I was admittedly caught off guard and said I'd be OK. Everyone laughed.
     
  11. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    I've at times wondered if I can claim rooting rights for Rutgers, since I graduated from TESU, and they're both NJ state universities. There was even a time when TESU was proposed to be merged with Rutgers. It's kinda sorta the same thing, right?

    I've also wondered if DL schools could succeed in creating e-sports (competitive video game) leagues. I mean, why not? :headbang:
     

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