The Rah-Rah Thread, p.k.a. "Who Do You Root For?"

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Do you have favorite teams if so what are they and in what sports and if they aren't teams but individuals then tell us all what their sports are and if you're feeling non-sinister tell us some amusing story about WHY you root for that team or that individual.

And if this thread has already been done then I just don't care, let's do it again, another saturday night, leonard part vi.

― Neudonym, Monday, 7 July 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Gillingham. Essentially every year I root for them to at least stay mid-table in the First and maybe challenge for something a bit higher as they can. I figure they won't get any better than that for some while, though.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

NBA (as well as fave team overall all-time): Portland Trail Blazers*
Eng. Premiership: Manchester City
NFL: none, maybe Green Bay but can't be arsed
MLB: St. Louis Cardinals
World Cup: Brazil (yeah, I know I'm rooting for the Yankees of world football but I don't care, Ronaldinho's da homem)

*only pro sports team in my whole state, won championship when I was in grade school, best uniforms ever in 1970s, logo used by Ursula LeGuin in awesome book, they used to hand out coloring books at Blazers games showing all the other Pacific Division teams as various ghouls/horrors (Lakers = Frankenstein's monsters, etc.), lovable losers who got great and then were bad and now have been good-but-not-great for longer than any other team in sports history

― Neudonym, Monday, 7 July 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Football = Tottenham, England. I support Spurs, coz I made this decision years ago, when they were doing okay, and everyone I knew supported Liverpool.
Cricket = England, Middlesex. I Love cricket.
Darts = Ted Hankey. He dresses up as a vampire.
Pro-Wrestling = Kane. Dunno why.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I always root root root for the home team.
If they don't win, it's a sham.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

MLB: BoSox and/or the Giants
NFL: Yeah the Patriots - someone has to.
NBA: NOT THE LAKERS
Hockey: Bruins

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Boston Red Sox. I can't even explain why. It's just what you do when you're from the area. They have a lot of history. They're nearly always a very good team, especially in my lifetime (born the season of the '75 Series, booyah and boohoo). Books and books have been written about growing up in Fenway Nation, and most of them get it wrong. (One book says it's about optimism, another says it's pessimism, it's both.)

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never given the slightest fig abt sports and I wonder if that's a bad thing. I have gotten into the NBA recently, but only really around the finals and never enough to have any kind of opinion on what was happening. Anyway, sorry to mess w a good thread, but on some instinctive level I just. don't. get it.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Monday, 7 July 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The only team I deeply, deeply care about is Bristol Rovers. They are a lowly English football team, never very near reaching the top division, but they are mine and I love them. I only see them play live once a season at the moment, because they have just one fixture in London each year - March 2nd will be it next season, short of any cup draw. I guess I care about England at football nearly as much, but that is marred by the jingoism and many horrible fans.

Otherwise I don't much care, and fall for different players for different reasons. Some I've loved are Pele, Michael Jordan, Chiyonofuji (a sumo wrestler who ranks alongside those first two, arguably), Bebe Didrickson (greatest sportswoman ever no conteswt, maybe the greatest sporting figure ever), Ian Botham, Les Kellett, Steve Ovett, Randall Cunningham. I love American wrestling too, but feel that needs separating even from UK wrestling, as represented by the brilliant clown Les Kellett. US faves: Flair, Adrian Adonis, Kane, Road Warriors.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 7 July 2003 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

The Toronto Maple Leafs. Clearly, I like to be disappointed year after year.

― cybele (cybele), Monday, 7 July 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Venus and Serena, Chanda, Lindsey, Justine, Patty, Ai, Monica, Clarissa, Kim, Jennifer, Daniela (in descending order of priority)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 July 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Celtic, because my first footballing love Inverness Thistle are no more, and I quite fancied Charlie Nicholas as a kid. I have grown to love them on a much deeper level as I have got older.

The Scotland national team of whatever they sport they are playing, becauseI am Scottish. I properly follow the football team, used to follow the rugby a lot more than I do now, and like to see us winning at anything.

Andre Agassi, because he's entertaining and has a far more admiration-worthy all-round game than a lot of other players. He is the antithesis of all tennis players I hate.

Most Scottish competitors in any sport (exceptions being Stephen Hendry, David Coulthard and Colin Montgomerie, just because I don't like them)

Jimmy White. He is da man.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I root for whoever will make the game more interesting if they started doing good.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not a true nzer. But I do kind of like the netball team. They are so home-towny. And I like the soccer teams and the softball teams and the basketball teams, and all those other still more obscure ones because they struggle against overwhelming odds and DONT PLAY RUGBY.

― isadora (isadora), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Celtic, because my first footballing love Inverness Thistle are no more, and I quite fancied Charlie Nicholas as a kid. I have grown to love them on a much deeper level as I have got older.

I realise there's a bit of a time difference between me starting to support Celtic and the final demise of ITFC, but I like to justify not supporting my home-town team.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Usually the loser. I am the kiss of death. Mwah.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Football: Celtic (my only *love*).
NBA: Seattle Supersonics (last time I watched this though The Glove (Gary Payton?) was in ascendancy and this team were amazing (96-97?)).
NFL: Dallas Cowboys.
Serie A: Roma.
Premiership: Liverpool (solely because of the greatest passer in the English language: Gerrard).
Films: Tom Cruise (go team!)
Snooker: Stephen Hendry (best. player. ever!)
Tennis: Henman and Hantuchova.
Rugby: haha rugby indeed.

― Cozen (Cozen), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Chicago White Sox, Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, Venus, Tiger.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

*laughs*

This will be the Most Obvious Post Ever, but I'm big into following the NBA's activities and my # 1 team is the San Antonio Spurs. Last time I followed the NFL my team was the 49ers, I've never followed baseball, I root for Venus and Tiger, same as many people I'm sure, and I'm not sure which "proper football" team to support aside from England in the global scheme of things. Oh, and I think Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are two of the greatest boxers to come along in the last 15 years in terms of the overall picture.

― Innocent Dreamer (Dee the Lurker), Monday, 7 July 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooooh, golf, forgot that. Jesper Parnevik all the way.

― Cozen (Cozen), Monday, 7 July 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

MLB - Red Sox, Orioles, Giants
NFL - 49ers (of the Joe Montana is Allah school)
NBA - Mavericks, Celtics, Warriors

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 7 July 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, as far as my lesser affections --

MLB -- Chicago Cubs, Cincinnatti Reds, Montreal Expos. And I've promised the girlfriend to side with the Mariners any time they're not playing with the Red Sox or competing for the same wildcard slot or something.
NFL -- New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots
MLS -- Chicago Fire, New England Revolution
NBA -- New Orleans Hornets, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
Tennis -- Serena Williams, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Lindsay Davenport, in that order. The last time I followed men's tennis regularly, Mighty Mac was still playing.

But those are just sports. Fenway is a state of mind, man.

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 7 July 2003 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I root for:
Baseball:
Dodgers
Braves

Hockey:
L.A. Kings (yes, stil)

Hate basketball, hate football.

― Orbit (Orbit), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

the oakland raiders and the los angeles lakers. karl malone and gary payton in the purple and gold alongside shaq and kobe is almost too beautiful to think about. let us all hope that it is god's will.

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Australian Football League (AFL) - the toughest football code in the world. a full contact sport, played on oval shaped grounds this is THE winter sport in oz.

i root for the Hawthorn Football Club, the mighty, fighting Hawks.

i've lived in hawthorn all my life and as a child of the 80s it seemed natural to support one's suburb and one of the dominant teams in the competition. a powerhouse side of the late 70s and throughout the 80s, it has now been fourteen years since the premiership cup was held aloft to the masses at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

leigh matthews was the most explosive player in league. he happened to captain the hawks. barrel chested and fearless, he would regularly flatten blokes with his ferocious attack on the ball. his nickname was 'lethal' and became a hero to kids like myself. infact the hawks had many great players during the 80s - Langford, Brereton, Platten, Tuck, Dunstall, Dipper, Ayers. but like all great teams, retirements and old age eventually take their toll. the club has been through a protracted period of replenishing its list with young blood. i root for the days of yore but hope the Hawks of 2003 can emulate the feats of teams i grew up with.

― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

no offense but AFL can chew me on the blue. punt road is just horrible on winter weekend days

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

they know who randall cunningham is in the UK? or is there also a british randall cunningham?

MLB: yankees, phillies, dodgers. more the phillies these days 'cause i'm sick of the yankees and i'm reverting to my youth anyway.
NFL: jets, giants.
NBA: rooted for the sixers when i was a kid (dr. j! moses!) started rooting for the knicks when they got good (i.e., they got ewing and oakley). go back and forth b/w the knicks and the sixers these days, 'cause both kinda suck.
NHL: islanders, flyers.

foreigners don't play sports -- so i have no favorite footie/rugby/australian-rules-anything team!

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 05:16 (twenty-two years ago)

*chuckles*

you barrack for Richmond, don't you jim!

― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 05:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Man, I love Australian football!! I wish they showed it in the States more.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 05:37 (twenty-two years ago)

this is why the 1980 phillies were the greatest baseball team EVAH:

http://members.aol.com/densekelly/tm/lumpy.jpg

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 05:41 (twenty-two years ago)

THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS!

Consistent disappointment is comforting in its own way.

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, don't forget Mike Schmidt, Tad (okay, the photo just loaded, he would be the second-best reason ... unless I'm spacing cause it's morning, and he wasn't with the '80 Phillies.) Frickin catch-and-release when he was running in from the other side of the infield ..

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

The Toronto Maple Leafs! Though I might be tempted back into supporting the Detroit Red Wings since they finally had the good sense to ditch the Kournikova-loving Russian prima donna.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

MLB: Red Sox, who else is there. I lied, my backup is the Cards.
Hockey: Bruins
Basketball: Could care less now that the Basketball Messiah has retired, but it has always been the Celtics.
Football: Could also care less, I've always liked the Bears.
Golf: Tiger Woods

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Football: AFC Wimbledon (my main love), Torquay United, Charlton Athletic, Dundee, Venezia, Bologna, Italy
Rugby: Italy
Motor Racing: Ferrari & Minardi (can you see a pattern yet?)
Cycling: that Millar chap
Baseball: Cincinatti Reds
Cricket: Sussex, England

― Mark C (Mark C), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

For you Jim:

We are from Tigerland
An 80s throwback we're from Tigerland
Befote each season we will spout the same old rot
'Bout how we're so crash hot
They bounce the ball, we do stuff all
Another coach gets shot
O we're from Tigerland
We're still fighting all the battles
We lost twenty years ago
And when we control our own fate
We're at our most second rate
O we're from Tiger...(Bring Hafey back!)
We're from Ti-ger-land...

GO BLUES!

(Everybody beats Carlton these days.)

(Except Richmond.)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

*gufaws*

Nerk you are a funny and ruthless armchair critic!

― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

**guffaws** ?

― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 13:21 (twenty-two years ago)

ITFC otherwise know as Ipswich Town Football Club.
Whoop Whoop

― maddylonglegs, Tuesday, 8 July 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Spurs, obviously - I am malleable/neutral/completely disinterested otherwise, depending on the sport in question.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Football:

England - AFC Wimbledon. Because I fell in love with them.
Scotland - Celtic and Clydebank (back in the junior leagues - YAY!)
Wales - Have a soft spot for Port Talbot as I once went to a fans' meeting there (insert joke about size of crowd at meeting as appropriate).

France - RC Lens - cos they have a ground that's tight on the pitch, and the ground capacity is 3000 more than the town population. No rugger bollocks there - hotbed of football innt.

Germany - St Pauli. For all the usual reasons.

Czech Republic - Vittoria Zizkhov - cos they vote Commie still in Zizkhov, and they also beat the huns in the UEFA Cup this year. Arf!

Italy - never been able to pick this. Flirted with Roma for usual reasons, but never could get into it. Liked Bologna for a bit, but settled on Chievo Verona cos they are little and punch above their weight.

US Football: Miami, cos I went there as a kid. One day they will win the Superbowl.

Cricket: Lancashire, cos I'm from there. one day they will win the County Championship.

Baseball: Seattle, cos I've always had a weird fascination with it - I heard it rained a lot which sounded nice, like Manchester. Toronto too. But I'm a fan of baseball, not a baseball fan.

Formula One - is not a sport, but I do like Schumacher (M) as he's so bloody good, and to that I tip my hat.

Tennis - anyone who does not grunt and has a varied game and returns well.

Golf - Death to them all. Peter Alliss especially.

Rugby Union - Ditto

Rugby League - Life imprisonment to them all. Unless they recant and return to the fold of football like good northerners.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 8 July 2003 13:45 (twenty-two years ago)

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