Who are your favorite non-hometown teams?

stevebydac · 09-25-2010, 10:08 PM

Most of us are big fans of teams from where we were born or where we live now. But what teams, if any, are your "backup" teams from outside your home? And why?

Conversely, do you hate one of your hometown teams for some reason?

I'm from MA and now live in RI. My backups are:

KC Chiefs - when I was small I owned a football helmet with a peculiar looking facemask. A Chiefs player was the only NFL player who had one like that, so I became a big Chiefs fan as a child.

Notre Dame football - I'm Irish, and New England has very little FBS football, so the guys in my family have always followed ND.

edm · 09-25-2010, 10:20 PM

Being born in Philly, I can't really say I liked or rooted for any out of town teams. Although, when I was kid I did like the Oakland A's because, at the time, I vaguely knew about their history in Philadelphia.

canadiancreed · 09-25-2010, 10:52 PM

For baseball, my backup team was the Montreal Expos, as they were the only other team in Canada (first was Toronto), and the first pro team that I saw in person. When Montreal left the backup switched to Philadephia.

For hockey it'd have to be the Flyers, mainly because the better half follows that team.

As for local teams that I dislike, back n the day, it would have been the Leafs. Mainly due to following the Habs and loathing the incompetence of Ballard and later, the Ontario Teacher Pension Board. Their zealot-like fans dont' help much either.

EDIT: Forgot some. For the NFL it's the Chicago Bears, even though I've never even been to Illinois much less the city. First NFL game was the one that had Walter Payton break Jim Brown's record, so that probably had something to do with it. The Bills were the defacto NFL team that everyone in my area followed, and had a passing interest until their deal with playing in Toronto. The CFL I'd say the Toronto Argos due to my godmother's hubby being a big fan (the guy had his tv room decked out in argo gear like a shrine. It was crazy!)

Afino · 09-25-2010, 11:02 PM

I hate the Buffalo Bills.

I hate their cheapskate, backwards ass organization.

I hate how I'm stuck with their games on my TV every week because I live in their market.

I hate their delusional fan base.

Does that cover it?

I am a Green Bay Packer fan living in Rochester, NY though. That should cover the initial topic question. And I am a fan (more specifically, a sympathizer) of the St. Louis Blues or sometimes even the Vancouver Canucks in hockey, a lot because neither team has a Cup, much like my Sabres.

ukhotstove · 09-26-2010, 04:32 AM

Anybody who CC follows, the Leafs hating

Goody · 09-26-2010, 04:54 AM

Tigers (but I lived there for a year...but then again I've lived lots of places for a year).

Saints (not a bandwagon jumper...they've been my 2nd favorite football team for over 10 years)

When I was younger, I liked the Red Sox. But now I've become fed up with the AL East and its ridiculousness. I root against them almost as much as the Yankees, just for the sake of the Rays, Blue Jays, and Orioles...and the league in general.

Cryomaniac · 09-26-2010, 07:19 AM

None of my favourite teams are from my hometown.

ukhotstove · 09-26-2010, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

None of my favourite teams are from my hometown.

Neither are mine, although we don't have any baseball, hockey, football (NFL or college), basketball teams be it pro or amateur so not surprising.

Apart from the teams I follow the only team I really have a soft spot for are the Miami Dolphins reason being they were one of just a handful of teams that were shown when the NFL started on TV over here, but I started to follow the Packers because I have family in Wisconsin.

Cryomaniac · 09-26-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

The only team I really have a soft spot for are the Miami Dolphins...

Me too. It's a good job I don't start back at uni till Wednesday since they're playing tonight.

The closest pro team in any sport to me is either Lincoln City or Mansfield Town, but I don't really watch soccer.

ukhotstove · 09-26-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

Me too. It's a good job I don't start back at uni till Wednesday since they're playing tonight.

The closest pro team in any sport to me is either Lincoln City or Mansfield Town, but I don't really watch soccer.

Wigan Athletic are the nearest to me, about 5 miles away and Leigh Centurions RL are around 3 miles away.

Slackker · 09-26-2010, 11:24 AM

I live in Connecticut, the closest I have to a hometown favorite team is the Mets. I jumped on the Mariners bandwagon a bit when I was a teenager in the mid-90's, but it was more of an anti-Yankee thing - and I did like Edgar Martinez. I'd say I have two backup teams - the Twins, due to how amazingly well they run their organization on the (fairly) cheap - and the Royals, simply because I feel sorry for them.

The NFL favorite works the other way around. I'm a Broncos fan, but my backup has always been the local team up in Foxboro. Listening to WFAN so much has brought the Giants into a "Well, I don't like them much but I hope they do alright" category, and my wife likes them.. so I can't completely hate them. I'm just glad she's not a Raiders fan.

I hate the Jets (that's a recent thing) and Yankees.

I don't care much about the NBA, and wouldn't classify myself as a fan of any team. If I had to choose, however, I hope the Celtics always play reasonably well.

I don't watch hockey, either. Despite a Canadian wife.

Having been in CT for 4 years now my wife is a Patriots/Giants fan (in that order) and joins me in my love/hate relationship with the Mets. She's a Canucks fan (from BC) and we do share a hatred for warm weather American hockey teams. That's just silly. She also hates the Jets and Yankees, as well as the Rangers and Kings. And Gretzky.

pfreek11 · 09-26-2010, 12:40 PM

I grew up in Southern California and am a life-long fan of the Angels and Kings. I've always hated the Dodgers and I never really adopted the Ducks because I was already a very solid Kings fan before the Ducks showed up.

I never had a favorite NFL team (there are teams I like and teams I don't), but I am a Browns fan by marriage. For NCAA football, I'm a Notre Dame and Rutgers fan (again by marriage).

Chicagofan76 · 09-26-2010, 06:01 PM

Ok my teams are White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Notre Dame and NIU

teams i despise are the Cubs the reason being is Cubs fans are dislusional when they think the Cubs are better than the Sox, in my lifetime the Sox are approx 32 games better (not counting 2010) since 1901 we are 1 game better (not Counting 2010) they have 2 world series victories we have 3 and we threw 1 just so the other team could win

teams i cheer for outside my favs are few and it has to do more with individual players then the teams themselves.
Baseball - STL Cardinals mostly just because of TLR, Mariners - Ichiro, & any new team that makes the playoffs so this yr rangers, reds, padres.
NFL - i like the steelers because pittsburgh is blue collar like chicago and the bengals just because of the uniform

NBA orl magic i like superman
NHL no one else
and for college sports i like Duke BB for coach K
Illinois and SIU since they r ill teams.

Left-handed Badger · 09-26-2010, 07:13 PM

Well, I guess the Orioles and Braves are traditional de facto hometown teams for me. But, I dont care for either.

I dont care for Notre Dame (despite being Irish). Mainly because they traditionally have been given a break in ranking in football, despite being an independent. I remember they were Top 25 one year in the 1990s, despite being 5-3. And my actual hometown team Virginia Tech was 8-1. And one of the service academies was undefeated. And neither was in the top 25. (and the undefeated service academy, I remember had actually beaten Notre Dame).

That was pre-BCS. And I have to admit whenever I start hating on the BCS. I think about that year, and I stop complaining somewhat.

Left-handed Badger · 09-26-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

Ok my teams are White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Notre Dame and NIU

teams i despise are the Cubs the reason being is Cubs fans are dislusional when they think the Cubs are better than the Sox, in my lifetime the Sox are approx 32 games better (not counting 2010) since 1901 we are 1 game better (not Counting 2010) they have 2 world series victories we have 3 and we threw 1 just so the other team could win

teams i cheer for outside my favs are few and it has to do more with individual players then the teams themselves.
Baseball - STL Cardinals mostly just because of TLR, Mariners - Ichiro, & any new team that makes the playoffs so this yr rangers, reds, padres.
NFL - i like the steelers because pittsburgh is blue collar like chicago and the bengals just because of the uniform

NBA orl magic i like superman
NHL no one else
and for college sports i like Duke BB for coach K
Illinois and SIU since they r ill teams.

Well, between the White Sox and Cubs. Neither one has exactly been around in October all that much.

Course, the White Sox did beat the Cubs the only time they were in the WS together. Of course, only a handful of people in the entire world who were alive back then, are still alive today. ANd they almost certainly were too young to know.

Left-handed Badger · 09-26-2010, 07:27 PM

When I was a kid I liked the Houston Oilers (I liked the uniform colors). An (severely) aging Elvin Bethea was my favorite player. I had to turn to my backup team (the Cards) when the Oilers moved in the mid90s. I would have gone back when Houston had an expansion team if they had named them the Oilers. But, they had to go with the stupid Texans name. Which, I personally find the dumbest nickname in the big 3 sports (I live too far South to understand that thar hockey) with the possible exception of the Nationals in baseball (which wouldnt be so bad except they are in the National League, just seems silly given the league, but anyway...).

Note: I guess Texan wouldnt be so bad, if they were the only NFL team in Texas, though.

mirrf · 09-27-2010, 01:36 PM

I was born and raised in the bay area and my favorite Football team is the Redskins. For the past 20ish years I've had nothing much to cheer about.

CommishJoe · 09-27-2010, 01:48 PM

I grew up in NY liking the Yankees, Giants, Knicks and Islanders (although I only followed baseball closely). When the Giants left NY, I decided to find another team (no, NJ is NOT NY). I debated between the Steelers and the Cowboys, but Landry sold me. He was a real class act. Of course, Jonesy moved in and made it to where I was the fan of the 2 most hated teams in professional sports, but ah well

Here's my list of favorite and secondary teams:

Baseball:
Favorite -- Yankees
Second -- Twins

I live close to Minneapolis and married a woman who's family are Twins fans. So, I'll root for the Twins whenever they aren't playing the Yankees. My step-sons refuse to watch Yankees vs Twins though because they all hate the Yankees

Football:
Favorite -- Cowboys
Second -- Vikings

I host my family every Sunday for the Vikings games so they have kinda grown on me. I think Childress is an idiot and they win despite of him, but that's another story

Basketball/Hockey -- I don't follow closely enough to really have a favorite or a secondary. I'll look in the papers to see if either the Knicks or Islanders have climbed out of the basement yet, but I figure they'll both be awful for the rest of my life.

CONN CHRIS · 09-27-2010, 01:52 PM

I grew up in Red Sox and Yankee country (Connecticut) with a Yankee fan as a father and two Red Sox-rooting grandfathers.

When I was 'coming of age' in a baseball sense, the Yankees weren't very good and Billy Martin had just been hired as the Detroit manager. Dad loved Martin from his days as a Yankee player and talked about him and Detroit all summer long - I became a life-long Tigers fan in the process.

Talk about unintended consequences!

dudeosu · 09-27-2010, 02:35 PM

Cincinnati native and I've had a soft spot for the A's for a while. Also, kinda like the Colts, but mostly because they are fun to watch.

09-25-2010, 10:08 PM	#1
stevebydac All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In a fictional baseball world Posts: 843	Who are your favorite non-hometown teams? Most of us are big fans of teams from where we were born or where we live now. But what teams, if any, are your "backup" teams from outside your home? And why? Conversely, do you hate one of your hometown teams for some reason? I'm from MA and now live in RI. My backups are: KC Chiefs - when I was small I owned a football helmet with a peculiar looking facemask. A Chiefs player was the only NFL player who had one like that, so I became a big Chiefs fan as a child. Notre Dame football - I'm Irish, and New England has very little FBS football, so the guys in my family have always followed ND. __________________ Last edited by stevebydac; 09-25-2010 at 10:09 PM.

09-25-2010, 10:52 PM	#3
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660	For baseball, my backup team was the Montreal Expos, as they were the only other team in Canada (first was Toronto), and the first pro team that I saw in person. When Montreal left the backup switched to Philadephia. For hockey it'd have to be the Flyers, mainly because the better half follows that team. As for local teams that I dislike, back n the day, it would have been the Leafs. Mainly due to following the Habs and loathing the incompetence of Ballard and later, the Ontario Teacher Pension Board. Their zealot-like fans dont' help much either. EDIT: Forgot some. For the NFL it's the Chicago Bears, even though I've never even been to Illinois much less the city. First NFL game was the one that had Walter Payton break Jim Brown's record, so that probably had something to do with it. The Bills were the defacto NFL team that everyone in my area followed, and had a passing interest until their deal with playing in Toronto. The CFL I'd say the Toronto Argos due to my godmother's hubby being a big fan (the guy had his tv room decked out in argo gear like a shrine. It was crazy!) __________________ PT21 PT22 Last edited by canadiancreed; 09-26-2010 at 09:51 AM.

09-25-2010, 11:02 PM	#4
Afino Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,827	I hate the Buffalo Bills. I hate their cheapskate, backwards ass organization. I hate how I'm stuck with their games on my TV every week because I live in their market. I hate their delusional fan base. Does that cover it? I am a Green Bay Packer fan living in Rochester, NY though. That should cover the initial topic question. And I am a fan (more specifically, a sympathizer) of the St. Louis Blues or sometimes even the Vancouver Canucks in hockey, a lot because neither team has a Cup, much like my Sabres. __________________ GUBA: Moscow Enforcers Last edited by Afino; 09-25-2010 at 11:03 PM.

09-26-2010, 04:32 AM	#5
ukhotstove Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of England Gods Country Posts: 7,175	Anybody who CC follows, the Leafs hating __________________ Detroit Diesel Dynasty San Antonio Calzones of Laredo Dynasty

09-26-2010, 07:19 AM	#7
Cryomaniac Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hucknall, Notts, UK Posts: 4,902	None of my favourite teams are from my hometown. __________________

09-25-2010, 10:20 PM	#2
edm Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,001	Being born in Philly, I can't really say I liked or rooted for any out of town teams. Although, when I was kid I did like the Oakland A's because, at the time, I vaguely knew about their history in Philadelphia.

09-26-2010, 04:54 AM	#6
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Tigers (but I lived there for a year...but then again I've lived lots of places for a year). Saints (not a bandwagon jumper...they've been my 2nd favorite football team for over 10 years) When I was younger, I liked the Red Sox. But now I've become fed up with the AL East and its ridiculousness. I root against them almost as much as the Yankees, just for the sake of the Rays, Blue Jays, and Orioles...and the league in general.

09-26-2010, 11:24 AM	#11
Slackker All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 777	I live in Connecticut, the closest I have to a hometown favorite team is the Mets. I jumped on the Mariners bandwagon a bit when I was a teenager in the mid-90's, but it was more of an anti-Yankee thing - and I did like Edgar Martinez. I'd say I have two backup teams - the Twins, due to how amazingly well they run their organization on the (fairly) cheap - and the Royals, simply because I feel sorry for them. The NFL favorite works the other way around. I'm a Broncos fan, but my backup has always been the local team up in Foxboro. Listening to WFAN so much has brought the Giants into a "Well, I don't like them much but I hope they do alright" category, and my wife likes them.. so I can't completely hate them. I'm just glad she's not a Raiders fan. I hate the Jets (that's a recent thing) and Yankees. I don't care much about the NBA, and wouldn't classify myself as a fan of any team. If I had to choose, however, I hope the Celtics always play reasonably well. I don't watch hockey, either. Despite a Canadian wife. Having been in CT for 4 years now my wife is a Patriots/Giants fan (in that order) and joins me in my love/hate relationship with the Mets. She's a Canucks fan (from BC) and we do share a hatred for warm weather American hockey teams. That's just silly. She also hates the Jets and Yankees, as well as the Rangers and Kings. And Gretzky.

09-26-2010, 06:01 PM	#13
Chicagofan76 Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diamond, IL Posts: 6,339 Infractions: 2/2 (3)	Ok my teams are White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Notre Dame and NIU teams i despise are the Cubs the reason being is Cubs fans are dislusional when they think the Cubs are better than the Sox, in my lifetime the Sox are approx 32 games better (not counting 2010) since 1901 we are 1 game better (not Counting 2010) they have 2 world series victories we have 3 and we threw 1 just so the other team could win teams i cheer for outside my favs are few and it has to do more with individual players then the teams themselves. Baseball - STL Cardinals mostly just because of TLR, Mariners - Ichiro, & any new team that makes the playoffs so this yr rangers, reds, padres. NFL - i like the steelers because pittsburgh is blue collar like chicago and the bengals just because of the uniform NBA orl magic i like superman NHL no one else and for college sports i like Duke BB for coach K Illinois and SIU since they r ill teams.

09-26-2010, 07:13 PM	#14
Left-handed Badger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: at the altar of the baseball god praying for middle infield that can catch the ball Posts: 2,036	Well, I guess the Orioles and Braves are traditional de facto hometown teams for me. But, I dont care for either. I dont care for Notre Dame (despite being Irish). Mainly because they traditionally have been given a break in ranking in football, despite being an independent. I remember they were Top 25 one year in the 1990s, despite being 5-3. And my actual hometown team Virginia Tech was 8-1. And one of the service academies was undefeated. And neither was in the top 25. (and the undefeated service academy, I remember had actually beaten Notre Dame). That was pre-BCS. And I have to admit whenever I start hating on the BCS. I think about that year, and I stop complaining somewhat. __________________ -Left-handed groundball specialist -Strikeouts are for wimps

09-26-2010, 07:27 PM	#16
Left-handed Badger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: at the altar of the baseball god praying for middle infield that can catch the ball Posts: 2,036	When I was a kid I liked the Houston Oilers (I liked the uniform colors). An (severely) aging Elvin Bethea was my favorite player. I had to turn to my backup team (the Cards) when the Oilers moved in the mid90s. I would have gone back when Houston had an expansion team if they had named them the Oilers. But, they had to go with the stupid Texans name. Which, I personally find the dumbest nickname in the big 3 sports (I live too far South to understand that thar hockey) with the possible exception of the Nationals in baseball (which wouldnt be so bad except they are in the National League, just seems silly given the league, but anyway...). Note: I guess Texan wouldnt be so bad, if they were the only NFL team in Texas, though. __________________ -Left-handed groundball specialist -Strikeouts are for wimps

09-27-2010, 01:48 PM	#18
CommishJoe Global Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,238	I grew up in NY liking the Yankees, Giants, Knicks and Islanders (although I only followed baseball closely). When the Giants left NY, I decided to find another team (no, NJ is NOT NY). I debated between the Steelers and the Cowboys, but Landry sold me. He was a real class act. Of course, Jonesy moved in and made it to where I was the fan of the 2 most hated teams in professional sports, but ah well Here's my list of favorite and secondary teams: Baseball: Favorite -- Yankees Second -- Twins I live close to Minneapolis and married a woman who's family are Twins fans. So, I'll root for the Twins whenever they aren't playing the Yankees. My step-sons refuse to watch Yankees vs Twins though because they all hate the Yankees Football: Favorite -- Cowboys Second -- Vikings I host my family every Sunday for the Vikings games so they have kinda grown on me. I think Childress is an idiot and they win despite of him, but that's another story Basketball/Hockey -- I don't follow closely enough to really have a favorite or a secondary. I'll look in the papers to see if either the Knicks or Islanders have climbed out of the basement yet, but I figure they'll both be awful for the rest of my life. __________________ Joe Success isn’t owned. It’s leased. And rent is due every day.

09-27-2010, 01:52 PM	#19
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 29,142	I grew up in Red Sox and Yankee country (Connecticut) with a Yankee fan as a father and two Red Sox-rooting grandfathers. When I was 'coming of age' in a baseball sense, the Yankees weren't very good and Billy Martin had just been hired as the Detroit manager. Dad loved Martin from his days as a Yankee player and talked about him and Detroit all summer long - I became a life-long Tigers fan in the process. Talk about unintended consequences! __________________ Check Out My Cards!

09-27-2010, 02:35 PM	#20
dudeosu Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 373	Cincinnati native and I've had a soft spot for the A's for a while. Also, kinda like the Colts, but mostly because they are fun to watch.