My allegiance is wavering

[Tenbatsuzen]

I became a Jets fan in the 90s. My father was never a big sports fan, so we didn't grow up with a lot of pre-set allegiances in the house. In trying to get a different identity than my brother, I started cheering for the Jets.

In retrospect, that may have been the biggest mistake of my life.

I've been with this team through thick and thin for a pretty good portion of my life, but part of me doesn't see a light at the end of this tunnel, and I really don't want to bring my child into this world being a Jets fan. It's just really horrific.

It's just that this team seems to find new and inventively heartbreaking ways to lose games. And I KNOW I said at the beginning of this season if they were 7-9 I'd take it... but this team just looks DEFEATED.

Now, it's not like I'm going to go out and burn all my Jets stuff, but it's just awful. A disaster.

What can we look forward too?

Well, I'm guessing that Leon Washington may be done with this team. He wanted to sign a contract with the Jets to avoid EXACTLY what happened to him.

The O-line will be another year older next year - with less protection for Sanchez.

We've got a dumb QB who fucking throws at Dustin Keller non-stop instead of spreading it around.

The D loses Kris Jenkins and fucking falls apart.

Am I gonna pull a Gvac? Hell no. Because I know that the current state of the Bengas must be maddening to him, and I would probably become the most miserable person on the planet if I stopped cheering for the Jets and they turned it around.

[Death Metal Moe]

Fuck it, jump ship. Who fucking cares? Where does it say you have to like 1 team forever or even one near your home? If you move do you still cheer for the team you grew up near or the new area team?

Who are the asshats who make up these rules and who are the asshats who follow them?

It's a form of entertainment, and as far as I'm concerned it's "What have you done for me lately" with my entertainment.

Pick up a Superbowl Champ hat from whoever wins this year and ride the bandwagon until you're tired of it, then switch again. Fuck it all.

[PapaBear]

But imagine what it would be like for someone who bailed on their team (I'll randomly say Cincinnati), and two years later, that team is really good. That person may end up so upset, he might spend his days bitching about foods that he doesn't like and women he doesn't think are hot.

[Death Metal Moe]

Just go back, no one will care. Trust me.

[Tenbatsuzen]

But imagine what it would be like for someone who bailed on their team (I'll randomly say Cincinnati), and two years later, that team is really good. That person may end up so upset, he might spend his days bitching about foods that he doesn't like and women he doesn't think are hot.

That theoretical person was theoretically doing that WHILE still a fan of the Bengals

[Tenbatsuzen]

Trust me.

http://lightsideoflife.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/car-flying-off-cliff.jpg

[TripleSkeet]

Heartbreak is part of being a fan. It makes it all the more worthwhile when they finally do win it.

Personally, I never understood people that just picked a random team thats nowhere where they live or grew up, just to root for them. Wheres the reward? Watching your team win a title while sitting there rooting them on by yourself? Followed by watching a million people enjoy a championship parade on tv? It just seems stupid.

Growing up in Philly our teams usually dont lose, they find ways to heartbreakingly lose. But last year when the Phillies won that World Series? Man nothing was sweeter then dancing with my daughter on Broad St. at 11pm of her 1st Birthday. Having my wife and friends all around us and letting my kid sip champaign as thousands of people just danced, drank, sang, hugged, laughed and cried. It was beautiful.

The parade a few days later was the same way.

All those years where the Flyers, Phillies, and Eagles broke our hearts made that title just soooo much sweeter. Because we just appreciated it so much more.

[GregoryJoseph]

I'll tell you what - I've found football to be a lot less fun since I had a real rooting interest.

I always thought I loved the sport and would enjoy it no matter what, but since I gave up on the Bengals a few years ago I lost my passion for the game.

It's a good thing, I think.

One less thing to stress about.

[JPMNICK]

I have pretty much given up on football all together as a sport. the last 2 seasons, I have just not cared. The Giants, who I route for, are still decent, but I just can't get into the season. I think it is because I like to do shit on sundays, and staying home to watch the games is annoying to me. if I am at a bar and it is on, I will def watch. But in terms of making sure I am home all the time for it, never happens.

baseball is a different story, for some reason it seems to fit into my life schedule much better.

[thepaulo]

When you're a Jet,
You're a Jet all the way
From your first cigarette
To your last dyin' day.

When you're a Jet,
If the spit hits the fan,
You got brothers around,
You're a family man!

You're never alone,
You're never disconnected!
You're home with your own:
When company's expected,
You're well protected!

Then you are set
With a capital J,
Which you'll never forget
Till they cart you away.
When you're a Jet,
You stay a Jet!

[foodcourtdruide]

For baseball I'm a diehard Mets fan and for Football I basically like whatever team I think is good. Right now, I'm on a Colts kick. I can honestly tell you that I enjoy rooting for football more than I enjoy rooting for baseball. As Moe said, who makes the rulesl about fandom? It all makes no sense and is a little childish to be honest.

"I like a team more than you!!!" What does that even mean?

[El Mudo]

I have pretty much given up on football all together as a sport. the last 2 seasons, I have just not cared. The Giants, who I route for, are still decent, but I just can't get into the season. I think it is because I like to do shit on sundays, and staying home to watch the games is annoying to me. if I am at a bar and it is on, I will def watch. But in terms of making sure I am home all the time for it, never happens.

baseball is a different story, for some reason it seems to fit into my life schedule much better.


Agreed. The only reason I keep up with it is for my fantasy football. Other than that, can't be bothered with it. I'd rather watch college fb.

[Death Metal Moe]

For baseball I'm a diehard Mets fan and for Football I basically like whatever team I think is good. Right now, I'm on a Colts kick. I can honestly tell you that I enjoy rooting for football more than I enjoy rooting for baseball. As Moe said, who makes the rulesl about fandom? It all makes no sense and is a little childish to be honest.

"I like a team more than you!!!" What does that even mean?

I'm glad someone else said it too. I wasn't just shitting on sports because I'm not a fan, I was trying to leave an honest post.

It's the fans who keep going to the parks and keep buying their team's merch even when they suck that keep mediocre teams going. If the attendance and money starts going down the tubes they will be forced to do SOMETHING.

And honestly, who is anyone to look at you and tell you you're not "as much of a fan as me" for whatever list of reasons? Those are people you don't want to talk to anymore. Fuck them.

[Snoogans]

Take it from the KNICKS fan. Anyone who jumps ship off their team is a fuckin pussy. Thats your team, be a man and stick with it

[Aggie]

Heartbreak is part of being a fan. It makes it all the more worthwhile when they finally do win it.

Personally, I never understood people that just picked a random team thats nowhere where they live or grew up, just to root for them. Wheres the reward? Watching your team win a title while sitting there rooting them on by yourself? Followed by watching a million people enjoy a championship parade on tv? It just seems stupid.

Growing up in Philly our teams usually dont lose, they find ways to heartbreakingly lose. But last year when the Phillies won that World Series? Man nothing was sweeter then dancing with my daughter on Broad St. at 11pm of her 1st Birthday. Having my wife and friends all around us and letting my kid sip champaign as thousands of people just danced, drank, sang, hugged, laughed and cried. It was beautiful.

The parade a few days later was the same way.

All those years where the Flyers, Phillies, and Eagles broke our hearts made that title just soooo much sweeter. Because we just appreciated it so much more.

wait...you let your ONE year old sip chamagne? what the hell?


and matty, don't abandon ship. that's not right. and even though i'm a yankee fan i'm gonna say that 27 championships is enough to make up for lack of championships in other sports. at least one of your teams is great.

[Snoogans]

I also love how matty is about to jump ship during a rebuilding year with a rookie QB where the team is still around 500 and competes in every game. Its not like you didnt know this would happen. After they won a couple games, did you REALLY think they were just gonna cruise through the year with a rookie QB?

Lions, Rams, Bucs, Raiders and a few other fans have it way worse then you.

[Hottub]

A real fan will take a beating by those savages in Philly to support his team.

[Snoogans]

A real fan will take a beating by those savages in Philly to support his team.

goddamn right

Here is a main point, this is more for Moe and other people who arent really sports fans persay.

No one, for the most part, picks their teams. We didnt look at a list of teams as kids and choose one. usually something brings you into the team, family, friends, some major event when you are younger that makes you love that team. Thats why you shouldnt change. Cause you, esentially, fell for that team. Fantasy games are slowly changing that, especially for younger people, but for anyone who really loved their team, you cant change.

I love the knicks, I always have, and I cant even think about rooting for someone else

[underdog]

I also love how matty is about to jump ship during a rebuilding year with a rookie QB where the team is still around 500 and competes in every game. Its not like you didnt know this would happen. After they won a couple games, did you REALLY think they were just gonna cruise through the year with a rookie QB?

Lions, Rams, Bucs, Raiders and a few other fans have it way worse then you.

He really misses Mangina.

[Snoogans]

He really misses Mangina.

who doesnt. Mangenious baby

[TripleSkeet]

wait...you let your ONE year old sip chamagne? what the hell?


It was her 1st birthday and the Phillies had just won the World Series. Youre damn right I did. It was just a mouthful anyway.

For baseball I'm a diehard Mets fan and for Football I basically like whatever team I think is good.

That just seems so ridiculous to me.

[foodcourtdruide]

It was her 1st birthday and the Phillies had just won the World Series. Youre damn right I did. It was just a mouthful anyway.



That just seems so ridiculous to me.

Feeling sad about how well a group of strangers played football against another group of strangers isn't ridiculous? I do the same thing with baseball and I really hate it.

[Don Stugots]

I became a Jets fan in the 90s. My father was never a big sports fan, so we didn't grow up with a lot of pre-set allegiances in the house. In trying to get a different identity than my brother, I started cheering for the Jets.

In retrospect, that may have been the biggest mistake of my life.


the biggest mistake of your life? really?

[TripleSkeet]

Feeling sad about how well a group of strangers played football against another group of strangers isn't ridiculous? I do the same thing with baseball and I really hate it.

Its a pride thing.

[Death Metal Moe]

goddamn right

Here is a main point, this is more for Moe and other people who arent really sports fans persay.

No one, for the most part, picks their teams. We didnt look at a list of teams as kids and choose one. usually something brings you into the team, family, friends, some major event when you are younger that makes you love that team. Thats why you shouldnt change. Cause you, esentially, fell for that team. Fantasy games are slowly changing that, especially for younger people, but for anyone who really loved their team, you cant change.

I love the knicks, I always have, and I cant even think about rooting for someone else

I can understand that. But let's be honest, we're all 25-30+ in here. The teams you might have fallen in love with as a kid have been sold, resold, expanded, re-named and might look nothing like they did when you were a kid. And I don't mean the obvious players because they don't have a long shelf life. I mean the organization, the people making decisions, the whole attitude.

So essentially you are just fans of a brand? I guess that's the part I don't get. If you mean being a fan is like a friendship or relationship where you don't give up on it just because it's not all sunny days, I completely understand that. I guess I just don't understand the more personal feelings attached to being a sports fan because I could never see myself caring about an organization like I do a person.

[Death Metal Moe]

Its a pride thing.

Pride in what? The actions of a huge group you have exactly zero control over? Be proud of yourself and the things around you that you can influence.

One injury could set your local team back for the entire year, and who's fault is that really? No one's fault. But you get people who's entire football year is ruined due to a roll of the dice. I just don't understand that.

[Snoogans]

Pride in what? The actions of a huge group you have exactly zero control over? Be proud of yourself and the things around you that you can influence.

One injury could set your local team back for the entire year, and who's fault is that really? No one's fault. But you get people who's entire football year is ruined due to a roll of the dice. I just don't understand that.

cause you are, admittedly, not really a sports fan. and there is alot more to it than that. Especially in football, every team has injuries.

[Death Metal Moe]

OK, well I don't want to divert Matty's thread anymore so I'll just leave my comments at that and let him decide.

Sounds like most think it's a bad thing to leave your team Matty.

[Freitag]

As I said in the first post, I'm not leaving the Jets. I was just annoyed with how the game ended yesterday.

And even though the team has a rookie QB, the defense isn't a rookie and should have withheld that last drive.

[El Mudo]

Pride in what? The actions of a huge group you have exactly zero control over? Be proud of yourself and the things around you that you can influence.

One injury could set your local team back for the entire year, and who's fault is that really? No one's fault. But you get people who's entire football year is ruined due to a roll of the dice. I just don't understand that.


I think you're over-thinking the whole issue.

A lot of it goes into things like municipal pride and pride in your alma mater. It makes me happy to see teams from my City and my university do well, because I love my City, and I love my university. Its that simple.

When you think of it literally, yeah, it does seem kinda strange/stupid. But when your team is rolling, and doing well, and you can get caught up in that energy and feel like a part of it, its a feeling I can't really describe. How many other things in life can have you completely on the edge of your seat one second, and then have you running around like a maniac or completely crushed the next?

[TheMojoPin]

Pride in what? The actions of a huge group you have exactly zero control over? Be proud of yourself and the things around you that you can influence.

It's like pride in "your" school or city or state or country. It's just an extension of who you are, and with sports teams it's typically due to something you grew up with. All of my teams I grew up a fan of thanks to my dad (and to a lesser degree my om). I didn't know any other team, so to me the idea of rooting for anyone else as a fan just seems impossible. My love for my teams is reflective of my memories and relationship with my parents and my brother. It's also something I latched on to since I didn't grow up in Chicago but I grew up always thinking of it as home since that's where I was born and that's where most of my family lived. Moving as much as I did, rooting for those teams gave me more of a sense of having a hometown or a sense of a place where I was from. Obviously, this isn't the case for all fans, but hopefully it's an example of why sports teams and being fans of them often does mean so much more than "just sports" to so many people.

[El Mudo]

It's like pride in "your" school or city or state or country. It's just an extension of who you are, and with sports teams it's typically due to something you grew up with. All of my teams I grew up a fan of thanks to my dad (and to a lesser degree my om). I didn't know any other team, so to me the idea of rooting for anyone else as a fan just seems impossible. My love for my teams is reflective of my memories and relationship with my parents and my brother. It's also something I latched on to since I didn't grow up in Chicago but I grew up always thinking of it as home since that's where I was born and that's where most of my family lived. Moving as much as I did, rooting for those teams gave me more of a sense of having a hometown or a sense of a place where I was from. Obviously, this isn't the case for all fans, but hopefully it's an example of why sports teams and being fans of them often does mean so much more than "just sports" to so many people.

Ronnie B said last year when the Phillies won the world series, that the times when he and his dad weren't getting along, they always had something to talk about because of baseball. Same thing with my dad and I. There's just so much of me connected emotionally to the Caps because they represent my youth. Its great times we had together at the Cap Centre and at the Booth, and because I don't get to see him much more, I treasure those times we spent together and the two or three games we go to a year that much more.

Its not really easy to say "I love you" to your Dad, but you can talk about that stuff through sports. One of the best things they ever did on Rescue Me was when Tommy called up his dad, and they had the subtitles for what they were "really" saying over their banter about sports.

[Mitch&Murray]

I became a Jets fan in the 90s. My father was never a big sports fan, so we didn't grow up with a lot of pre-set allegiances in the house. In trying to get a different identity than my brother, I started cheering for the Jets.

In retrospect, that may have been the biggest mistake of my life.

I've been with this team through thick and thin for a pretty good portion of my life, but part of me doesn't see a light at the end of this tunnel, and I really don't want to bring my child into this world being a Jets fan. It's just really horrific.

It's just that this team seems to find new and inventively heartbreaking ways to lose games. And I KNOW I said at the beginning of this season if they were 7-9 I'd take it... but this team just looks DEFEATED.

Now, it's not like I'm going to go out and burn all my Jets stuff, but it's just awful. A disaster.

What can we look forward too?

Well, I'm guessing that Leon Washington may be done with this team. He wanted to sign a contract with the Jets to avoid EXACTLY what happened to him.

The O-line will be another year older next year - with less protection for Sanchez.

We've got a dumb QB who fucking throws at Dustin Keller non-stop instead of spreading it around.

The D loses Kris Jenkins and fucking falls apart.

Am I gonna pull a Gvac? Hell no. Because I know that the current state of the Bengas must be maddening to him, and I would probably become the most miserable person on the planet if I stopped cheering for the Jets and they turned it around.

No you do not abandon the New York Jets.

http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/8/832/5QEY000Z/joe-namath--on-sidelines.jpg
nuf ced

[foodcourtdruide]

It's like pride in "your" school or city or state or country. It's just an extension of who you are, and with sports teams it's typically due to something you grew up with. All of my teams I grew up a fan of thanks to my dad (and to a lesser degree my om). I didn't know any other team, so to me the idea of rooting for anyone else as a fan just seems impossible. My love for my teams is reflective of my memories and relationship with my parents and my brother. It's also something I latched on to since I didn't grow up in Chicago but I grew up always thinking of it as home since that's where I was born and that's where most of my family lived. Moving as much as I did, rooting for those teams gave me more of a sense of having a hometown or a sense of a place where I was from. Obviously, this isn't the case for all fans, but hopefully it's an example of why sports teams and being fans of them often does mean so much more than "just sports" to so many people.

That's great as your personal experience, but my experience wasn't like that at all. So why do I have to be judged for not having more of an allegiance to a sports brand (calling it a brand is really brilliant Moe) than someone else?

[Snoogans]

No you do not abandon the New York Jets.

http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/8/832/5QEY000Z/joe-namath--on-sidelines.jpg
nuf ced

posting the biggest sham of a hall of famer in the history of sports isnt gonna help him feel better

[Mitch&Murray]

posting the biggest sham of a hall of famer in the history of sports isnt gonna help him feel better

Who said anything about making him feel better you lummox?
He states that his allegiance to the Jets is wavering. I posted one of few reasons that a person would stay loyal to the Jets.
Stick to what you know something about Hempy

[Snoogans]

Who said anything about making him feel better you lummox?
He states that his allegiance to the Jets is wavering. I posted one of few reasons that a person would stay loyal to the Jets.
Stick to what you know something about Hempy

i got what you were doin asshat, i was taking a shot at namath calling him garbage. Reread it

[Zipgun]

If you go, do the rest of us a solid and take Opie with you. I'd like to see a winning season and that jinxed motherfucker is in the way.

[Death Metal Moe]

That's great as your personal experience, but my experience wasn't like that at all. So why do I have to be judged for not having more of an allegiance to a sports brand (calling it a brand is really brilliant Moe) than someone else?

Eh, this could go on forever. I'm content to just let them have their sports at this point in my life. No one has ever really bothered me about not being a fan of any teams in a long time so that's about all I ask.

And I can usually put up with the sports talk on Ron and Fez and O&A.

[Death Metal Moe]

Who said anything about making him feel better you lummox?
He states that his allegiance to the Jets is wavering. I posted one of few reasons that a person would stay loyal to the Jets.
Stick to what you know something about Hempy

Are you 70? Who uses lummox anymore?

[boosterp]

I grew up and have always been the guy who supports his hometown teams. The Olers being sold to another city broke my heart, now I have the Texans and have fun watching them play just like the Astros. It breaks my heart when the Astros have a season like they just did but that did not stop me from attending games, drinking beer watching them, and talking Astros with my buddy. It was just something I grew up with.

[Mitch&Murray]

Are you 70? Who uses lummox anymore?

You kids get off my lawn

[furie]

What can we look forward too?

the new US Rugby league starts in March.

[weekapaugjz]

Take it from the KNICKS fan. Anyone who jumps ship off their team is a fuckin pussy. Thats your team, be a man and stick with it

exactly.


Lions, Rams, Bucs, Raiders and a few other fans have it way worse then you.

:bye:

i will add that i will probably not follow the nfl if the bills ever leave buffalo. which it's looking like a distinct possibility.

[Tenbatsuzen]

the new US Rugby league starts in March.

Incidentally, I do want to see Invictus.

[epo]

My entire life the Milwaukee Bucks have done nothing but break my heart. From Don Nelson's teams that couldn't get past the Celtics & the 76ers in the 80s to the "Big Three" of Allen, Robinson and Cassell....all this team has done is torture my soul.

The last couple of years they have sucked worse than ever, with bad contracts, injuries and flopped draft picks. But through it all, like true victim, I stay with my Bucks.

And this year I feel like I might eventually get rewarded, as the Bucks took 20-year old point guard Brandon Jennings with the 10th overall pick. Saturday night, as a rookie he dropped 55 on the Warriors at home.

Just an awesome performance, made even more sweet by those years of suffering.

[TheMojoPin]

That's great as your personal experience, but my experience wasn't like that at all. So why do I have to be judged for not having more of an allegiance to a sports brand (calling it a brand is really brilliant Moe) than someone else?

I'm not judging you. You just don't have the same feelings as other people towards their sports teams, so it's not a big deal if you jump around. I think the "judging" is in regard to people who do have those types of histories with their teams and then way down the line decide to jump ship. If you're calling them "brands" you didn't really seem to have any kind of significant attachment to them in the first place (and I'm not meaning that as an insult or anything) outside of basic entertainment.

[TripleSkeet]

That's great as your personal experience, but my experience wasn't like that at all. So why do I have to be judged for not having more of an allegiance to a sports brand (calling it a brand is really brilliant Moe) than someone else?

I think you take it too seriously. When I say something like "thats a violation" Im just messing with you. You can root for whoever you want, it doesnt matter to me. But in my opinion in order to be a true diehard fan of a team, you have to live through the tough times as well as the good. You cant just switch teams every time the team you like is in the shits and consider yourself a real fan of that team. It just makes you a fan of winning.

And Moe, alot of guys have tried to explain it but honestly, if youre just not a sports fan and dont get why people are so into it, youll never really understand it. Its just not something you can explain. Theres nothing wrong with that. Im that way with music. I know alot of R & F fans are huge into music. I just dont get it. I have nothing against music and do have plenty of songs I like. But as far as "feeling" music. Yea, I just dont. To me a song is just a song. I dont even go to concerts much because I find it pointless to pay to go see someone perform a song I can hear on a cd anytime I want.

[RhinoinMN]

This thread has turned into a " you can't bail,l or you can bail". Who cares. This thread is about Tenbats wanting to make a choice. Do it and be done with it. No one cares either way.

[TooLowBrow]

i dont know if i want to be a vikings fan. what if they move the team?

[RhinoinMN]

Ijust don't know

[Ritalin]

Hey, if you didn't leave after the Dan Marino fake spike game then you're never leaving.

[epo]

If you leave, you are no better than a maniac who would leave the Cincinnati Bengals. What kind of animal would do that?