T-Shirt Laker fans

[RobK26]

One thing I'm certain of, my hatred of the Lakers is REAL.

 

[DanteEXT]

No, but have you even been to Dallas? If not...maybe it's time? IDK, you might be 12.

Nope, never been to Dallas. And I'm 37. I just don't travel much.

 

[Temo]

The vast majority of sports is consumed at home on tv now. There is less reason now than ever to be a fan of the local team just because they're local.

 

[Anjinsan]

The vast majority of sports is consumed at home on tv now. There is less reason now than ever to be a fan of the local team just because they're local.

You should be a fan of the local team. If you root for another team because they always win, that's a t-shirt fan.

 

[YosemiteSam]

The vast majority of sports is consumed at home on tv now. There is less reason now than ever to be a fan of the local team just because they're local.

Not true. Most local teams get the most TV coverage in that area. (both games and news) This is why people become attached to those teams. You generally follow those that you know the most about.

 

[Yeagermeister]

You should be a fan of the local team. If you root for another team because they always win, that's a t-shirt fan.

The Titans are the closet NFL team to me but I was a Cowboys fan WAAAAAY before they moved. I'm not changing just because they moved 3 hrs away from me.

 

[NeonNinja]

You should be a fan of the local team. If you root for another team because they always win, that's a t-shirt fan.

I don't agree at all.

I'm in NC atm and I will never change from being a Cowboys fan to a Panthers fan.

Root for the team you like/love.

 

[Stautner]

Not true. Most local teams get the most TV coverage in that area. (both games and news) This is why people become attached to those teams. You generally follow those that you know the most about.

I agree. Obviously there is more nationwide exposure now than in the past. When I was a young kid I remember having to watch the NBA playoffs on a replay after the evenening news. Still, regional pride is still the strongest attraction to a team - the majority of fans are always going to be more attracted to teams that are from an area they are familiar with. And, as you said, TV coverage is focused on reaching a regional audience. For example, I live in Texas but not in the Dallas area. I only ocassionally see the Bulls or Lakers or Heat on a nationally televised game, but I get almost every Mavericks game.

 

[DanteEXT]

I rocked the old Magic converse with pride (wish I still had them), and got a lot a crap about it too. Around here in southern Indiana, it seemed in the 80's everyone was a Celtics fan. Probably had more than a little to do with Larry Bird.

 

[Temo]

Not true. Most local teams get the most TV coverage in that area. (both games and news) This is why people become attached to those teams. You generally follow those that you know the most about.

I don't dispute that most fans in any given area will be fans of the local team. I'm saying there's far less incentive now.

We all have online forums (like this one) where we can discuss our teams, it doesn't have to be only with physical friends anymore. Many people consume sports coverage on the web, where there are no geographic limitations. I see no real reason why anyone should feel obligated to support their local team.

FWIW, I'm a hypocrite on this issue. I'm on this forum because I was a cowboys fan as a kid (front running the early '90s Cowboys, for sure) but I did change to the local team (the Jets, as it were) when I started college, because it was just more fun to root for a team that all my friends follow. This was about 6 years ago. I still watch every Cowboys game and root for them, but follow the Jets far more. So what's that make me? Honestly I feel like a sell out.

Ah well.

 

[CowboyDan]

You should be a fan of the local team. If you root for another team because they always win, that's a t-shirt fan.

Wow

 

[Stautner]

I see no real reason why anyone should feel obligated to support their local team.

Pride in where you live? Being more accessable to catch a game in person? Being able to discuss with co-workers, family and friends the games you catch live or on the nightly broadcast that is available to everyone in your area? Common bond of local people sharing the same interest - knowing personally those that share your interest rather than having to creat internet "relationships" to discuss your team?

Maybe those aren't "obligations", but being a fan of a local team has never been an obligation, it's just been a natural occurrance. Still seems like a natural occurrance to me.

 

[Anjinsan]

Wow

Wow what?

 

[CowboyDan]

Wow what?

You're a fan of America's Team, right?

 

[Anjinsan]

You're a fan of America's Team, right?

Obviously. I live in San Antonio. The Cowboys are the local team.

 

[CowboyDan]

Obviously. I live in San Antonio. The Cowboys are the local team.

So how do you think the Cowboys got the name "America's Team" ? They have fans all over the States, (all over the world actually). Were you trying to insult half of the fans on this board? The local team thing only works for me when you're talking about schools, because most of the players grew up near the area and you might even know them or their families. When you get to the pro level, most of the players on the "local" teams aren't even from the same state as the team, let alone the same area.
On top of that, there's 50 states and only 32 teams, so what do you do if you're from a state that doesn't have a pro team? Can you pick any one you want? or do you have to pick the nearest team? If that's the case, aren't you 1 hour closer to Houston, than Arlington? Don't you have to be a Texan fan instead?? This is why I hate this argument.

 

[Anjinsan]

So how do you think the Cowboys got the name "America's Team" ? They have fans all over the States, (all over the world actually). Were you trying to insult half of the fans on this board? The local team thing only works for me when you're talking about schools, because most of the players grew up near the area and you might even know them or their families. When you get to the pro level, most of the players on the "local" teams aren't even from the same state as the team, let alone the same area.
On top of that, there's 50 states and only 32 teams, so what do you do if you're from a state that doesn't have a pro team? Can you pick any one you want? or do you have to pick the nearest team? If that's the case, aren't you 1 hour closer to Houston, than Arlington? Don't you have to be a Texan fan instead?? This is why I hate this argument.

The term America's Team came from the media. Media's a bunch of idiots. You think the players like that term? I don't think so. As I said, t-shirt fans are those that have a home team, have lived there their whole life but root for another team.

 

[CowboyDan]

The term America's Team came from the media. Media's a bunch of idiots. You think the players like that term? I don't think so. As I said, t-shirt fans are those that have a home team, have lived there their whole life but root for another team.

Way to avoid my questions to you.

 

[MC KAos]

The term America's Team came from the media. Media's a bunch of idiots. You think the players like that term? I don't think so. As I said, t-shirt fans are those that have a home team, have lived there their whole life but root for another team.

i could have sworn america's team was coined by a guy at NFL films, i dont think they count as the media do they?

 

[Stautner]

i could have sworn america's team was coined by a guy at NFL films, i dont think they count as the media do they?

It was from NFL films, which doesn't qualify as "news media".