Sports Fandom

[ZebraRampage]

I almost hit quote, but thought better of it.


I might be a good example for this dilemma. I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and I lived around there for 7 years and then moved to another part of CT for another 5 years. It wasn't until I was 12 that I moved to Pennsylvania, near Philly, which is where I still am today.

Just for the record, I am actually wearing one of my Hartford Whalers shirts, but I can honestly say I never had a chance to go to a game. I was too young really to get into it, and my dad wasn't a Whalers fan, so why would I go? But I did remember them back then and watched a little bit before they were sent to Carolina. Anyway, I just think it's cool that there was actually a professional team in my hometown, since it was smaller.

As you all know I'm a Philadelphia sports fan. This is not because I moved here though. I went to a few Phillies games and a Flyers game before I ever lived here, but the main reason for that is my dad. He grew up in Philly, pretty much in center city. So while we were in CT I would also see him watching Eagles games when they were playing the Giants, Jets, or Patriots, and I would see Phillies games too. I even started going to baseball games at a really young age, my first one being at Wrigley Field to see the Phillies play the Cubs. My mom is from Chicago, so I was also kind of into the Cubs at that time as well.

I do know that I really picked up my interest in Philly sports once I moved here though just because I could watch them more often. I think the main reason for me attaching myself to this city is because of my dad. I probably had many chances to pick my own team since I had Philly from my dad, Chicago from my mom, and New York or Boston near where I grew up, but I went with Philly. It must have a been a father/son connection though. He was a big part in me getting involved in sports, so it was fun to support the same teams.

I guess the reason we choose our own sports team could be for many reasons. Proximity to the place you were born and raised, the team a family member follows, maybe a city you moved to and be came affiliated with, who knows.