Drifter
21 Jan 2006, 05:12 AM
Unless you own a pet elephant or one of those giant turtles
Like everyone else :p
chengb02
21 Jan 2006, 11:44 AM
Let's bounce this one back...
Question to Americans with regards to Andy's eloquent post.
Why do some fans from let's say Chicago or LA, support a Premiership team yet couldn't give a toss about what the Fire or Galaxy do? They would even go to some lengths to heavily support the English team over the American one. Why?
It's very confusing... :confused:
To me, the "quality" argument is a crap argument. The quality of the MLS is lacking in comparison to the EPL, but it offers live matches, and there's nothing like being in the stadium watching the game and cheering.
Arsenal are my team, even more so than the Fire, though I do support and have a season ticket to the Fire. My story has some similarities with the American Arsenal fan who bought the cap and scarf at the flea market. When I was little, my parents were in London and bought me a few things, including an Arsenal scarf and 3 pennants, Arsenal, West Ham, and Liverpool. I don't know why but I just loved the Arsenal logo, the next time they went back, they brought me all different kinds of Arsenal stuff. In the leadup to WC94, I was in my teens and soccer stuff started to be more readily found. I'd regularly purchase 90 Minutes or Shoot, or World Soccer and immediately look up what the Arsenal was doing. Before getting FSC last year, I'd probably seen less than 10 Arsenal games in my life (including 1 at Highbury).
When I'm in Chicago, the Fire's ups and downs effect me more than Arsenal's, but I'm often traveling and therefore can only catch a match summary of Fire results, however with Arsenal, I'm bound to be able to find a pub to watch their matches. With the Fire, I constantly have this fear in the back of my mind thatin 1 year or 5 years or 10 years, they're not going to be there anymore, so its hard to commit, with Arsenal, I know they'll always be there.
Thats a really roundabout explanation, but I hope it helps.
ua322
23 Jan 2006, 12:17 AM
I don't get that.
I will support my home-town not because they are good because they are from my town - they are who I am.
I just don't get people who don't support their home-team and don't help fund and represent where they come from. I've got nothing wrong wiht people who support other teams along with their local club (just like me) - but to negelct your own team in your backyard is just wrong.
Football is becoming less of a personal idenitity and more a fashion statement nowadays.
Criminal. :(
There are three elements of American life that you need to consider:
(1.) Americans move a hell of a lot. There are millions of Americans living hundreds or thousands of miles from where they grew up. The "old neighborhood" probably means less to you if you left at age 18 and never moved back.
(2.) Professional sports teams in the U.S. also move. Living in Missouri, I have tried to follow the Kansas City Wizards (the logical choice for my geographical location) but everyone in KC is fully aware of the fact that the Wizards are probably going to move across the country next year when they go up for sale. It's kinda hard to get attached to something that is that transient.
(3.) The U.S. is too damn big in terms of land mass. The professional teams are spread out in every area of the country except the Northeast. Although I have always supported Kansas City area teams in all sports (due to the fact that it is the closest city with pro sports), I am still a LONG ways from KC. It is about 160 miles away from me: not exactly a quick jaunt. This distance allows people in my area to not feel extremely attached to the "local" team.
Dr_Intoxicated
23 Jan 2006, 07:23 AM
(3.) The U.S. is too damn big in terms of land mass. The professional teams are spread out in every area of the country except the Northeast. Although I have always supported Kansas City area teams in all sports (due to the fact that it is the closest city with pro sports), I am still a LONG ways from KC. It is about 160 miles away from me: not exactly a quick jaunt. This distance allows people in my area to not feel extremely attached to the "local" team.
mm within 3 miles of where my parents lived I had the choice of Chelsea, Fulham and QPR. I guess I am just a glory hunter ;)