Who are your favorite teams in other sports?

[The Double]

Pretty self explanatory. List your favorite teams in other sports. And since I know there aren't any other sports in England, you guys can feel free to list Phil the Power Taylor as your favorite Dart thrower.

Baseball-The New York Mets. To be completely honest, I can't really watch Baseball if the Mets aren't playing. I was the only one out of my siblings to be born in Queens, therefore, I'm the only one that is a Mets fan. After Game 7 last year, every other loss that any team that I support seemed less painful. I'm sure that if I lived in London my first team would be Spurs, but living in Manhattan and New Jersey, and being a Mets fan, is something I experience every day. Game 7 last year is something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Football-The Jacksonville Jaguars. Why? Well, I grew up 10-15 minutes away from the Meadowlands, so the natural choice would've been to be a Giants or Jets fan. I felt nothing for them though, and when I heard about two expansion teams I said sure, why not, give one of them a chance. Mark Brunell made my choice alot easier. The scramble he had against the Broncos to win the play off game is my favorite Jaguar game ever. Either that, or the 62-7 game against the Dolphins. We retired Dan Marino.

Basketball-The New Jersey Nets. My Dad bought us Nets season tickets when they were terrible. Johnny Newman, Stephon Marbury, Evan Eschmeyer. The list goes on. Every since the team got sold, however, my interest kind of waned. Ah well.

[Danners9]

Goodie, i love these kinds of threads.

Baseball: Toronto Blue Jays. I have family living in Hamilton, Ontario, and when i was about 10 i went over for 6 weeks of my summer holiday, got dropped off at the airport and flew by myself, got picked up at the other end by my aunt and uncle. They wanted to take me to see a different sport to footy so i went to the skydome to see toronto vs boston, it was camera day in the season after the wage strike. We got to walk on the pitch and all sorts, great fun. I've been 3 times since and yet to see a defeat :D Boston again last year, LA Angels of Anaheim the year before and Seattle a few years before that.

Basketball: Toronto Raptors. Similar story to the one above, except i've never seen them play - always there at the wrong time of year. But I was there the year they decided on the name for the team, we went to a huge exhibition in Toronto (at the site where the new MLS stadium is built if anyone knows it) and they were doing all sorts of Raptors promos. So i got myself a kids vest and a mini basketball hoop for my bedroom. Plus as they were a new team and i spent a bit of time in Toronto i thought i should follow them. My cousin's boyfriend is in with the ticket guys too, so she can sort out tickets if i ever get there at the right time!

Hockey: Toronto Maple Leafs. I recently discovered hockey as a great way to win money, hehe. So given my affinity to Toronto, I chose the Leafs. Only ever seen them on tv, but the colours, the history and recent struggles sits nicely with me being a Spurs fan. Toronto vs Montreal is like Spurs vs Arsenal for me and I have some friends who are Montreal fans, so it's nice to have a bit of friendly banter with them.

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles. As Toronto don't have a team ;) i had to look elsewhere. I went to Philly a couple of summers back, again didn't get to see a game as it was summer but the team were doing pre-season training in Allentown where i was staying at my friend's house. So as i like to watch NFL on tv I decided to cheer for them.

I also look for other teams in other european leagues. Barcelona, AC Milan, Atalanta, Auxerre, FC Twente (Holland) and Charleroi (Belgium). The last two because I have friends who support them. Auxerre because they had a great crop of players a few years back that got stripped. Atalanta because I have performed wonders with them in CM and FM games. Barca and Milan, well i always have wanted them to win their leagues. I hate Real and Juve too.

[OrlandoSPUR]

....Rugby:

London Wasps, was going to have a trial set up with them back when I was 18 but blew out my knee, and never could be bothered to get back into it. Liked them since mark bailey played for them, he used to go to my school back in the day.

NFL:
Chicago Bears, liked them since 85 enough said.

NHL:
NJ Devils, started liking them before I even knew what hockey was, watched a film called NJ Drive which had a bunch of hoods in Devils gear. Liked the shirt. Then started getting Hockey late nights on Channel 5 and was always the Devils on EA Hockey. Moved to Albany NY where the Devils farm team was (River Rats) and saw players like Gomez, White, and others before they made it onto the Stanley Cup side of 2000.

NCAA Football:
Florida Gators, only team I have seen play live, the swamp was impressive. have family members who have Season Tickets so that has swayed me, national championship helps as well.

Don't really like any other sports to get a team.

[Colm]

NHL: Florida Panthers (due to playing NHL 95) watched them get to the final in 96, plus i really love hockey
NFL: Washinton Redskins (first team I knew in NFL, and that was around 95/96), also love american football

:)

[electrickeeper]

NFL: Chicago Bears
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers
MLB: Cincinnati Reds
NHL: Columbus Clue Jackets
NCAAF: Ohio St. Buckeyes
NCAAB: Connecticut Huskies and Ohio St. Buckeyes

[The Double]

NHL:
NJ Devils, started liking them before I even knew what hockey was, watched a film called NJ Drive which had a bunch of hoods in Devils gear. Liked the shirt. Then started getting Hockey late nights on Channel 5 and was always the Devils on EA Hockey. Moved to Albany NY where the Devils farm team was (River Rats) and saw players like Gomez, White, and others before they made it onto the Stanley Cup side of 2000.

\.

Holy shit, New Jersey Drive! I remember that movie, haven't seen it in years though.

[pookspur]

1968-1993 Baltimore Orioles

my passion for baseball - prior to 1993 - has yet to, nor is likely to, be matched by anything else. i played baseball all my life - i still go out with my friends' sons and their friends (who are in their 20s now) and throw and take batting practice (no better use of a summer day). i used to have a comprehension of that game that equalled a physicist's comprehension of weights and measures (one of the reasons i seldom talk tactics on here is because i know how feeble my understanding of football is relative to one who really, really knows his stuff - not that most of you lot qualify:p;)).

but i dropped it during the strike like a moonie drops his faith when the spaceship doesn't show (it wasn't just down to the strike, but far too much to go into here).

prior to that, all other sporting interests were a decided 2nd class relative to the Os. but they included:

Indianapolis Indians (american association baseball)
Indiana University basketball
Chicago Bulls (pre-Jordan)
Detroit Redwings
and, of course, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

interestingly enough, my disenchantment with Major League Baseball just happened to coincide with me getting a job which allowed me greater access to timely UK sporting information. shortly thereafter came the internet, and then (for me) international travel.

in no time, Spurs and english football had filled much of the gap that the Orioles and baseball had left. so much so, in fact, that i wouldn't even give IU, the Bulls, or the Redwings a mention now, as i would've back then. in fact, the only teams in all of sport that i follow with genuine interest anymore are probably just these:

QPR
Chicago Fire
Austria Wien
Os Belenenses (Portugal)
Real Betis

and all rate so far behind THFC that i wouldn't even call myself a fan, let alone supporter of any of them.

[pookspur]

... I'm sure that if I lived in London my first team would be Spurs, but living in Manhattan and New Jersey, and being a Mets fan, is something I experience every day ...

man, if there's one thing i really miss about baseball - and it's something that no other sport can ever provide - it's that.

from the beginning of april to the beginning of october, it's every damn day! (ok, more like six days a week, but still...) every day of the week, you go to bed just a little bit happier, or just that bit sadder, based on what your team's done that night. it weaves it's way into the fabric of your life that 'once-a-week' just can't do - even if you do spend every other day thinking about your club. you may not get the major rush that 'once-a-week' provides - six days of anticipation and waiting will do that - but, still, every day.

damn, i miss that.

[cdmphy]

NBA: I have recently become a Phoenix Suns fan. Not sure why ;)

[electrickeeper]

NBA: I have recently become a Phoenix Suns fan. Not sure why ;)

I have as well.

It's easy to be a Cavs and Suns fan.

[mattie g]

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles - easily the most passionate I am about any American sport, aside from possibly my alma mater in basketball. I grew up in South Jersey, so there's really no need to explain this choice.

NHL: Philadelphia Flyers - see above. I have to admit, though, that I haven't really followed the NHL since the first few years after I graduated college (1997). I'll only watch if the Flyers are on.

NCAA Basketball: Bucknell Bison - my alma mater and perennial Patriot League powerhouse ;) I also like Duke.

NCAA Football: Penn State - growing up near Philly, Penn State was the big college team always on TV.

As for the other main American team sports:

I haven't followed the NBA in ages (if ever). I honestly can't stand the NBA and haven't watched a single minute of this season.

And baseball...don't even get me started. I played baseball all my life, including in college, but I haven't followed it since before college. I've developed a hatred for baseball that I can't quite explain, although when I was a kid I used to LOVE it. I got away from it because I stopped really wanting to play it when I was about 15 years old, but kept playing because I thrived on the competition and, quite frankly, was really good at it. But I soured on it to the point that I now go out of my way to not watch it. I really can't stand it...

[Rufausu]

cool thread I don't follow north american sports as much as I used to

Teams I like

Rugby Union: Waikato Cheifs, All Blacks, Harlequinns, England
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays only team we have
NBA San Antonio (Spurs) <----- only reason why I like them :D well and The Admiral was awesome
NHL ha I'am canadian I know alot about hockey but I don't like it that much anymore but I sort of cheer for Vancouver Canucks

But football is my main passion my teams from the leagues I like

Eredivisie: Ajax
Bundesliga: Hamburg
RPL: CSKA Moscow
Ligue 1: Monaco
Super Lig: Besiktas JK
J. League: Nagoya Grampus Eight

[OregonSpur]

Baseball: New York Mets. I was a little kid when the amazin' mets won it all (easy to be a glory seeker when you're young!), and then when that shyster Bud Selig yanked the Seattle Pilots and put them in Milwaukee, I had to pull for somebody. I'm sure I wanted to be like Tom Seaver as well, but things didn't quite work out that way. The fact that Seattle got the Mariners later would never sway my decision, though they are my fave American League team; I'd decided at an early age to never change teams, as I have done with Spurs. Of course, Game 6 of the 86 Series always brings a smile to my face, especially when I can torment obnoxious Red Sox fans with perhaps the single greatest choke job in a game; all you needed was one strike, instead of three games.....and you couldn't get it done!:D


Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers. Just after the Mets, Portland got an NBA team. Geoff Petrie was the first star, but they struggled with mediocrity until Bill Walton's third year. Saw some games when Walton was an (oft)injured player as a rookie, and most of the crowd booed him when it was announced that he wasn't playing (again). The championship team of 77 was great, the next year was even better, until Walton got hurt again. I've attended many Blazer games over the years (quit going when they employed idiots like J.R. Rider and Rasheed Wallace) but they've made a nice comeback this year, rookies like Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge have given us hope again.


Don't really watch the NFL much anymore, though I was a Vikings fan as a kid.


NCAA: Oregon Ducks (yes I know we have ugly uniforms in football), attended most of their home games since 1991.


second "real" football team would be Celtic, I love the dedication of their fans, plus a pal from the UK has been kind enough to send a couple of their shirts my way (I was sitting in our library in a town of 45,000 wearing one last year when a male Glaswegian was taken aback by seeing the hoops in such an unlikely locale; it put a smile on his face as it reminded him of home though).

[KMJvet]

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers for going on 40 years
NCAAF: U of MN Golden Gophers
MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates ...although it's been a labour of love for a long time to keep watching them
NBA: Sacramento Kings, but only follow the playoffs because mostly I don't find the NBA even a 10th as interesting as college bball
NCAAB: U of MN Golden Gophers
NHL: SJ Sharks, but mostly just my mom is a big fan
NCAAH: U of MN Golden Gophers
Curling: Team Fenson

And I follow the Gophers in lots of other sports especially ...wrestling (2007 NCAA Champions :D ) & volleyball

[The Double]

NCAA: Oregon Ducks (yes I know we have ugly uniforms in football), attended most of their home games since 1991.




For reasons that are beyond my comprehension, I always like to see Oregon do well in any sport. I don't know why. What I do know is that a game at Autzen would be a hell of a time.

[JSpur]

Baseball: Chicago Cubs. Don't really follow them every week, but I went to Wrigley Field last year and loved it.

Basketball: Sacramento Kings. Basically because I kicked ass with them at NBA Street Vol 2 on the PS2 at Uni. I've been there too, and it's a pretty cool place. Gets a bit ignored in CA, with LA, San Francisco etc.

Everything other than football and Spurs is background noise though!

On a slightly separate point, which international football sides do you like. Apart from England, I like Ghana, Sweden and Ecuador.

[Malkamus]

NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson, Montoya -- I was raised a racecar fan, mainly open wheel dirttrack -- sprintcars and the like if that means anything to y'all.

American Cricket: Padres and more and more, the Giants, perfect sport for listening on the radio while working, not good for much else, I fall asleep when I attend live games.

Helmetball: Redskins, starting watching the sport when I was in college in DC where the 'skins are a minor religion.

Aussie Rules: Brisbane Lions

Basketball: Goldenstate Warriors -- destined never to finish above .500 -- ever.

Soccer: DC United, York FC, FC Twente (Holland), Zenit St. Petersburg

Hockey -- Capitals, Kings

[Simo™]

Aussie Rules - Essendon Bombers, started following them at the age of about 4 when usually you swap teams on a daily basis depending on who is winning. But I remember it quite clearly the Parents tried to get me to follow St Kilda but as the rebalious child that I am I gave that the flick and chose the Bombers as they were winning and they had my favourite colour (Red) in their uniform :D

Cricket - Australians as we are the greatest and untouchabe ;)

National Football teams - Its quite strange. I have strong interests in Australia (country of birth and living), England (family history, Mum is english) and lately I have been watching a few of the Irish games and am really enjoying watching what they have to offer. Is it bad to follow/support 3 national sides? :o

-Simo

[The Double]

Cricket - Australians as we are the greatest and untouchabe ;)



One day, I'll understand cricket. One day.

[Simo™]

One day, I'll understand cricket. One day.

Not as hard as everyone thinks. I mean anyone can play it, just look at this feller. Bermudan spin bowler and police officer :D He even lost 14 kgs for the World Cup. What an athlete.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/images/283144.jpg