What is your favorite team, and why?

Discussion in 'BigSoccer Polls' started by Dan Loney, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. Dan Loney

    Dan Loney BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 10, 2000
    Cincilluminati
    Club:
    Los Angeles Sol
    Nat'l Team:
    Philippines
    Let's talk about how we pick our favorite teams.

    1. What is your favorite team?
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?


    For (3) and (4), I mean very first. This is an informal (unless one of you mugs wants to give me a couple million dollar grant or something) survey about loyalties, and how they were formed. So we're talking about going back to childhood.

    HOWEVER, some of us weren't children when our teams were formed, or when we first followed our favorite team. Hey, cheer up! I still want to hear from you! Your opinion counts! You're a wonderful human being and I value your inherent worth and dignity. You can tell me all about your favorite WNBA team if you want.
    And it's any team you want - any country, any sport. Hell, you can tell me about your favorite player, if you want - if you have a story about why you're a Real Madrid fan whose favorite player is Pep Guardiola, feel free to explain. I'm not here to judge.

    Here, let me give you some examples:
    1. Los Angeles Galaxy
    2. Columbus Crew, until FC Cincinnati takes the field
    3. US vs. Czechoslovakia, 1990 World Cup
    4. Sweden v. Bulgaria, 1994 World Cup
    5. I was living in LA when ...

    You know, how about we don't conflate club and country in soccer? That'll make more sense.

    1. Los Angeles Galaxy
    2. Columbus Crew, until FC Cincinnati takes the field, I guess
    3. San Jose v. DC United, 1996 MLS Opener
    4. LA v. Metrostars, 1996
    5. I was living in LA when MLS started.

    Here's another potential example:
    1. Germany
    2. USMNT
    3. US v. Switzerland, 1994 World Cup
    4. Never attended a game live
    5. Same reason I was a Spain fan from July 2010 to June 2014. Because I'm a front-running, glory-hunting piece of crap.

    ....I said *I* wouldn't judge. In this example, the respondent is judging him or herself.

    Having said that - if your fandom isn't obviously explained, feel free to elaborate. "I grew up across the street from White Hart Lane," "I loved the Rams' helmets," "I married a Giants fan," "Banana slugs are my favorite mollusk's without shells," etc.

    I have a theory that over the past few decades, and since the advent of cable and internet media, it's much more common to be a diehard fan of a team that plays hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away. I also have a theory that what are now known as Eurosnobs in American soccer circles has roots in the massive coverage of the Yankees in the 1920's through the 1950's, and the whole "America's Team" business the Cowboys marketed in the 1970's. So it would interesting to track the dynamic these days.

    Responses, unfortunately, are mandatory. Non-compliance will result in a $100 fine. Happy writing!

    Spammed - er, copied to this forum because the front page blog comment system falls short of complete convenience for all.
     
  2. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. My favorite club is Manchester United. My favorite national team is USA.

    2. The closest professional club to me is the New York Cosmos, although this has changed over time. The Long Island Rough Riders used to be closer to me and used to be professional. I became a MetroStars (now Red Bulls) fan before the Cosmos in the new NASL came back.

    3. My first memories of soccer are World Cup 1994, but I don't know the first game I ever watched.

    4. The first game I went to was Israel vs. Honduras (rooting for Israel) at CitiField on June 2, 2013. The first club game I went to was the Red Bulls at the Cosmos on June 14, 2014 in the 2014 U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round (Round of 32).

    5. I don't know what made me become a Manchester United fan. I don't like to travel and I may never see them in person. I have seen my favorite national team play when I saw USA beat Costa Rica on July 16, 2013 in Gold Cup 2013.
     
  3. Mojo Jambo

    Mojo Jambo Member

    Aug 26, 2013
    Cleveland, OH
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. What is your favorite team?
    USMNT, if club Nottingham Forest

    2. What is the closest team to you?

    Columbus Crew

    3. What was the first match you ever watched?

    Soccer made in Germany, or maybe a WC final on Wild World of Sports edited down to 60 minutes with commercial breaks.

    4. What was the first match you ever attended?

    The Cleveland Cobras vs. ?????? circa 1975

    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    My country, and the easiest thing to see televised in the dark days. My fathers club, my club.
     
  4. NFLPatriot

    NFLPatriot Member+

    Jun 25, 2002
    Foxboro, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. New England Revolution
    2. New England Revolution
    3/4. New England Tea Men vs Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 1978.
    5. See #2
     
  5. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    1. What is your favorite team?
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?


    Overall - Baseball
    1) KC Royals
    2) MLB- Washington Nationals, professional- Durham Bulls (I'm also a Bulls fan)
    3/4) Probably a KC Athletics game, first I remember is a Royals game in the very early 70s
    5) Born and raised Kansas Citian

    Men's Club Soccer
    1) Sporting Kansas City
    2) DC United
    3) Either some random Soccer Made In Germany game on PBS or NASL game on ABC in the late 70s
    4a) 1981 ASL Championship game hosted won by Charlotte Lightning
    4b) Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wiz opening weekend of MLS in 1996

    Women's Club Soccer
    1) Carolina Courage (nee Orlando Tempest) (RIP)
    2) Washington Spirit
    3/4) Don't recall without looking up, likely the opening Courage game in 2001 at Fetzer Field

    College Sports
    1) Kansas Jayhawks
    2) Duke Blue Devils
    3/4) probably some KU football game
    5) I was raised in a Jayhawk family and became an alumnus later

    NHL
    1) Carolina Hurricanes
    2) Carolina Hurricanes
    3) No idea
    4) Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins day after Thanksgiving in the late 80s
    Note: I loosely considered the New Jersey Devils as "my team" as they began as the Kansas City Scouts in my childhood, but I never really had a "team" until the Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina in 1997. In truth, I'm pretty sure I've seen more Hurricanes games live than any other team, and quite possibly as a consequence of division alignments seen as many Washington Capitals as any other team in any sport.

    Random thoughts, I am also a very fair weather Chiefs fan, and I was a Kansas City Kings fan growing up. I don't remember the NASL Spurs at all. Outside of the U.S., the only team I've ever considered "my team" would probably be Pachuca. I do watch a fair amount of LigaMX and when they first made it to the first division, I liked their scrappy outsider image and the fact that the club was founded my own Irish ans Scottish forebears. But I can't say that I actively support or seek out their games.

    If Raleigh-Durham got an MLS team, I honestly expect that I would consider myself a fan, I doubt I would ever root against Sporting. I do consider myself a Carolina RailHawks fan, but in those clubs one meeting, I did want the Wizards to win (they did), but an MLS team would be different than the RailHawks. And I'm a strong believer in supporting ones local club. Keeping an allegiance to a childhood home team is fine, but there is nothing like cheering for your local side.
     
  6. Geneva

    Geneva LA for Life

    Feb 5, 2003
    Southern Cal
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. What is your favorite team? LA Galaxy
    2. What is the closest team to you? LA Galaxy
    3. What was the first match you ever watched? US Women, no idea when exactly, but in Mia Hamm times, sometime in the mid 90's most likely.
    4. What was the first match you ever attended? US Women, again, this time some unnamed game in Titan Stadium in Fullerton.
    Men - June 7, 2003 LA Galaxy Home Depot Center opener against the Colorado Rapids.
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here? N/A

    AYSO and my daughter's club soccer brought me to the US Women's team, and then later to the men, then later to MLS. I know I watched the US Men a bit for years, but my first clear memories are of the Korea/Japan World Cup, and screaming in my living room in the wee hours of the AM at the Portugal game. I watched MLS some since the beginning, but didn't start fan-girling the Galaxy until they moved to Carson in 2003. Since then I've been obsessed.

    Thanks for posting on a regular thread. I refuse to use the comments on the blog area, but I feel badly because I've followed you and Bill Archer for years, as an invisible lurker.
     
  7. kgilbert78

    kgilbert78 Member+

    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    United States
    Dec 28, 2006
    Cowlumbus, OH
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. What is your favorite team?
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?


    1. Borussia Moenchengladbach
    2. Columbus Crew
    3. One I played in--Klinger JHS near Philadelphia. I was on the JV to the JV. Pro? Not sure--May have been a world cup game (1966 or 1970), may have been the 1973 Atoms NASL Championship game.
    4. Again--one I played in. Pro was probably an Atoms game at the Vet in 1974. I'm thinking vs Cosmos.
    5. Long story--grew up in a German neighborhood (my best friends dad had been in the Navy in WW II--the German navy) outside Philly so we played soccer as much as anything else. I tried out for JV abut really wasn't any good (we could not afford to join a club--Vereinigung Erzgeberge was down the street--they have played in the First Round proper of the US Open Cup). In HS, I went to Hannover for 6 weeks as an exchange student--and could not understand why folks were going crazy. In 1973 hannover 96 finished 16th, staving off relegation. The next year, my German teacher had gotten a number of magazines and in one of them was a picture of Wolfgang Kleff--and I've been a Fohlen (Gladbach) fan ever since. Add in a bunch of Atoms games, Toby Charles (Soccer Made in Germany), and attending Bundesliga matched in 1978 while an exchange student at the University of Cologne and I was hooked. If you've seen Kenn Tomash's SMiG video--I was at that game.
     
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  8. Guigs

    Guigs Member+

    Dec 9, 2011
    Club:
    Vasco da Gama Rio Janeiro
    I liked the idea of doing more than 1 professional Sport!!

    Overall - Baseball
    1) Florida Marlins (Miami Marlins now)
    2) Tampa Bay Rays
    3) Marlins game on Sun Sports
    4) Marlins game during the 2000 Season (yes we were really bad)
    5) It was the local Baseball team where I went to high school.

    Men's Club Soccer
    1) Vasco Da Gama / Brasil
    2) Orlando City (MLS Professional) / USMT
    3) Can't even remember it really, I'm original from Brazil so it has been here my whole life.
    4) Botafogo vs Portuguesa, my uncle visiting was a huge Botafogo Fan, this was Early 90s
    5) I have no clue why I am Vasco. But when people ask me why I answer with one of our clubs songs. And Brazil because I'm Brazilian.

    Vasco is my life, history and my first friend
    And who doesn't know me asks me why I followed you
    I have the Malta Cross in my heart since I was born


    Full song in portuguese here:

    De todos os amores que eu tive és o mais antigo...
    Vasco minha vida, minha história, meu primeiro amigo...
    Quem não te conhece me pergunta porque te segui...
    Eu levo a cruz de malta no meu peito desde que nasci...

    E eu não paro, não paro não... A cruz de malta...
    Meu coração... Vasco da Gama, minha paixão...
    Vasco da Gama, religião...

    College Sports
    1) The U
    2) University of Florida (currently attending)
    3) The U football games on TV 1999
    4) The U football games at the Orange Bowl 2000
    5) Local Sports team that I've supported because they were local.

    NHL
    1) LA Kings
    2) Tampa Bay Lighting
    3) Gretzky playing in 1996 when I came to the US for vacation.
    4) Florida Panthers 1998 season
    5) Wayne Gretzky plain and simple.

    NFL
    1) Dolphins
    2) Jacksonville Jaguars
    3) followed them during the 1998 season on TV
    4) Ricky Williams 2002 season vs Buffalo
    5) Local Team with Marino and Ace Ventura's cameo!!

    NBA
    1) Detroit Pistons
    2) Orlando Magic
    3) Saw a lot of Bulls games in Brazil since 1994, televised because of Jordan pretty much.
    4) Miami Heat vs Grizzlies somewhere in 2004
    5) Grant Hill, I really liked him.
     
  9. Anthony

    Anthony Member+

    Chelsea
    United States
    Aug 20, 1999
    Chicago
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. What is your favorite team?

    DC United

    2. What is the closest team to you?

    Chicago Fire

    3. What was the first match you ever watched?

    Some match in the 1974 World Cup.
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?

    It was a NY Apollo match sometime in 1976

    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    I lived in Washington DC when MLS was started, so that is how they became my favorite. My first date with my wife was a DC - Miami Fusion game
     
  10. AlbertCamus

    AlbertCamus Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    Sep 2, 2005
    Colorado, USA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    1. Colorado Rapids
    2. Colorado Rapids
    3. I can't remember, my family watched soccer whenever we could. The first I remember was the '76 World Cup.
    4. We went to a game in England in the midlands once, I think it was Aston Villa. We also went to Cosmos games because we lived near NY back then. I don't know which was first.

    On the country front, I grew up rooting for England before the US was qualifying for World Cups - I now root for both teams, but England first because I find USMT fans to be irritating and obnoxious. Except for World Cup's I prefer the club game.
     
  11. JayRockers!

    JayRockers! Member+

    Aug 4, 2001
    1. What is your favorite team? Newcastle United

    2. What is the closest team to you? DC United (well, technically the Freedom/Spirit/whoever play across the street from me)

    3. What was the first match you ever watched? Mid-Eighties ESPN coverage of Champions League or England First Division. Remember nodding off on allergy medication after school to some Nottingham Forest.

    4. What was the first match you ever attended? SMU vs. someone since we didn't have football my first two years at school. First pro match would be a Dallas Sidekicks game. First outdoor would be a NY/NJ MetroStars game between 96-98.

    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here? Alan Shearer. Watching him and Tino Asprilla in Champions League evolved into following NUFC via Fox Sports World and trips into NYC to watch FA Cup games with $20 cover charges at Nevada Smith's.

    Thx,

    Jay!
     
  12. frodo0666

    frodo0666 Member

    Jul 27, 2007
    Greensboro, NC
    Club:
    Carolina Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLB / NFL
    1. What is your favorite team? San Francisco 49ers / Giants
    2. What is the closest team to you? In early to mid 1970' s, San Francisco
    3. What was the first match you ever watched? Listened to SF Giants baseball on the radio
    4. What was the first match you ever attended? SF Giants vs St Louis Cardinals in 1973.
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?



    1. What is your favorite team?
    US Men's National Team / US Women's National Team
    2. What is the closest team to you? Carolina Dynamo, USMNT
    3. What was the first match you ever watched? highlights, 1974 World Cup final, full game, either 1979 US Olympic qualifier versus Bermuda or Mexican league match on SIN.
    4. What was the first match you ever attended? Dallas Sidekicks indoor soccer, 1985 vs San Diego Shockers
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?
     
  13. mrtandy

    mrtandy Member

    Oxford United
    England
    Mar 12, 2003
    Banbury,Oxfordshire.
    Club:
    Oxford United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    1. What is your favorite team?

    Oxford United. COYY.

    2. What is the closest team to you?


    Well at the time I started supporting them the nearest pro team was Oxford United, now due to both teams moving grounds it's Northampton Town.

    3. What was the first match you ever watched?


    Something in the 82 World Cup I would have thought.

    4. What was the first match you ever attended?

    According to my records (yes I'm sad), 23-8-1986 Southern League Midland Division. Banbury United 2-2 Halesowen Town. First Oxford match was 29-10-86 Littlewoods Cup 3rd round. Oxford United 3-1 Sheffield United.
     
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  14. Kit

    Kit Member+

    Aug 30, 1999
    Herkimer, NY, USA
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. New York Red Bulls
    2. Syracuse Silver Knights
    3. 1986 MISL All-Star Game
    4. 1988 MISL game between between Tacoma and Chicago
    5. Before MLS formed, I said that I would cheer for a New York area team if a major outdoor league ever formed. When MLS formed with the MetroStars, I started following them and haven't stopped.
     
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  15. JRHokie

    JRHokie Member+

    Aug 23, 2001
    Fairfax, VA
    1. DC United
    2. DC United
    3. Probably Soccer Made in Germany on PBS
    4. Washington Diplomats 1975 or so
     
  16. nirwin

    nirwin Member

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Aug 20, 2007
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Overall -
    Favorite team: Atlanta Braves
    Closest professional baseball team: Atlanta Braves
    First game ever watched: April 10, 1991 (Opening Night) - Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
    First game attended: May 19, 1991, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

    Soccer -
    Favorite team: U.S. men's national team
    Closest international team: U.S.
    Closest club team: Atlanta Silverbacks (until the other day)/Atlanta United (starting in 2017)/not going to bother figuring out which team is technically closest in the interim
    First game ever watched: June 18, 1994 - U.S. vs. Switzerland, 1994 World Cup (First that I remember anyway)
    First game attended: March 30, 2005, Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala. - U.S. vs. Guatemala, 2006 World Cup qualifying - CONCACAF Final Round
    Reason: Without a high-level club team in my area, I never really latched on to a club team, so all my soccer fan energy has gone to the U.S. national team. I will be a fan of Atlanta United when they start next year.
     
  17. Nacional Tijuana

    Nacional Tijuana St. Louis City

    St. Louis City SC
    May 6, 2003
    San Diego, Calif.
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1. Seattle Sounders, but really several, in different leagues.

    2. Pro team? In any outdoor league? Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente (Liga MX). -My computer recognizes "xoloitzcuintles" as a misspelled word.
    Just in America? Orange County Blues (NASL)
    Including indoor? San Diego Sockers (MASL)
    Including non-pro? Albion SC Pros or North County Battalion (NPSL 2016). Unknown which is closer at this point.

    3. Not even sure, but I loved indoor soccer back in that day. So likely San Diego Sockers (MISL) against somebody in what is now Valley View Casino Center. Either on ESPN or in person.

    4. Same as 4, but in person.

    5. "Here" as in BigSoccer? No freaking clue. Was once a member of USLDiscussions.com as well. "Here" as in Sounders? Well, partially kitnerding. Partially just loving the venue, as it looked on TV. This was 1995 or so, so these situations have changed.
     
  18. Ava Noble-Lazarus

    Ava Noble-Lazarus New Member

    Jan 26, 2016
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    1. What is your favorite team?
    My favorite team is Tottenham Hotspur and my favorite national team is Belgium
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    The closest team to me right now and for the past 9 years is Toronto FC of the MLS
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    The first match I ever watched was the final of the 2006 world cup. The game between Italy and France that ended with Italy winning in penalties.
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    The first match I ever attended was a match between Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake in 2012
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    The reason why my first answer isn't in any of the others is because unfortunately I do not live in england so I can't see Tottenham Hotspur play and they are not close to me. I have watched Toronto FC games but the MLS lacks the quality that the EPL has.

    I also don't believe that your favorite team has to be one that you've seen in person or the team that you first watched. It can be a team that you've never physically seen but you watch their matches on TV.
     
  19. FirstStateBlue

    FirstStateBlue New Member

    Jan 30, 2016
    Seaford, DE
    Club:
    New York City FC
    1. What is your favorite team?
    NYCFC
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    Delaware Copperheads(American Soccer League), some other local teams I don't really know
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    Manchester United vs Aresanal
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    NY Red Bulls vs New England
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    Another forum
     
  20. Deranged

    Deranged Member

    Dec 8, 2013
    Your Head
    Club:
    ACF Fiorentina
    1. What is your favorite team?
    Fiorentina
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    West Ham
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    Was a preseason friend lol
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    I loved Giuseppe Rossi, and also Mario Gomez moved, I just wanted to follow Viola, I'd love to see us back in the Champions League
     
  21. Golden Vision

    Golden Vision New Member

    Jan 20, 2016
    Merseyside, England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    1. What is your favorite team?
    Everton
    2. What is the closest team to you?
    Everton
    3. What was the first match you ever watched?
    Everton 3 Aston Villa 1, 1966
    4. What was the first match you ever attended?
    see above
     
  22. Boavista1976

    Boavista1976 BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jul 10, 2016
    1. What is your favorite team?

    Boavista (Portuguese minnows)

    EPL: the Gunners

    NHL: Chicago Black Hawks
    NBA: Chicago Bulls

    2. What is the closest team to you?


    None I like.

    3. What was the first match you ever watched?

    Boavista vs GD Estoril

    4. What was the first match you ever attended?


    Same as # 3

    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    Moved.
     
  23. BatatasFritas

    BatatasFritas Member+

    Nov 29, 2004
    Toronto
    Club:
    FC Porto
    1. What is your favorite team?

    FC Porto

    2. What is the closest team to you?

    Toronto FC

    3. What was the first match you ever watched?

    Portugal vs Brazil Under 20 World Cup in 91

    4. What was the first match you ever attended?

    Portugal vs Canada Skydome Cup Toronto in 95


    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    Started watching Porto play and fell in love with the aggressiveness and hear of the players.
     
  24. Krokko

    Krokko Member

    Nov 16, 2011
    Club:
    AIK Solna
    Nat'l Team:
    Sweden
    1. What is your favorite team?

    AIK Stockholm

    2. What is the closest team to you?


    Triestina

    3. What was the first match you ever watched?

    Probably some English league game in 1972 or '73

    4. What was the first match you ever attended?


    AIK vs Elfsborg (4-2), August 1974

    5. If the answer to (1) doesn't appear in (2), (3) or (4), well - how did you get here?

    ---.
     

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