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JDawg1447(www.freerice.com) won the Throwdown.

Stauff Nation TB

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When a player leaves your favorite team, do you continue to root for them?

JDawg1447(www.freerice.com) said 03/31, 05:29 PM
When it comes to me, I do. I always want the player to do well so that you can say that they were a part of your favorite team at one time. The only time I wouldn't want them to do so well would be when they played against my favorite team. This has happended to me a lot since the Atlanta Braves don't keep many of their players. I still root for Furcal, Andruw Jones, Sheffield, and Willie Harris altough they are no longer Braves.

Stauff Nation TB said 03/31, 05:37 PM
Depends on who we're talking about. If its a guy that's been with your team for a long time and has always been a big part of the lineup then yes, I would root for him also, but in that case only, really.

But if the guy books house for some other team, why root for him? The only reason you rooted for him in the first place was because he was on your team, and you wanted him to do well so your team would do well. Chances are you didn't root for the guy before he got to your team (probably didn't know who he was until he got to your team).

And let's face it. Once he moves he's cutting off all ties. He's never calling back to check how you're doing and doesn't even acknowledge you when you see him back at the stadium with another team.

What kills me is when a guy leaves, and then you see him talking about how his new city is the "best in the world" and how he talks about how the fanbase is so great. Oh and we weren't? Ouch. Ya Im talking to you, Thomas Jones.

I fondly recollect the time we spent together, but it's time to go our seperate ways once they go their seperate ways with the club. He's competing against you. Why root for him to do well?

So in most cases no.

JDawg1447(www.freerice.com) said 03/31, 05:50 PM
With most of the players that I liked who played with the Braves, they've gone to different divisions, so rooting for them is easier because your team will almost never play them. When your team does play them, however, you want them to kick the living crap out of them so he'll know he shouldn't have ever left. Sure, you probably won't root for him as hard as when he was with your team, but you still like to seem them do good. The only time I wouldn't root for a guy is when he talks bad about his former team and its fans, like you said.

Stauff Nation TB said 03/31, 06:40 PM
I also don't give a crap about the team cancer in the clubhouse/locker room. If the guy's hoarding all the team money, underperforming or playing selfish (or me-ball as I lovingly refer to it) If there's a guy on your team like that, why would you want him on your team or root for him in any case?

We're talking about all players on your team who get traded here, not just your favorite players (ie Big Papi for Red Sox fans). If this is just a mediocre player on your squad that you like but don't love, then who cares if he gets sent off? Its tough to keep tabs on EVERY single player that plays professionally and may have spent a season or two with your team. You may still say you like him for a while, but eventually you stop caring.

For example, when Aaron Rowand was with the Sox I was a huge fan. I was mad when he was traded to the Phillies but 3 seasons later I don't care now as much as I used to. I got over it, basically.

Remember that sports is about competiting. Why root for someone who you compete against? Doesn't make sense to me.

I get where your coming from. It's a sentimental thing.

But I never root for the competition, unless the Packers play the Pats...

JDawg1447(www.freerice.com) said 03/31, 07:31 PM
Yeah, I'll admit I don't follow EVERY guy who ever played with the Braves. Most of it is a sentimental thing, like you said, because they were with the Braves when I first started to watch them. Some of the players, like those I've already mentioned, I try to keep up with, but others, like Mike Stanton or Henry Blanco, I haven't heard of since.

Stauff Nation TB said 03/31, 08:46 PM
Well Henry Blanco is warming the bench with the Cubbies right now. Quick update for you there.

But Im glad you understand that player following is a big problem in America and is very widespread. Something needs to be done. I may even go as far as it harms the integrity of the game. It takes away some of the competition because you get people out there saying things like(and I've heard this one many times before) "Oh did you hear Frank Thomas is playing his first game in Chicago since he got traded to the A's? Ya I hope he does well..."

And its at that point where I drop my jaw and rip out most of my hair. Its so frustrating to hear people actually root against their own team somewhat just because a player they like (while he played for your team, mind you) is playing against you.

Dont get me wrong. I love Frank Thomas, but I pray to God he goes 0-4 with 4 strikeouts every time he returns to Comiskey (technically US Cellular Field... bla)

Sports are about competition, and when we root for members of our team thats fine. However I have a problem with people cheering for opposing players who used to play for your team. Your a fan of your team first. Players second.

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First TD in a while. Good to be back

Stauff Nation TB | 03/31/08, 05:38 PM

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When a player leaves your favorite team, do you continue to root for them?

Stauff Nation TB beat JDawg1447(www.freerice.com) 14 to 5

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