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  • June 03, 2008 01:11 PM ET

Are some fantasy people and people who like mutiple teams really true fans to there REAL teams?

eagles20 (0-1-0) vs [The] Coach (97-18-5)
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Ok this idea sprung upon me in another throwdown because it sorta got brought up. And I thought it would be a good TD and my first! I bring this up because i wonder and i think its a fair question to ask. First ill start with fantasy.

Now i play fantasy every now and then and enjoy it. But I never no matter the circumstances route against the eagles, even if i have the the defense of other team! Now I know a paticular guy that plays, and he is a big Indy fan but if he has the defense of the team indy plays, he hopes indy wins but by 3 points and indys offense has a bad game. So i guess my question is, is that ok? Is that a real fan? Because i believe if you are a die hard fan, you always root for you team to do its best! Defense, offense, special teams everything from head to toe. I want my team to win by 30 if possible everytime.

Multiple teams- People who have a number one team they like, but have secondary teams, or other teams they root for? Is there not a lack of loyalty there? I mean i do or will root for a team to win over another team i think we all have but, acctually being maybe a front runner having 3 fav teams? I Say No to my question. Think yes?


YES - The fact that someone plays fantasy sports games or may root for another team on occasion has nothing to do with their loyalty to their favorite team.

Fantasy Sports
I participate in both the football and baseball FLs. I am a "baseball" fan and playing fantasy baseball allows me to learn more about the teams and players throughout MLB. Everyone I know roots for their favorite teams first and FL players second. In fact, most take pains, to draft players from their favorite teams even though it is detrimental to their FL clubs. IMHO, fantasy players are usually the most passionate of fans as simply watching games isn't enough.

As for rooting for other teams, you must consider that these days, the world is a smaller place and many, including myself have lived in many places around the country due to careers and such. I am a Red Sox fan however, I went to school in Chicago and whould skip classes to sneak to Wrigley. I pull for the Cubs when they aren't playing Boston. There are other reasons as well. My grandfather "gave" me the game of baseball. He was a Reds fan his whole life. They will always have a place in my heart as I remember when he would take me to Riverfront.


Now i didnt say ALL people, and im also not questioning if fantasy players are the most passionate or wheher they play to keep up on the leauge activities becasue i do agree with you there, of course i said i play as well sometimes. But dont you feel, i mean dont you feel guilty rooting against your team or the so called team you are die hard for or a true fan of? I mean its like cheating on your wife! If someone is such a fan of a team such as me (eagles) no matter what the fantasy is i could never cheer or go against them. Call me old school but i feel amoung todays sports some people dont know the meaning of a true fan. I mean how can someone say, i bleed green, or i bleed blue and grey at the end of the day, when, when they play fantasy they are going against there defense and hoping the opposing quarterback throws for 4 touchdowns.

As far as the other teams i understand what you mean ,i myself have lived in 6 places, but isnt the team that got you started, your home team? Isnt that good for anything. I mean thats like saying now that i live in tampa i like the bucs? What kind of a true fan of there team, likes a team just because they move there, convience? not right


First let me say this: NO IT IS NOT LIKE CHEATING ON MY WIFE!

I don't root against my favorite team under ANY circumstances. Having other teams that I follow or playing fantasy sports would never change that. Like I said, I haven't met a real sports fan that would.

American society has changed. Not only do people migrate more often but the cornucopia of sports media shrinks the sports world as well. In the old days a kid grew up in a specific area and would never leave. They got their information from local tv/radio/papers that covered the hometown team almost exclusively. Living in such an information cocoon breeds absolute loyalty. It was rare to find a kid in Ohio that loved a team 2000 miles away.
These days you have a dozens of sports channels and can purchase a package to watch every game of any team you desire.

For example: I grew up here in NC and am a HUGE UNC fan. Circumstances took me to CT for 25 years where I raised my kids. Together we watched Jim Calhoun build UCONN from nothing. How could I not come to love them? That being said, I NEVER root against my beloved Tarheels!
A favorite team can change as your life changes BTW. Children can do that to ya!


You may say its not but to some people sports is a big thing. It makes there day, There team means alot to them! Maybe not like a wife lol! But im am a die hard fan. Well you just answered my TD, you said

"I don't root against my favorite team under ANY circumstances. Having other teams that I follow or playing fantasy sports would never change that. Like I said, I haven't met a real sports fan that would.

So you agree with my orignal argument, you are therefore a true fan because of this statement you said above. I never said not to play fantasy i never said you cant follow another teams progress in your area. I stated how can someone have 3 favorite teams (bandwagon) , and how can they root against there team for fantasy? Not a true fan! So Why you chose to argue against me makes no sense.

I see where your going with the economy, but that should not stop someone "if they are a true or die hard fan" from sticking with or following there team. You answered it on the dot you said it and im gonna copy and paste it-----

"These days you have a dozens of sports channels and can purchase a package to watch every game of any team you desire"

So why go for another team?


It is not my place nor yours to determine who is or is not a true fan. Each of us must decide what is important to us and set priorities accordingly.

I am a coach and make a living doing so. Sports has always been a large part of my life. With that in mind consider this;

- To my way of thinking, equating rooting for a sports team to parenthood is simply twisted.

- I have changed my mind on teams for various reasons, not the least of which was that it allowed me to have something to do with my son.

- When people move to a new area and are there for some time, it is quite natural for them to become emotionally invested in the things that are part of the local atmosphere including local sports teams.

A bandwagon fan is one that simply roots for a team based on recent success. If someone roots for a team or two or three based on some personal experience so be it. If they change their mind, that too is their business. People often change favorites after relocating because it's too difficult to follow the old.

My problem with this TD is the total lack of perspective and the fact that it isn't for any of us to dictate how someone else enjoys sports or roots for teams.

Comments (45) Add A Comment

June 3, 2008  01:45 PM ET
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this is kind of a wierd topic

June 3, 2008  01:57 PM ET
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i understand what you mean ..... i never draft any yankee or if its auto draft i take them off my draft board cause i would rather lose fantasy baseball then root for the yankees !!!!!

June 3, 2008  02:00 PM ET
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Its weird but makes sense! I hope everyone can relate, or knows someone that does this

June 3, 2008  02:01 PM ET
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The answer is no.... I mean yes.... wait, what?

June 3, 2008  02:06 PM ET
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No, some fantasy players are not true fans if they would rather win a week of their fantasy league than to have their respective teams win.

Personally, I agree with vangundy... I won't draft Braves, Phils or Falcons, Saints... just me though.

June 3, 2008  02:09 PM ET
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It is fine for a fan to play fantasy, but to root against their team just to win in fantasy is not ok.
Rooting for multiple teams is fine, though. Its just the issue that rises up when these teams play eachother that could get interesting

June 3, 2008  02:13 PM ET
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I agree with Coach.... Im a Bills fan, but when the Raiders play the Dolphins, I root for the Raiders. I am by no means a raiders fan either.

June 3, 2008  02:16 PM ET
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Refusing to draft players from hated rival teams is very common among fantasy league players. It is usually only one team so not necessarily the kiss of death. In fact, from what I have seen, stubbornly drafting players from your favorite team regardless of reality is far worse for a fantasy league team. I also exclude player I can't stand on occasion, for instance, I NEVER had Bonds on one of my rosters! LOL I have never met a fantasy leaguer that wasn't a fan of his chosen favorite FIRST and foremost.

High stakes leagues are an exception however. Those guys are in the game for money first and foremost and favorites be damned. I don't play in those type leagues.

June 3, 2008  02:24 PM ET
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unless it is for some serious money it is NEVER ok to root against your team. Example.. if one of me brothers were to root for the cowboys because of fantasy he would promptly be thrown out of the family.. I am active in baseball and football leagues and will not draft anyone in the NFC east.... unless Romo is available in the 8th round!!!!

June 3, 2008  02:31 PM ET
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The leagues I am referring to ARE for big money hence the term "High Stakes!" LOL
Again, I don't play in them partly due to team loyalty but mostly because my wife would castrate me! LOL

June 3, 2008  02:45 PM ET
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I agree with Coach.... Im a Bills fan, but when the Raiders play the Dolphins, I root for the Raiders. I am by no means a raiders fan either.
Goodell: HOF Before Reed? | 06/03/08, 02:13 PM



I also root for teams to loose in my divison to loose, And root for other teams to beat them, i didnt say not root for other teams, if you read my argument closely i said " i also root for other teams, but being a front runner or having 3 favorite teams"

June 3, 2008  02:47 PM ET
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I agree with coach here - there are a few turds who are more gamblers than sports fan who will pull for fantasy players above their own team.

But I think above and beyond that fans of the NFL want their team to win, and use FF to generate additional interest in the rest of the league (i.e., teams they didn't really used to give a crap about).

It generates revenue for the league and the companies that cover it, plus it gives stat-mongers like myself something to do in our spare time Tuesday-Friday (CFB on Saturdays, of course).

June 3, 2008  02:48 PM ET
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Waiting for all arguments, but it will take some great ones for me not to vote right.

June 3, 2008  02:54 PM ET
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betting is a good argument and one i have not thought about, but i am not considering betting on big money or gambling, im talking about real fans hard nose fans the guys that paint themselves for games, the guys that never miss a down, I know a guy and his name is b-dawk, who is such a fan he bet for the eagles when they played against the pats this past year. I mean thats insance but i see loyalty there. So if somone give you enough money are you willing to give up your wife and kids???

June 3, 2008  02:55 PM ET
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NOT INSANE WHEN THE EAGLES COVERED THE SPREAD!!!!!!

June 3, 2008  02:56 PM ET
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If your die hard you love your team, no questions and you dont root against them you dont like someone else, you dont wanna trade them in no matter how bad the season or what the stakes are. Some real fans love football as much as a son. And they would never give up on them or root for another.....Thats my point

June 3, 2008  02:59 PM ET
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ill leave the rest for my arguing up top

June 3, 2008  03:01 PM ET
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I HATE people with multiple favorite teams in one sport

June 3, 2008  03:02 PM ET
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"Some real fans love football as much as a son."

If this is true, these people are in serious need of a life.
I am a HUGE sports fan and in fact make my living in sports but no team in any sport comes anywhere close to my son, daughter, wife, etc and so on.
In fact, I have changed my views on some teams based soley on who my son liked and wanted to watch.

 
June 3, 2008  03:04 PM ET
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"I HATE people with multiple favorite teams in one sport"

Wow, I really think some people have a warped sense of perspective. You guys are making sports sound a whole lot like drugs and alcohol.

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